Sore Throat
Sore Throat
I'm not necessarily fond of lawyers, but I hold my lawyer son-in-law in high regard. On one visit, he arrived with a raging sore throat. The over-the-counter throat lozenges that he was using were not helping, so I gave him some slippery elm capsules. They did the trick. (If they hadn't, I would have urged him to take some licorice as well, because it's what I add to my own tea whenever I'm treating myself for sore throat.)
Although slippery elm grows nearby, I rarely collect the bark. It's easier to buy the prepared material.
Sore throat is a typical first symptom of colds. (Many of the herbal suggestions in the chapter on colds and flu on page 133 apply here as well.) But sore throat may also be caused by exposure to chemical irritants or by streptococcus bacteria (strep throat). If you develop a sore throat with a fever and no other symptoms, it might be strep, and a visit to the doctor is strongly advised.
Green Pharmacy for Sore Throat
Most commercial sore throat treatments involve sucking on anesthetic lozenges that deaden the nerve cells in the throat so that you don't feel the pain. I prefer the herbal alternatives, which actually soothe inflamed tissue. Here are the herbs that can help.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus). Commission E, the body of experts that advises the German government about herbs, approves using eucalyptus to treat sore throat.
Eucalyptus helps in two ways. The aromatic oil has a cooling effect on inflamed tissue, and the tannins in eucalyptus exert soothing astringent action as well. I suggest using a few teaspoons of crushed leaf per cup of boiling water to make a soothing tea.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). The Chinese use honeysuckle flowers extensively to treat sore throat, colds, flu, tonsillitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. In one study of 425 Chinese students with strep throats, positive results were obtained with a treatment that involved blowing powdered dried honeysuckle flowers, blackberry lily roots and a small amount of borneol into the backs of their throats. (Borneol is just one of more than 20 antiseptic compounds found in honeysuckle flowers.)
I don't think that you need to use powdered honeysuckle to get the benefit of this herb. Honeysuckle flower extracts are strongly active against many microorganisms that cause sore throat and respiratory conditions.
I personally like using honeysuckle in combination with forsythia flowers for my own sore throats, and I often take them in hot lemonade sweetened with licorice, especially in winter.
Honeysuckle
The flowers of this plant contain some two dozen antiseptic compounds and are widely used for respiratory problems. |
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Licorice has been revered as a sore throat treatment for centuries in both Europe and China.
Commission E approves licorice for treating sore throat, and its effectiveness has been scientifically documented, according to pharmacognosist (natural product pharmacist) Albert Leung, Ph.D.
Dr. Leung recommends starting with three cups of water and five to seven teaspoons of root pieces. Put the herb in the water and bring it to a boil, then simmer until about half of the water has boiled away.
Licorice not only soothes a sore throat, it also has an expectorant effect that can help treat colds and other respiratory conditions. (Like most non-nutritive sweeteners, licorice has an "off" taste that some people find less than appealing.)
Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra). This is an all-around soother, helping the throat, the respiratory tract and the digestive tract. And like most if not all woody plants, slippery elm contains compounds called oligomeric procyanidins, which have antiseptic and anti-allergic action.
Balloonflower (Platycodon grandiflorum). The Chinese have great respect for this plant's root as a remedy for sore throat and cough. There's even a Chinese stamp commemorating it. Several Japanese patent medicines for treating bronchitis employ the root extract, and pharmacological studies confirm its anti-cough and expectorant activities. (Balloonflower is also an attractive ornamental. I have one from China that has fared well in my garden at the Herbal Vineyard.) You can take it as either a tea or a tincture.
Burnet-saxifrage (Pimpinella major). Commission E endorses burnet-saxifrage root for treating sore throat and upper respiratory infections. Try simmering three to six teaspoons per cup of boiling water for about 20 minutes, then let it cool before drinking. I'd suggest adding a little licorice.
Garlic (Allium sativum). Garlic is a favorite naturopathic remedy for upper respiratory problems because it's both antiviral (for colds) and antibacterial (for strep throat). Try it in tea as a gargle.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale). Here's another herb to gargle for a sore throat. Try adding ginger to lemon juice, vinegar and honey.
Marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis). This herb has been used for thousands of years for treating sore throat and many other ailments. It
contains a soothing water-soluble fiber (mucilage) that is quite effective at easing throat pain. Research shows that the plant also has anti-inflammatory
action.
Commission E approves using marsh mallow root to soothe irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat and to help treat associated dry cough. I'd suggest a tea made from three teaspoons of crumbled root per cup of boiling water.
Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Wintergreen has a cooling, soothing flavor, and it contains methyl salicylate, an herbal form of aspirin that can help treat sore throat pain. Try it as a gargle for fast cooling of inflamed throat tissue and as a tea for pain relief. I'd suggest putting 15 to 25 leaves in a cup of boiling water for both a gargle and a tea.
Don't give either aspirin or its natural herbal alternatives to children with sore throats. When children take aspirin-like drugs for viral infections (especially colds, flu and chicken pox), there's a chance that they might get Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that damages the liver and brain. Also, if you are allergic to aspirin, you probably shouldn't take aspirin-like herbs, either.
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria). Commission E endorses using agrimony to soothe inflamed mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. Try a tea made with two to three teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water.
Anise (Pimpinella anisum). Anise tastes like licorice and is used as the flavoring agent in many "licorice" items. It's not as throat-soothing as real licorice, but Commission E suggests using it for respiratory problems, especially if you have a productive cough that produces phlegm. Anise helps break up bronchial congestion. You could make a tea by pouring a cup of boiling water over one to two teaspoons of crushed aniseed and steeping for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain the tea before drinking. The suggested dose is up to two cups a day.
Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare). Commission E approves using a tea made with two to three teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water for treating sore throat and mild respiratory complaints. Knotgrass is astringent.
Myrrh (Commiphora, various species). Here's another herb approved by Commission E as a treatment for sore throat. In Europe the tincture is added to water and used as a mouthwash and gargle.
Plantain (Plantago, various species). Plantain is widely used as an external soother for skin problems. Commission E also endorses it for sore throat and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. The plant has bactericidal activity, much of which may be lost if it's heated, so you could try three to four teaspoons of plantain in juice or cold water. Plantain also contains allantoin, a chemical that promotes the healing of injured skin cells and, I believe, the cells of the throat.