1. Sore Throat Gargle with Sage
The Sage used in the following recipe is a classic gargle, but other herbs such as Marjoram, Thyme or Hyssop can replace it.
Ingredients
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 teaspoons fresh or dried Sage leaves
- 1/4 ounce salt
Instructions
Pour the boiling water over the sage, cover and steep for 20 minutes. Strain and add the salt. Gargle as needed. Store in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
2. Lemon Antiseptic Throat Spray
A diluted lemon spray is one of the most effective tools to knock down a cold or flu. Other herbs to use in a throat spray are lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, and peppermint.
Ingredients
- 15 drops Lemon essential oil
- 5 drops Peppermint essential oil
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Instructions
Combine the ingredients and pour the concoction into a spray bottle. Shake well, then gently spray into your throat throughout the day.
3. Sore Throat Gargle with Baking Soda
This is a tried and true recipe. Baking soda and salt are great natural remedies for fighting bacteria and viruses.
Ingredients
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup of warm water
Instructions
Mix the ingredients together and gargle. You can also use this in your neti pot to clear out your nasal passages.
4. Gargle With Warm Salt Water
Gargling with salt water isn’t an old wives tale-it’s about one of the closest to a cures for a sore throat you can get.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of warm water (8 oz.)
- ½ teaspoon of table salt
Instructions
Heat water until it’s warm, but not hot. Thoroughly mix in salt. Gargle. Repeat 3x throughout the day as needed. Any more than that and you risk drying out healthy soft tissue and making things worse.
5. Mix up an ACV drink
Its high levels of acidity can kill bacteria quite efficiently, and when mixed with honey it can soothe the soreness in your throat as well.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1/2 cup of very warm water
Instructions
Mix the ACV into very warm water and gargle once a day. Be careful not to burn yourself.
Don’t Like to Gargle? No Problem, Try Herbal Lozenges!
If you’re not into making gargles for whatever reason, you could try your hand and making your own herbal lozenges. Here’s a great video on YouTube that shows you how easy it is to make herbal lozenges.