Sore Throats

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Sore Throats

A sore throat is often the first symptom of a cold or flu. Curtail the symptoms with these two herbal recipes.

1. Sage Gargle:

Sage (Salvia officinalis) has antimicrobial properties and contains astringent tannins, which help lessen inflammation. For the gargle, pour 2 cups of boiling water over 4 teaspoons of dried sage. Cover, steep for 15 minutes, strain, and add 1 teaspoon of sea salt, which has mild antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. Encourage your child to gargle with the warm tea every hour or two if possible. The liquid does taste salty, but it definitely helps relieve pain.

2. Marshmallow-Mint Tea:

The puffy marshmallows sold in supermarkets today are descendants of a centuries-old French confection made from boiled, sweetened marshmallow roots (but the confections no longer contain the herb). A tea made from marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis), ginger, and peppermint tastes good and helps to ease sore throat pain. Marshmallow contains water-soluble fiber that soothes irritation, and ginger and peppermint calm inflammation. Make a tea by simmering 1 tablespoon each of dried marshmallow root and fresh chopped gingerroot in 3 cups of water in a covered pot for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, add 2 teaspoons of dried peppermint, cover, and steep for an additional 10 minutes. Strain, sweeten, and give up to 3 cups daily.

If you can go through life without experiencing pain you probably haven’t been born yet.

~Neil Simon