The most powerful Japanese cough remedy: white radish and honey

coughWhen coughs are difficult to alleviate, doctors often only offer advice like "get more rest," which can be frustrating. However, a simple and effective natural cough remedy, made from the common white radish and honey, is a popular ingredient in Japan's Edo period. This recipe, which dates back to the Edo period, has long been used to relieve coughs and phlegm, prevent colds, and even enhance beauty. Best of all, it requires only two ingredients and can be easily prepared at home. A detailed recipe is provided at the end of this article.

White radish: a natural "common people's ginseng"

White radish is known as the "common people's ginseng". It is rich in isothiocyanates and has a slightly spicy taste. This ingredient can activate white blood cells, inhibit bacterial growth, and exert a natural antibacterial effect. Chinese medicine practitioner Wu Mingzhu also pointed out that white radish is mild and slightly cold in nature, and has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, strengthening the stomach and digestion,Resolving phlegm and relieving coughShe particularly recommends stewing white radish with rock sugar, as both white radish and rock sugar can moisten the lungs, relieve coughs, and reduce phlegm and heat, making the combined effect even more pronounced.

Honey: A natural remedy for moistening the lungs and relieving coughs

Honey is not only a health supplement, but also has antibacterial properties that can suppress cold germs. Fujiki Ishihara, director of Kitashinagawa Fuji Hospital in Japan, noted that while science hasn't fully understood the mechanism by which honey suppresses coughs, research has confirmed that "taking a teaspoon of honey before bed can effectively reduce coughs, even more effectively than some cough suppressants."

Zou Xiaoling, a Chinese medicine practitioner at the China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, added that honey is particularly effective for "dry coughs" (irritating, dry coughs caused by a dry throat). Honey's warm texture soothes throat discomfort, moistening the lungs and relieving coughs. She emphasized that while the common belief that sweets cause phlegm is true, this isn't contradictory to the claim that honey can relieve coughs. The key is to choose natural honey over snacks with artificial additives. In fact, many processed sweets (such as candy and cookies) can actually stimulate phlegm production, potentially exacerbating cough symptoms for those with poor digestion or gastroesophageal reflux.

Traditional Japanese cough remedy: honey and daikon radish syrup

Recipe Ingredients: White radish, honey

Production steps：

Wash and peel the white radish, then cut into small cubes.
Place the diced white radish in a glass jar and pour in honey, making sure the honey covers half of the radish.
Leave it at room temperature overnight until the radish releases water naturally and mix it into a syrup.

How to consume: Dilute honey and white radish syrup with warm water (or hot water, black tea) and drink 4 to 5 times a day. You will feel a significant improvement in cough the next day.asthmaIt also has a certain soothing effect. If you don't like plain water, you can adjust the brewing base according to your personal taste.

This simple home remedy combines the antibacterial properties of white radish with the lung-moistening properties of honey, offering a gentle yet effective natural solution to a sore throat. Give it a try and make coughing a less of a nuisance in your daily life!