Learn to make a quick and easy throat spray using tinctures (or herbal tea) and honey. It’s a delicious way to treat sore throats, coughs, and colds!
Keyword colds & flu, sore throat, throat spray
Total Time 10 minutesminutes
Servings 1.5ounces
Equipment
1 two-ounce spray bottle
measuring spoons
Ingredients
2tbspherbal tinctures (or herbal tea)
2tbsphoney (or vegetable glycerin)
1tbspwarm water
1/8tsppeppermint extract, or to taste
Instructions
Mix all of the ingredients together.
Pour into a small spray bottle.
To use, spray into your mouth, directing towards your throat.
Store in the refrigerator between uses.
Shelf life: If using tinctures, 2 to 3 weeks. If using herbal tea, 2 days.
Notes
Herbal Tea Variation
If you don’t want to use alcohol based tinctures, make with a strong herbal tea instead. If using tea, use spray within 2 days. To make a strong herbal tea: Place 1 or 2 tablespoons of dried herbs, or 2 to 4 tbsp fresh herbs, in a heat proof jar. Pour one cup of simmering hot water over them. Let this steep for at least an hour, or more. The longer it steeps, the stronger the tea will be. Strain and use in the recipe above instead of the tinctures and water. Extra tea can be frozen in ice cube trays for later use.
Tinctures to Try in Your Sore Throat Spray
My favorite combination is about 2 tsp spilanthes tincture, 2 to 3 tsp lemon balm & honeysuckle tincture, then the remaining 1 to 2 tsp is made up of small doses each of a variety of tinctures. This makes a slightly throat numbing spray that fights germs while it soothes!
Spilanthes (Spilanthes acmella) – My favorite addition! It adds a tingly numbness that is exceptionally helpful when dealing with a raw feeling throat. It’s anti-microbial and antiviral in nature and helps upset stomach. You can buy a high quality spilanthes tincture/extract at Mountain Rose Herbs or make your own. (Spilanthes is easy to grow!)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) – is antiviral, calming, soothes nervous stomach and powerful against cold sores. I use a large amount in throat spray because it’s all around great for so many things. It’s easy to make your own lemon balm tincture if you grow it in your garden (I also add honeysuckle when I make mine), but you can also find lemon balm extract/tincture at Mountain Rose Herbs.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) – antiviral against colds, coronaviruses, flu; useful for coughs, lung conditions, (used in Stephen Buhner’s COPD protocols too)
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) – is another one to help with throat pain. It also helps boost your immune system. You can buy echinacea tincture at Mountain Rose Herbs or check your local health store.
Violet (Viola odorata, V. sororia) – one of my favorite all around plants. Soothes inflammation and heals, also purported to fight oral cancers. Make your own tincture from violets growing in your yard or buy violet tincture from a small shop on Etsy
Rose petals (Rosa spp) – are cooling, anti-inflammatory, and astringent. Make your own tincture easily by covering fresh or dried organic or unsprayed rose petals with vodka for four to six weeks.