Gargling with herbs

Herbs for gargling are the basis of alternative methods for treating sore throat. The benefits of such procedures are also recognized by official medicine. Biochemically active compounds with therapeutic effects have been found in a variety of herbal medicinal preparations.

Using herbal decoctions and infusions for washing the throat, it must be remembered that the liquid must be at an acceptable temperature. Almost all recipes include boiling water as a reliable way to extract medicinal substances from the cells of the herb. But you cannot rinse your throat with too hot solutions - the liquid must first be allowed to cool independently to room temperature. At the same time, this will increase the concentration of the infusion.

Another important principle of using herbal throat rinses is the mandatory filtration before use.

In the process of preparing a liquid, solid components will inevitably be present in the mixture. If you take the infusion or broth unstrained, then the risk of mechanical trauma to the already inflamed and irritated mucous membrane of the throat increases significantly.

Finally, given the usually rather mild effect that phytopreparations have in solutions, it is recommended to rinse at least 5-6 times a day. Optimally, the intervals between procedures should not exceed 1 hour. In addition, it will be useful to alternate between different types of decoctions and infusions. This will enhance the healing effect and speed up recovery.

Selected medicinal herbs

Rinsing with phytopreparations ensures the delivery of the medicinal compounds contained there directly to the site of injury - to the inflamed mucous membrane of the pharynx and tonsils. Therefore, the therapeutic effect of the infusions begins immediately after the procedure.

The most simple recipes involve the use of one herbal remedy made from a medicinal herb. St. John's wort, oregano, medicinal sage, coltsfoot, yarrow and other plants are used as raw materials. The standard dosage in these cases is 1 tablespoon of crushed dry herb, which is brewed in 1 glass of boiling water.

Important! Any herbal preparation has a risk of individual reactions of intolerance. Before starting treatment, make sure the patient is not allergic to the specific herb.

In addition to the most common herbal remedies described above, you can gargle with the following solutions:

• 5 tablespoons of horsetail, pour half a liter of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes;
• pour 2 tablespoons of raspberry leaves with 1 cup boiling water and leave for 15 minutes;
• for 1 glass of boiling water, take 2 tablespoons of dried calendula and leave for 30 minutes;
• 2 tablespoons of crushed rhizomes of marsh calamus insist for 4-5 hours in 1 glass of cold water, and then boil for 5 minutes over low heat;
• for half an hour boil 2 tablespoons of medicinal burnet in 1 glass of water in a water bath, and then insist for another 10 minutes and squeeze out the liquid;
• Boil 4 tablespoons of black elderberry flowers in 1 glass of water for 5 minutes and let cool;
• for 100 g of blueberry berries, take half a liter of water and evaporate the solution over low heat to half the original volume;
• in a water bath, boil 2 tablespoons of eucalyptus leaves in 1 glass of water for 7-10 minutes and filter the liquid through 5-6 gauze layers.

Aloe

Special attention should be paid to this medicinal plant in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the throat. Aloe contains phytoncides - substances of natural origin that have a pronounced antibacterial effect, and pathogenic bacteria most often cause throat pathologies. In addition, aloe contains natural antioxidants, B vitamins, vitamin C (necessary for the immune system to work) and allantoin - a compound with an analgesic effect.

• Take 3-4 medium-sized aloe leaves, wrap with paper and refrigerate for a week. Then turn them into a homogeneous mass with a meat grinder or blender. Pour in 0.5 liters of water and boil. After cooling and straining the liquid, start rinsing.
• Squeeze the juice from the aloe leaves you have and dilute with an equal volume of water. Pour a pinch of baking soda into 1 glass of the resulting solution and add 3 drops of iodine.
• Not only a therapeutic, but also a preventive effect with frequent tonsillitis is provided by pure aloe juice mixed with water. Take 20 drops of juice for 1 glass of water, warm up and gargle daily.

Chamomile

Speaking about what herbs to gargle with its inflammatory lesions, one cannot fail to mention the pharmacy chamomile.

This herbal remedy has anti-inflammatory, sedative and disinfecting effects at the same time.

