My Mum (witch of the west) used to slice up an onion, and layer it with sugar, keep in the fridge (covered cos it stinks) and when the sugar has turned to syrup you can drink it in teaspoons. I thought it was an old wives tale, but onions and garlic are apparently now wellknown for their anti-cough/cold properties. I always do this when I have a cough, it's much better than cough syrups -they don't work. It makes the cough into a much more productive one, stops that horrible tickle.
hope it helps