Suffering from a sore throat? Anyone who has had that will be aware of the pain, itchiness, and overall uncomfortable feeling it causes in your throat. A sore throat doesn’t always warrant a doctor’s visit. Sometimes all you need to do is raid your pantry for some herbs and spices that will not only help you cope with a throat infection, but also give your overall immunity a boost. So what are these herbs and spices you ask? Let us find out.
Herbs and Spices For A Sore Throat
Herbs and spices not only make your food taste better but also aids your immune system, helps fight different viral and bacterial infections, and reduces inflammation in your body, among other things. So let’s “spice it up a notch” and explore 5 herbs and condiments that will come to your rescue during a sore throat or infection.
Ginger
There’s a reason why people like to add a tinge of ginger to their morning tea when they are suffering from a bad throat infection or cold. Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and helps soothe a sore throat by reducing the inflammation. When combined with honey, it has a stronger antimicrobial effect, which aids in conciliating the itchiness in the throat - a common symptom of a sore throat and an early indication of a throat infection. Additionally, ginger also helps to block the pro-inflammatory proteins in the body that are known to cause soreness and itchiness in the throat.
Garlic
This condiment, which adds a delicious flavor to your food, also works wonders for your throat. It is known for its antiseptic properties that help alleviate the itchiness and pain you experience when you have a sore throat. One of the best home remedies to treat sore throat symptoms and boost immunity is to chew a raw garlic clove and consume its juices. When garlic is crushed, it releases allicin, which is an organosulfur compound known for its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, thereby keeping all kinds of infections at bay. You can also use this herb in your soups and curries.
Thyme
It’s about ‘thyme’ we start talking about the medicinal properties of Thymus vulgaris, also known as thyme, which is predominantly used in Mediterranean cuisine. This herb contains a very important active ingredient known as thymol, which has a wide range of effects on the body, right from preventing viral and fungal infections to boosting the immunity.
Additionally, it is well-known for its long-standing uses as a respiratory agent in traditional medicine. Those suffering from a sore throat, seasonal allergies, blocked sinuses, chronic asthma, congestion, colds, flu, or bronchitis, can brew themselves a hot cup of thyme tea as it acts as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent. It helps to reduce inflammation (if any) in the respiratory tract and removes phlegm and mucus from the lungs to help breathe easy.
Licorice Root
Another great remedy for sore throat is licorice root. Simply chewing a twig of licorice soothes the itchiness in the throat and the huskiness in the voice. A cup of licorice tea or kadha (containing the herb) may help reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract and reduce the risk of serious bronchial ailments. You can also gargle with licorice root extract and warm water to ward off throat inflammation.
Turmeric
Turmeric is known for its antiseptic and antispasmodic properties. Known as a powerful antioxidant, curcumin present in turmeric helps to fight infections and reduce inflammation, preventing the onset of respiratory ailments. A mixture of turmeric and milk works wonders on the throat and helps eliminate any pathogens in the body thanks to its antiviral and antibacterial properties. Massaging your chest with turmeric volatile oil also helps remove congestion from the chest and prevent breathlessness. Gargling with turmeric, salt and hot water helps ease the sore throat.
Our Apple cider vinegar Plus (ACV+) contains turmeric, amla, black pepper and cinnamon, which when consumed with warm water daily can help keep throat infections at bay!
You can also try out Wellbeing Nutrition’s Throat Relief Melts, which are formulated using the potent blend of internationally sourced ingredients like Manuka Honey and native Indian herbs and spices like curcumin, ginger, clove, and Holy basil that help to alleviate cold, congestion, sore throat and other respiratory ailments.
References
- Phytochemical-rich medicinal plant extracts suppress bacterial antigens-induced inflammation in human tonsil epithelial cells, Niluni M. Wijesundara, Satvir Sekhon-Loodu, and HP Vasantha Rupasinghe, Peer Journal, 2017, doi: 10.7717/peerj.3469 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5483044/)
- Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic, S Ankri, D Mirelman, Microbes and Infection Journal, doi: 10.1016/s1286-4579(99)80003-3, (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10594976/)
- Efficacy and tolerability of a fluid extract combination of thyme herb and ivy leaves and matched placebo in adults suffering from acute bronchitis with productive cough. A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, Bernd Kemmerich, Reinhild Eberhardt, Holger Stammer, Randomized Controlled Trial, 2006,doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1296767. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17063641/
- Licorice Root, National Centre For Complementary and Integrative Health, https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/licorice-root
- A Review on Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antifungal Activity of Curcumin, Biomed Research International, Soheil Zorofchian Moghadamtousi, Habsah Abdul Kadir, Pouya Hassandarvish, Hassan Tajik, Sazaly Abubakar, and Keivan Zandi, Biomed Research International, 2014, doi: 10.1155/2014/186864, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4022204/
