My daughter is 3 and for the last month on and off she has had all night coughing spells.  We have "dry heat" where we live and so we have to humidify her room to make it bearable.  But every now and then, it does not do the trick. So, we have done the Vick's on her chest, and taken her to the bathroom and put the steam on.  Today I went to the store and ran into a friend from India. She told me to buy ginger root and peel it and mash it until I can get juice from it and add honey to it and that would do the trick. I was hesitant, because I am not the peeling mashing kind of person, but I thought what the heck!  So, she picked out a piece for me and I went home and did it and gave my daughter a tsp of that with honey 3 times today and... She slept through her nap with no coughing for the first time in 4 days and is not coughing tonight! I am so pleased and though it was more effort than pouring out Robitussin, it was all natural and safe.  And, aren't our little ones worth the effort?  If it will make my daughter better, I am willing to try anything!  Please try it!  If it does not work for you then perhaps you or your child have bronchitis or something that is more complicated that needs a doctor's attention.

PS I took her to the doctor and she gave her a clean bill of health and she too is Indian and had heard of that remedy.

PSPS  I would recommend a mortar and pestle to mash it well.