To have a small child and never wake up at night with a cough that tears the mother's heart to pieces, probably nobody could. Of course, the first thing we do is run to the pharmacy and start buying syrups or pills that help alleviate the suffering of the little patient. As a result, we spend a lot of money, and at best we use the acquired funds only partially and after some time are thrown away after the expiration date (at worst, this simply does not help). But there is a cheap, simple and very effective way to cope with coughing: you only need one black radish and quite a bit of honey.
The benefits of black radish with honey
Black radish is very rich vitamins:
- Vitamin C (29 mg per 100 g, which is comparable to lemon - 40 mg per 100 g) makes this root vegetable a very strong antioxidant, immunomodulator and phytoncide;
- Vitamin A (retinol equivalent and beta carotene);
- a wide range of group B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, nicotinic acid);
- vitamin E.
Contained in the plant and set other substances:
- macronutrients (potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron);
- organic acids;
- lipids;
- glycosides;
- easily digestible carbohydrates;
- cellulose.
This combination of beneficial substances ensures the fortifying effect of the product on the immune system weakened by the disease.
Learn more about the composition and properties of black radish (in particular, the benefits for men).
However, as a cough medicine, radish (or rather, its juice) is used mainly because of its very high content. essential oilsthat have a bactericidal effect. By the way, thanks to the essential oils, the root crop has a bitter taste with sharp notes.
By the ability to kill pathogenic microflora, black radish juice is comparable to such well-known folk remedies for colds, such as onions, garlic and horseradish. 
In addition, black radish contains another interesting substance - a protein called lysozyme. It is present in human saliva, nasal secretions and other types of mucus, being an essential element of our immune defense against all parasites that enter our body, in particular, along with inhaled air. In addition, lysozyme has the property of liquefying mucus and ensure its easier removal from the lungs. In other words, this enzyme is a natural cough remedy!
A person synthesizes lysozyme on his own, but with a weakened immune system, the reserves of this protein can be depleted, therefore, black radish juice during a cold is very helpful in filling this shortage.
Did you know? Interestingly, the discovery of lysozyme belongs to the same person who gave humanity the first artificially grown antibiotic - penicillin. This is the world famous British scientist Alexander Fleming. Studying the nature of a rhinitis in 1922, a bacteriologist observed under the microscope the nasal mucus of a patient and parasites infested with it. Then he discovered an unknown before that time substance that actively kills pathogens.
The mucolytic properties of black radish are enhanced by honey. This natural product enhances the formation of saliva and mucus, which, in turn, prevents thickening and drying of sputum. Swelling under the influence of honey, the mucus is more easily expelled from the lungs, so the cough from the unproductive (dry) enters the productive stage (wet). 
In addition, honey has a soothing effect on the throat, facilitating painful coughing attacks. The substances included in the bee product stimulate the production of hormones that directly affect the center of cough formation, due to which convulsive bouts of unproductive cough are noticeably reduced.
Read also about the beneficial properties of radish: white, daikon, green, wild, radish.
How to prepare and take medicine
The easiest and well-known method of preparing a cough remedy consists of 2 components: radish and honey.
We take a medium-sized raw root vegetable, wash it well under cool running water, and then set it up in a bowl with a spout up, picking up the container so that the vegetable is stable (a saucer or plate will not work, it is better to take a wide glass, glass or large cup).
With a well-sharpened knife, cut a funnel-shaped recess in the upper part of the root crop so that the resulting hole does not occupy more than a third of the initial radish volume. We make several arbitrary vertical punctures in the hole with the same knife in order to stimulate the process of extracting juice. 
Put 2-3 teaspoons (depending on the size of the vegetable) honey into the resulting cavity - you need to fill about half of the "funnels", since in the future it will be filled with radish juice. To prevent excessive weathering, we cover the top of the funnel with an improvised lid from the cut part of the radish, pre-aligning the inner surface horizontally.
Important! The variety of honey, of course, has some value, but it is much more important that the product is natural and of high quality. If there is a choice, the best expectorant properties of lime honey. Also suitable product from acacia, mustard, grasses.
Now it only remains to wait a few hours. We need to radish juice. It is best to do the preparation in the evening, then in the morning everything will be ready, but in fact you can start the reception in 4-5 hours.
Stir the obtained drug thoroughly with a spoon directly in the radish, then take the mixture as necessary, and again cover the radish with a lid.
Video: cooking black radish juice with honey
It is recommended to drink at one time. 1-2 teaspoons home-made medicine adult and 1 teaspoon baby, you can take the tool 3-4 times a day.
As needed, a new portion of honey can be added to the cavity cut out in a radish, but usually after 3-4 days the product does not produce juice well and becomes unsuitable for later use. However, by this time the patient should get rid of the painful cough. If this does not happen, you need to urgently consult a doctor, because not passing cough can be a symptom of a serious disease (for example, pneumonia), which should be treated with antibiotics, not folk remedies!
