Honey Onion Syrup – Natural Cold Remedy

So I’m still coming off a somewhat lazy and relaxing Christmas break… I’ve been thinking a lot about my blogging and you readers, and choices I’ll make this year…

Everyone seems to be picking a “one word” to live by this year. I think my word is going to be “better.”

I want to live towards  better health. Better eating. Better time management. Better living. Better serving. Better enjoying (yes! shouldn’t we enjoy this wonderful life more with less stress about “stuff”!?).

If I’m not doing what I’m doing in a BETTER way this year, then I’m not achieving my goals. Bottom line.

So I have been asking myself this question every day: “Is this better?” whether what I’m doing is cleaning, organizing, working, reading, cooking, working out.

And I know, I know, the teacher in me says, “That’s not a SMART goal, Julie!” But don’t worry, hubby and I also sat down and written out in specific detail ways our family can do better this year. That’s how we typically do our family new year’s resolutions: look at what wasn’t working in the past twelve months and tweak it for the better.

Because the main goals are always the same: improve our faith, fitness, finances, friends, family, and so on. So we focus on fixing what’s broken and moving forward. Maybe my word should be “Forward”? Can you have two words?

Sometimes the tweaks work and sometimes they don’t! We give it a go. And then tweak it again ongoing if needed, but definitely at the beginning of each year. Because if you keep doing the SAME thing and it isn’t working then… changing it up at least gives you a chance to do it better!

One tweak that has been better for our family last year is using essential oils and natural remedies to improve our overall health and well being.

So far I’ve stuck to using the oils mostly topically and diffused. But this year I want to make better (see?! better!!) use of these oils in home remedies and solutions.

Today I bring you: Honey-Onion Cold & Flu Syrup.

It’s not so much a syrup as an infusion of the onion into the honey. It’s super simple, really.

Why make or use a honey-onion syrup? Honey is well-known to soothe and calm irritated throats. And onion – well, I am NOT telling you to leave cut up onions around the house, because that simply does not work to ward off colds and flu. But onions do have anti-inflammatory and some say, anti-bacterial benefits to the body. Not to mention onions are known to be great for cardiovascular health.

Simmering onions slowly on low heat in the honey draws out the quercetin in the onion (a flavonoid thought to boost immunity). So… honey + onion together in a little syrup! 

How to make honey-onion syrup

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup honey
• 1/2 onion
• 2-4 drops of essential oils (I recommend Theives, Clove, or perhaps Orange or Lemon)

Slice onions (1-2) into a small saucepan. Cover with honey (I recommend raw or organic as you don’t want to fill yourself up with junky honey that might be full of pesticides!). The exact measurements of onion-to-honey may vary depending on the size of your onion. Basically, cover the onion with honey; start small with 1/2 an onion because it can take quite a bit of honey to cover that even in a shallow pan.

Simmer on very low heat until onions are translucent and “loose” in the syrup. This can take anywhere from 10-15 minutes. Maintain warmth of honey to ingest. Add drops of essential oils and stir.

Note: Once the honey goes cold, it may solidify, so this is a syrup best made and use in a relatively short time. I can’t say whether the onions will “keep” once they are cold, so make small batches and use up.

How to use: Take a teaspoonful periodically during the day to relieve sore throat or congestion. Repeat as often as necessary (don’t worry about ingesting too much sugar with the honey – the onion will ensure you aren’t constantly dipping back into the honey pot for another smackerel too often!

What to expect: Well, the onion flavor may take you aback a bit. But you should find your throat irritation eases for a spell, and the onion aids in opening up your breathing passages!

More information on the benefits of onions found here: (source)

Have you ever made a home remedy?

What’s one you’d like to try? I would love to make homemade elderberry syrup next year if I can find some local berries!

*Please remember I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be one. I cannot treat, cure, prevent or diagnose illness of any kind. If you have health concerns, talk to your family physician. Do personal research on natural remedy to be sure they are safe and a good fit for you as an individual. If you are pregnant or nursing, consult a qualified professional before taking any herb or supplement.