Once upon a very terrible time, all my kids got a stomach bug at the same time… while I was gone. We don’t get sick often, but it was terrible and I wasn’t on hand to use all of our natural remedies.
Thankfully, that was the first and last stomach bug they’ve all gotten at once. However, at least one child gets a stuffy nose or cough sometime during the winter. Or I dust my closet and get a cough/congestion/nasal drip for a few days.
In those cases, I like to have this herbal throat spray on hand. It’s great for sore throat, cough or congestion.
Herbal Throat Spray Ingredients
This herbal throat spray is essentially a strong herbal tincture mixed with raw honey. The herbs provide both immediate relief and longer-lasting benefits for beating illness. You can use many different immune boosting and throat soothing herbs, but I prefer the following:
- Echinacea root – Naturally antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Eases sore throat and cough and supports the immune system. Helps soothe throat pain and is great for strep throat or tonsillitis in a tea or throat spray.
- Ginger – Warming and stimulates circulation. Its antimicrobial and helps thin mucus and get it out of the body. Helps ease inflammation, pain, and muscle spasms. Ginger also stimulates white blood cells, helps prevent viruses from attaching to cells, and destroys viruses.
- Marshmallow root – A soothing demulcent herb that coats and soothes inflamed, dry, or damaged tissues. Reduces inflammation, supports white blood cells, and is an expectorant.
- Elderberry – Traditionally used for throat inflammation and may help reduce swelling in the mouth and throat. It also supports better drainage, less nasal congestion, and is an expectorant. It’s especially great for cough and congestion from viral infections.
- Thyme – Not just for Italian food! Thyme herb is excellent at breaking up stuck congestion and mucus in the lungs and getting it out. It’s antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and helps with better breathing.
- Peppermint – This adds a refreshing flavor and is warming and stimulating when used internally. It’s antimicrobial and helps fight a variety of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.
- Cayenne – Cayenne is warming, stimulating, and boosts circulation to improve healing. It’s been traditionally used for sore throats, coughs, and illness prevention. It does add a spicy kick though, so reduce or skip if preferred.
You don’t need every single herb on this list to make an herbal throat spray. If you don’t have some of them on hand, then just use more of the ones you do. I make an herbal tincture with the herbs and then mix with raw honey for a strong spray. When it’s made this way the herbal throat spray will last for months in the refrigerator.
Premade Herbal Throat Spray
Don’t feel like making it or don’t have the herbs you need? I also like this pre-made herbal throat spray that includes echinacea and propolis. This propolis throat spray is also a family favorite.
Herbal Throat Spray Tincture
To make the tincture, I combine 1 tablespoon each of these dried herbs: Echinacea, Ginger, Marshmallow Root, Elderberry, Thyme and Mint and 1 teaspoon of dried cayenne pepper (optional) in a pint-size mason jar.
Fill the rest of the jar with a strong food-grade liquor like rum or vodka (must be at least 80-proof alcohol). Put on an airtight lid and let it sit for at least two weeks or up to eight weeks (the longer it sits the stronger it will be). Store in a cool dark place. I make this once a year and have enough to last at least the year.
Here’s my full tutorial on making herbal tinctures if you’re new to herbal remedies.
If you get a cough, sore throat or cold this winter, try this herbal throat spray to get some relief and feel better soon! Here’s how to make the standard tincture version.
DIY Herbal Throat Spray Recipe
Materials
- 1 TBSP echinacea root
- 1 TBSP ginger root
- 1 TBSP marshmallow root
- 1 TBSP elderberry
- 1 TBSP thyme
- 1 TBSP peppermint leaf
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper optional
- 80-proof alcohol (vodka or rum)
- raw honey
Instructions
- Add the herbs to a pint-size Mason jar.
- Pour alcohol over the herbs, leaving a ½ inch headspace.
- Cap tightly with the lid and let the tincture steep for 2-4 weeks, shaking occasionally.
- Once the tincture is done, strain out the herbs and reserve the liquid.
- For every 6 Tablespoons of tincture add 2 Tablespoons of raw honey.
- Shake well to combine and store in the fridge for up to 6 months.
- I pour some into a small spray bottle for easy use as needed.
Notes
Two Hour Herbal Throat Spray Tincture
If you want to use the full herbal mixture and don’t have weeks to sit around waiting for the tincture, you can make a two-hour version with this method:
- Combine 1 teaspoon of all of the herbs (2 Tablespoons total) in a pint size glass jar.
- Pour enough boiling water on them to just cover the herbs with water.
- Let steep for 20 minutes until the water cools.
- Strain out the herbs and mix with equal parts of 80-proof or higher liquor. I use rum or vodka.
- For every 3 parts of herbal liquid, add 1 part of honey.
This version should last for a few weeks in the fridge.
More Throat Spray Variations
If you prefer not to make a tincture with alcohol, you can make a glycerite with vegetable glycerin instead. Glycerites aren’t as potent and generally don’t extract the herbal properties as well as alcohol. It will still be helpful though and you’ll just need to use a little more of the spray on the throat.
You can also make a strong herbal tea and mix with honey. This won’t last nearly as long and should be used within a week.
Do you ever get a sore throat or cough? What remedies do you use?
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