Home Remedy: Sore Throat Tea

Two posts today. That’s because the cold that’s been hovering over me the past two days, making me tired, lethargic and very un-motivated, finally settled in my throat. I was so sleepy when we came home from church that I took a two-hour nap, and when I woke up, swallowing had become a miserable activity.

But I know a sure-fire remedy. This simple tea is a life-saver when you’re suffering from a sore throat. I discovered this recipe years back when a similarly miserable cold made me wince every time I swallowed. It was so painful that it woke me up in the middle of the night, and I knew that if I didn’t do something, I’d never get back to sleep. So I googled “home remedies for sore throat,” and found this simple concoction. Ten minutes later I was finishing the last drop of this sore throat tea, and it had truly done what it promised.

Honey is always soothing for a sore throat. That’s due to its anti-inflammatory properties (raw honey is best if you have access to some). Lemon also helps with the inflammation tormenting your poor swollen throat, and because it is astringent, it creates a hostile environment for bacteria and virus. That leaves the cayenne. The capsaicin it contains also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. So this simple concoction really provides a punch against the enemy in your throat.

You probably won’t like the cayenne at first — or ever — but that’s what makes it “sure-FIRE.” 🙂

All you need is:

• hot water
• 1 1/2 TBSP lemon juice
• 1 1/2 TBSP honey (I usually use a little less honey and a little more lemon juice, but that’s just because I like the tartness)
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix well and sip till gone. Repeat throughout the day. It really helps — but you need to drink it all!