Any herbalist can give you a lengthy list of herbs to help a sore throat—but have you ever wondered how these botanicals actually work?
There are factors we consider when choosing what goes into a sore throat remedy—namely, the actions of the herbs. Herbal actions refer to the ways in which constituents in plants can affect the human body.
(For example, herbs that can break down phlegm are known as anticatarrhal; pain relieving compounds have an analgesic action, and so forth.)
Your herbalist will look for constituents that are well-positioned to address your most bothersome symptoms. A sore throat remedy might include the following herbal actions:
Anti-inflammatory: If your throat is hot and inflamed, reducing that inflammation can help to lessen the pain.
Anticatarrhal: Plants with this action can relieve you of excessive phlegm in two ways. They can thin the mucous, making it easier to eliminate, or they can directly inhibit the body’s production of mucous in the first place.
Expectorant: Expectorants are similar in function to anticatarrhal herbs, except they work by causing the body to expel the excess mucous. They can be either stimulating or soothing. In this case, since the mucous membranes may be irritated already, a soothing expectorant may be chosen. This will remove phlegm from the body while nourishing the tissues at the same time.
Analgesic: Analgesic herbs are simply pain relievers, and they can help numb your throat so you can rest, eat and drink in comfort.
What is your go-to herb for sore throats? Shoot me a line at info@lilyoftheforest.com and let me know!
Disclaimer: Do not take any herbal remedies without consulting a qualified healthcare practitioner, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications or if you have serious underlying health concerns.
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