Herbal Gargle for Sore Throats 🌿

/ stlmaryland

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Last night, my daughter wasn’t feeling her best. Her throat was sore, and she just looked miserable. Instead of reaching for over-the-counter remedies right away, I turned to one of my favorite books, Forgotten Home Apothecary, and found a soothing herbal gargle recipe.

It’s simple, natural, and uses ingredients most of us already have in our kitchen. The combination of salt, honey, lemon, and herbs not only tastes fresh but also has antibacterial and soothing properties that can help calm a scratchy throat.

I gave the recipe a personal twist by using peppermint oil drops instead of fresh peppermint leaves and adding local honey from Milburn’s Farm Market, a sweet way to support local and add extra benefits.

Herbal Gargle for Sore Throats

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of warm water
  • ½ teaspoon of salt – I used Celtic Sea Salt
  • 1–2 tablespoons of honey (Local Honey if you can)
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Your choice of herbs (choose one):
    • Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
    • Sage (Salvia officinalis)
    • Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Water: Heat water until warm (not too hot).
  2. Add Salt: Stir in ½ teaspoon of salt until dissolved.
  3. Mix in Honey: Add 1–2 tablespoons of honey.
  4. Squeeze Lemon Juice: Add the juice of half a lemon.
  5. Infuse with Herbs:
    • Thyme: Add a few sprigs or 1 teaspoon of dried leaves.
    • Sage: Add a few leaves or 1 teaspoon of dried sage.
    • Peppermint: Add a few fresh leaves or 1 teaspoon of dried peppermint.
    • OR Peppermint oil (a few drops instead of fresh or dried leaves)
  6. Stir & Steep: Let the mixture sit for a few minutes so the herbs can release their benefits.
  7. Gargle: Once it’s comfortably warm, gargle for 30 seconds to 1 minute, making sure the mixture reaches the back of the throat. Do not swallow.

Dosage

Gargle every few hours as needed until the throat feels better.

🌸 Notes:

  • Make sure the water is not too hot, it should be soothing, not scalding.
  • Staying hydrated by drinking water and herbal teas can also help ease throat discomfort.

This remedy gave my daughter some comfort, and I love that it’s gentle and made with natural ingredients. If you’re looking for a home remedy to try the next time a sore throat creeps in, this herbal gargle might be just the thing.

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