Echinacea Throat Spray

During cold and flu season it is important to take care of comfort and avoid secondary infections. This spray is a champion on both counts. We have been using this spray for many years in my family. It is adapted from a recipe in Rosemary Gladstar’s book Medicinal Herbs.

For a dry, scratchy throat, it can be very soothing. For an angry, hot and inflamed throat it can be very cooling. For a painful sore throat, it can relieve that pain quickly. It has the added benefit of three antivirals that go to work on any throat or mouth infection reducing the risk of more serious secondary infections.

I find this throat spray a necessary part of our Herbal First Aid Kit.

 

Echinacea Throat Spray

• 1/2 cup (120 ml) Echinacea Tincture
• 1/8 cup (30 ml) honey
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil (more or less to taste)

Mix together the Echinacea tincture and honey.

Add the peppermint oil drop by drop until the spray has the right flavour for your taste. 

Pour the liquid into a spray bottle.

Shake well before each use.

Spray directly into the back of the mouth, toward the throat, once every half hour or as needed. 

Keep in the refrigerator.

This should last up to six weeks refrigerated.

 

Medicinal Actions:

Echinacea: immunostimulant, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. It has an affinity for bronchial and respiratory infections as well as throat and overall oral infections. It has a full complement of polysaccharides, which help protect cells against invasion by viruses and bacteria.

Peppermint: analgesic (pain relief), antiviral, antispasmodic, coolant, antibacterial, antifungal

Honey: vulnerary (wound healing), antiviral, antibacterial, high viscosity provides a barrier protecting against infection