10/25/2022
What herbal remedies do you use? ✨
When I was growing up, my grandmother always had me gargle with sage tea when I had a sore throat. It worked great, alleviating that horrible pain that I’d feel when swallowing. Research now confirms what my grandmother already knew.
A familiar herb grown in many a garden, sage has a comforting, soothing scent that lends itself to savory recipes and is also a wonderful herbal remedy. In fact, the genus name salvia, from the word salvere “to save,” was likely given in honor of its revered place in medicine. Though there are many things I could write about this lovely herb, today I want to focus on my grandmother's favorite use of sage- sore throats.
One clinical trial of 286 people with acute pharyngitis (sore throat) found that a 15 percent sage spray provided symptom relief within 2 hours of taking the first treatment. Another study found that sage was equally effective as a throat spray containing an antibacterial plus 2 percent lidocaine, a topical anesthetic. To make your own sage gargle: pour 1 cup of hot water over 2 teaspoons of fresh or 1 teaspoon dried sage, steep for 10 minutes, strain and add ¼ teaspoon salt. For minor sore throats, gargle with the sage tea every couple hours, it works like magic.
Schapowal A, et al. Eur J Med Res 2009; 14(9):406-12.
Hubbert M, et al. Eur J Med Res 2006; 11(1):20-6.
