Natural Remedies for a Sore Throat

Most sore throats are from a viral infection from a cold or a flu, but they can also come from a bacterial infection as in the case of strep throat. 

The nose and throat are the gateway of infection into the body. At the onset of a scratchy or sore throat taking natural remedy can quickly and effectively relieve the inflammation and  prevent more serious infection. The key with any medicinals is to use them appropriately to support the body’s natural healing mechanism.

Most natural remedies are safe to use and effective for children and during pregnancy, but it is always wise to consult your doctor if you have any concerns.

Classic Chinese herbal remedies from the Han dynasty 200BC-220AD to Qing dynasty 1644-1836 successfully treat sore throats as well as more serious febrile diseases. They are in use today because of their efficacy.

Yin Qiao Ma Bo San: Honeysuckle, Forsythia, and Puffball powder)  Treats severe sore throat with difficulty swallowing as with febrile diseases such as covid-19.  

Contains: Honeysuckle, Forsythia, burdock root, Belamcanda Rhizome, .Puffball, the fruiting body of mushrooms), 

Forsythia: (Lian Qiao)has anti-inflammatory properties and is a main herb in many Chinese herbal formulas involving sore throats and fevers. 

Honeysuckle: (Jin Yin Hua) studies show that it has strong anti-viral properties. In chinese herbal medicine honeysuckle is called Jin Yin Hua and is a main herb in many formulas used for prevention and treatment of Covid-19. 

Burdock root seed: (Niu Bang Zi) Burdock root is both food and medicine. In Chinese medicine it is called Niu Bang and the seeds Niu Bang Zi are used for treating “heat” conditions such as fever, cough, and a sore, red swollen throat.  It is combined with other herbs to create fever formulas and “heat” conditions.

Heat conditions in Chinese medicine are inflammations such as arthritis or infections, in particular studies show that Burdock root is anti-inflammatory and also antioxidant meaning that it is cancer fighting. Research shows that the extracts of burdock root are able to break down the biofilm of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics treatment of bladder infections. 

Puffball mushroom(Ma Bo) -  Mature fruiting body has many antioxidant properties and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity.

Yin Qiao San: (Honeysuckle and Forsythia powder) Treats fever, headache, cough and sore throat. This is the early stage of getting sick, and patients take it as soon as they feel a little scratchy throat. The chief herbs Honeysuckle and Forsythia.

Research  shows this formula is effective for upper respiratory infections and common colds. It is a classic Chinese medicine formula.

Ban Lan Gen and Da Qing Ye: Isatis root and Isatis leaf treat influenza and sore throat. Usually these herbs are part of a formula, but can be found and used as a single herb in a tincture or in a lozenge form in an Asian herbal shop.

Herbs and herbal teas can be brewed alone or in combinations, all one needs is hot water and let them steep. Teas can also be stored in the refrigerator as a cold beverage. 

• Peppermint tea: Helps with digestion and the menthol in peppermint helps with opening the sinuses. In Chinese herbal medicine it is called Bo He and is a chief herb for sinus and throat formulas. 

• Dandelion flower tea: Sore throats and mastitis, it is also good for “heat” conditions such as  bladder infections and inflammation. In Chinese herbal medicine it is called Pu Gong Ying and is used in formulas for breast tenderness and mastitis with breastfeeding and detoxing the liver.  Studies show that dandelion also helps with liver function and  has anti-diabetic effects which helps with blood sugar regulation.

• Honeysuckle: Use for sinus upper respiratory tract infections including colds, influenza, pneumonia, digestive disorders and studies show that it has strong anti-viral properties. In Chinese herbal medicine honeysuckle is called Jin Yin Hua and is a main herb in many formulas used for prevention and treatment of Covid-19. 

• Chrysanthemum flower tea: Is used traditionally for summer teas and is as popular as green tea. It is called Ju Hua in Chinese medicine and studies show that it can help reduce inflammation, extracts of chrysanthemum show that it can help with osteoporosis. Similar to Dandelion Ju Hua also can relieve liver toxicity by “cooling” the blood. 

• Gargling with apple cider vinegar and warm salt water. Vinegar and salt water can help relieve swollen and inflamed tissue in the throat and break up mucus. Both vinegar and salt create an environment that is unfriendly to bacteria that may be causing the inflammation. They both disrupt the biofilms formed by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. 1-2 teaspoons of ACV in warm water with salt, gargle 20-30 seconds then spit.

• Honey, Lemon and Ginger for a Sore throat: I recommend to my patients Manuka honey to add to their tea with lemon and ginger.  Manuka honey comes from the flowers of Manuka shrub that are in the Tea Tree family that have stronger antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties than average honey. 

How can ginger and ginger tea be beneficial for your health?

Ginger tea can improve your digestion and support you immune system.