We advise you to read about the differences and benefits of different types of honey: sunflower, buckwheat, acacia, linden, chestnut, may, dewberry, cotton, black-maple, mountain, hawthorn, cypraeum, sweet clover, sainfoin, acacia.
You can slightly improve the above recipe. Before filling the radish with honey, we will do additional manipulation with it. First, cut horizontally the bottom of the root, to get a clean surface, without peel. Now we take a knife with a narrow blade and make a through hole in a vegetable with a diameter of 0.2-0.3 mm. Further we act according to the scheme. The idea is that the juice mixed with honey will flow down to the bottom of the glass, and the medicine will thus be more homogeneous.
If you cannot wait for several hours, you can use express method. Squeeze the juice from the radish (after having rubbed the peeled vegetable on a fine grater and using ordinary gauze) and mix with honey in equal proportions. After receiving a homogeneous mass, you can immediately take it. 
This method has two significant drawbacks. First, the contact with the metal (grater) oxidizes a large number of useful elements that make up the radish, in particular, ascorbic acid and iron will suffer significant losses. Secondly, the classic recipe involves the use of freshly prepared tools, because the juice from the radish stands out constantly. In this case, the mixture in the open air will very quickly lose its beneficial properties. The conclusion suggests itself: make a single dose of the potion from the "scraps" of the radish, which will remain in sufficient quantity when cutting a funnel in the root crop. Take this remedy immediately, and the next time use the medication that came to its rescue in the traditional way.
When coughing, traditional medicine also recommends taking milk with propolis or garlic.
Another option is to add black radish to the squeezed juice, in addition to honey, raspberries, ground with sugar. If there is no raspberry, you can use aloe juice, it also has very high phytoncidal properties.
You can do differently. We use the classic recipe, but, in addition to honey, we add a little ordinary table salt and two tablespoons of vodka to the cavity cut out in the radish. The juice obtained after the prescribed time is not used inside, but as a rubbing - also as a proven cough aid.
Important! Alcohol rubbing can not be used if the cold and cough are accompanied by fever!
Finally, black radish is good for cough, if used for inhalation. Clean and finely chop the root crop, put it in a jar with a wide neck and tightly cover with a lid. After half an hour, open the can, bring it to your mouth and take a few (up to eight) deep breaths with your mouth. When the procedure is completed, it is not necessary to throw out the root crop: fill it with honey and eat it with the whole family, so all the useful properties of the product will be used to the full! 
Contraindications
Both ingredients in the described mixture - radish and honey - contain a lot of biologically active substances in their composition, and therefore they have certain contraindications. The presence of any of them precludes the use of the described cough remedies.
Honey in combination with aloe is used to treat diseases of the stomach.
Root vegetable contraindicated in the presence of inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer in the acute stage, in addition, it is necessary to refrain from the use of radish juice for people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system or kidneys.
With of pregnancy It is also not recommended to be treated with radish. The fact is that the essential oils contained in it are so active that they can cause an increased uterus tone. As you know, this condition threatens the abnormal development of the fetus and even premature termination of pregnancy, and therefore it is very dangerous, especially in the early stages.
As for the second component of the mixture, everything is simple. The main condition under which you can use any of the above recipes is no allergy to honey.
Did you know? Scientists have discovered that the statement about high allergenicity of honey is greatly exaggerated. It turns out that the reason for the individual intolerance of this product is not in itself, but in the pollen of certain plants that are used by bees to produce honey. Moreover, even this pollen after processing by small insects becomes much less dangerous. Therefore, people who are allergic to honey should experiment with its different varieties: you may find a product that you can eat without fear!
In any case, you should not exceed the above dosage cough drops, as this may entail undesirable consequences. 
The described home remedy may alleviate the condition of the patient, but it does not cure the disease itself. With acute respiratory viral infectionsaccompanied by cough no medicines neededand therefore the use of radish with honey is appropriate and safe. But if we are talking about serious diseases of a bacterial nature, such as, for example, sore throat or pneumonia, symptomatic treatment of cough is categorically insufficient, a medical examination, diagnosis and medical assistance are needed. This does not preclude the use of folk remedies, but only as part of complex therapy and after prior consultation with the doctor.
Reviews of black radish with honey
Eva
once gave her child. a result of allergies and bronchospasm ...
Black radish with honey is an excellent cough remedy that has been proven by more than one generation. Such a drug will cost mere pennies, but at the same time, in terms of efficiency, it is no worse than many cough syrups in beautiful and bright packages. And most importantly - we are talking about a completely natural product, where there are no dyes, flavors, preservatives and any other chemistry that can harm your baby and your whole family!
