Quiet a Nighttime Cough: The Honey-Ginger Tea Recipe
A soothing honey and ginger tea, one of the most well-studied natural remedies for cough.
A cough that picks up right when you're trying to fall asleep is one of the most disruptive nighttime complaints — and honey is one of the few home remedies with real clinical research behind it for exactly this.
What you'll need
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 cup hot water
How to make it
- Steep the grated ginger in the hot water for 5-7 minutes.
- Strain out the ginger, then stir in the honey once the water has cooled slightly (very hot water can destroy some of honey's beneficial compounds).
- Drink about 30 minutes before bed.
Why people say it works
Honey has been studied in clinical trials for cough, with several showing it performs as well as or better than some over-the-counter cough suppressants for nighttime cough, especially in children over one year old. Ginger adds a traditional soothing, warming effect on top of that.
This is a home remedy, not a medical treatment. Never give honey to children under 1 year old due to the risk of infant botulism.
Simple daily ritual for lung and breathing support.
Besides providing free recipes with real benefits, our research team offers natural supplements with the same ingredients, so you can make your routine easier!
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