Soothing Throat Spray and Gargle
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A soothing throat spray is very useful during cold and flu season. It is also applied straight to the area for extra soothing and healing effect. This my favorite throat spray designed by Valeri Cooksley that I modified some.
Throat Spray
1/2 cup of Chamomile herbal tea
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon raw honey or sage honey - see below for instructions
3 drops of lemon
1 drop frankincense
1 drop of tea tree
Or use your own essential oils combination. Other oils historically used for sore throats according to Valeri Cooksley are:
frankincense, lemon, pine, hyssop, bergamot and lavender.
Make sure that you use high quality essential oils that has been recommended as dietary supplements.
Instructions:
Brew the herbal tea and strain it well. Add the vinegar to the herbal tea, mix the essential oils with the honey and add to the tea mix. Pour it into a glass spray bottle and shake well before each use. One to two spray is enough each time. Use wisely three times a day. Don't eat within 15 minutes after using the spray.
Honey
1 1/2 cups of raw honey
1/4 fresh sage leaves
Heat honey over low heat. Add the sage leaves and heat gently until the sage leaves become dry. Strain with a slotted spoon or sieve. Pour the honey into a clean glass jar. You can add a fresh sage leaf or two to the final honey.
According to Valeri Cooksley, you can also use herbal teas as a base for a gargle when the lymph nodes are swollen:
1 cup thyme or sage herbal tea. Water will work too. You can also combine the thyme and sage.
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sage honey
1 drop geranium
1 drop pine
1 drop lemon
Brew the herbal tea and strain. Add apple cider vinegar. Mix the essential oils with the honey and then add to the warm herbal tea. Stir well and pour into a dark glass bottle. Shake the bottle before use and gargle three times a day. Don't eat right after you gargle. You can of also gargle with just the herbal tea and honey, and you can also choose your own essential oil combination.
Before you leave:
I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.
Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.
Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:
- Topical Application
- Inhaling Essential Oils
- Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
- How to Dilute Essential Oils
- Vita Flex Technique
If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.
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References
Aromatherapy Soothing Remedies to Restore, Rejuvenate, and Heal, Valeri Gennari Cooksley, R.N, Prentice Hall Press, 2002.
Essential Oils Intergrative Medical Guide, Gary Young, ND, Essential Science Publishing, 2006
The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Salvatore Battaglia, The Perfect Potion Pty Ltd, 1997
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