Important! It is useful to use chamomile even in infants, but it is forbidden to use it in pregnant women. This herb stimulates estrogen synthesis, which can interfere with pregnancy.

Recipe number 1

The easiest way to prepare an infusion of chamomile from a ready-made prepackaged drug, which is sold in pharmacies. For 1 glass of boiling water, you will need 1 sachet (reminiscent of a tea) of dry herb.

Recipe number 2

Buy bulk dry chamomile at the pharmacy and prepare a decoction at the rate of 1 tablespoon of herbal remedy for 1 glass of boiling water. Another option is a short (2-3 minutes) boil of 3 tablespoons of chamomile in half a liter of water.

Recipe number 3

Take 1 tablespoon of chamomile and the same amount of medicinal calendula flowers. Pour the mixture with 1 cup boiling water and let it brew for 15-20 minutes. Then add 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the solution. Stir the liquid thoroughly, achieving a fine distribution of the oil and carrying out a throat flush.

Recipe number 4

This is a collection of several medicinal herbs, in which the role of the base is played by the pharmacy chamomile. For maximum disinfecting and anti-inflammatory action, take equal parts:

• dry chamomile;
• Hypericum perforatum;
• eucalyptus leaves;
• flax seeds.

Stir all herbal remedies and boil with boiling water at the rate of 2 tablespoons of the mixture per 1 glass of water.

Recipe number 5

Sore throat is often accompanied by loss of voice. A recipe will help to cope with this, which prescribes to add 1 teaspoon of liquid honey to 1 glass of liquid to the above-described infusion of four medicinal herbs. Honey should be placed in a warm, but not hot solution - this will preserve medicinal substances that decompose under the influence of high temperature.

Recipe number 6

For the prevention of colds in the throat, it is useful to use a decoction of chamomile and oak bark. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect of chamomile will be enhanced by the disinfecting effect of the tannins that make up the oak bark.

Liquids containing chamomile and other phytopreparations are intended for use on the first day after preparation.

Sometimes it is difficult to find enough time to properly prepare the chamomile infusion, let it cool, etc. In this case, it is convenient to use ready-made herbal remedies. For example, in the assortment of pharmacies there is a medicine sold under the brand name Romazulan - a natural extract of chamomile flowers. Just add a few drops of this product to warm water, stir and rinse.

Collection of medicinal herbs

Mixtures of different phytopreparations produce a combined effect on the mucous membrane of the throat, simultaneously providing anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, emollient, enveloping and other effects. Here are some recipes for such fees:

1. Take equal amounts of crushed calamus roots and oak bark.Put 2 tablespoons of the mixture in 1 liter of water and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Then add 1 tablespoon of nettle leaves and the same amount of medicinal sage to the solution. Insist the liquid for 20 minutes.
2. The collection includes 1 large spoonful of elder flowers, sage, marshmallow root and flax seeds, as well as 2 large tablespoons of St. John's wort, calendula and chamomile. Put 1 tablespoon of the mixture on 1 glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour.
3. The collection includes 1 large spoonful of chamomile, licorice and elecampane roots, lime blossom and wild rosemary, as well as 2 large tablespoons of eucalyptus leaves, calendula and sage. Prepare the infusion in the same way as in the recipes above.
4. The collection includes 1 large spoonful of licorice and snake knotweed roots, wormwood and calendula. Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture into 1 glass of water and boil for 10-15 minutes in a water bath. Let the broth brew and cool on its own.

Proper throat flushing

Gargling with herbs is most effective if certain rules and procedure techniques are followed:

1. Use warm but not hot liquids.
2. With the solution in your mouth, tilt your head back.
3. Extend your tongue to the front, tighten your throat and make a dull “P” sound while rinsing.
4. Do not breathe in the process - this will prevent liquid from entering the windpipe.
5. The duration of one procedure is 30 seconds.
6. Rinsing less frequently than once every 2 hours significantly reduces the effectiveness of therapy.
7. It is useful to flush the throat with decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs throughout the course of the disease, as well as after it.