Drinking ginger tea has many health benefits, in addition to being caffeine free ginger has many medicinal properties. Helping with nausea and settling an upset stomach are only some of the benefits.

Ginger (root) tea has great antioxidant properties and has shown to have anticancer potential. 

Ginger can help fight colds and bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Together with some lemon and honey it is a powerful addition for a cold remedy.

Pain relief from osteoarthritis in the knee.

Improve heart health by lowering cholesterol lowering and lowering blood pressure.

Ginger is an aromatic spice and comes from the zingiberaceae family that includes turmeric and cardamom. Ginger is used in food and drink for flavor and medicine because they can the stomach and in It was one of the first spices to make its way to Europe during the spice trade.

Chinese cuisine: You will always find a little ginger and garlic blending flavors and it will assist in digestion and overall health.

Chinese Medicine: Ginger (Sheng Jiang) is found in most of Chinese herbal formulas together with licorice because of its effect on the gastrointestinal system. It helps to improve the delivery of medicine by helping with digestion and absorption.   

Ginger has so many health benefits and can easily become part of your immune boosting toolkit.

What Can we Love about the Coronavirus?

For once multiple countries are working together to stop this highly contagious Covid-19 from spreading.

THIS COULD BE THE ANSWER TO WORLD PEACE... we may only see this kind of cooperation when aliens attack Earth.

For once multiple countries are working together to stop this highly contagious illness from spreading.

There is nothing like a deadly virus along with a media pandemic to get us to pay attention to our inadequate healthcare system and how well we personally are prepared for health crises such as Covid-19. 

I only wish that the news cycles would give some EQUAL focus on the vast number of people that have recovered from the virus and alternatives they are using to stay healthy. 

If Covid-19 has your attention, you are not alone. This is a wake up call to getting serious about real risks to your health and how close we as a society come to self destruction because of our own neglect to our health and world around us.

YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED AND PROTECT YOURSELF

The REALITY is when we tell ourselves we "don't have time" or "I wish I could", we are missing the subtlety that health and wellness is not a priority.  I believe that this is a seminal moment as a society to take the coronavirus as a wake up call.

It's not okay to ignore the fact that we need to be in GREAT health ALL the time.

Viruses and bacterial infections are opportunistic, meaning they find a weakness in your body and enter. 

It is no surprise the people most vulnerable to dying from the flu and the coronavirus have chronic illnesses such as heart disease, depression, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.  These chronic illnesses are preventable.

Aside from all the precautions of hand washing, not touching your face, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, washing surfaces etc. there is more that you can do and quite frankly should do.

Currently no vaccine is available for Covid-19 so when we do encounter the coronavirus, how well we recover will depend on how strong our body and it’s immune system is.

You should be aware that vaccines are not the only way to prevent the effects of deadly viruses. Clinical trials and studies show that Chinese herbal medicine was effectively used for prevention and treatment of SARS and H1N1 influenza.  Combined with antivirals patients recovered faster than those that did not use the herbal medicine.

It is not a plant medicine substitute with healing properties, it is a system of healthcare practices.

Because Chinese medicine has been treating infectious diseases for thousands of years with herbs and acupuncture as well as other healing methods, traditional Chinese medicine is being used right now on thousands of patients with the coronavirus. 

Antivirals will not be enough right now to support and complement antiviral drugs being administered to the people with coronavirus. 

That is why Chinese medicine, acupuncture, herbs, massage, and mind body principles are so powerful and effective for staying healthy and recovering quickly from illnesses.  This is something that antibiotics, antivirals or surgery doesn't help with.

The main principles of Chinese medicine are to cultivate health, wellness and longevity. This is playing a long game. 

Cultivating health and wellness is relevant for now and for the future, and is something I help my patients get clear on what they can do. 

If you feel you have all the answers you need or this topic is not resonating with you that is completely normal. I don’t expect everyone to find relevance or urgency to make changes to how they approach their health for a better future.

What will NOT work: Buying face masks, stocking up on hand sanitizers and bleaching everything in sight. This is tantamount to hiding under your desk during a nuclear attack. It’s being “doing something”, but will not really help.

If you want to know more, please keep reading.

What is the REAL danger to your health and future? 

APATHY

Lack of interest, concern or enthusiasm where your health is concerned. Here is where you have the power to care enough to take some action.

Are you at risk of catching the coronavirus? 

We can’t be certain,  but what we can be sure of is there will be another pandemic virus and each time they emerge smarter.

Currently no vaccine is available for this Covid-19 and a vaccine is not a guarantee of safety by any means.  It will always be up to our immune systems to respond to the virus and if we are strong enough to survive it when we are exposed.

How can acupuncture and Chinese medicine play a pivotal role in preventing the coronavirus?

Chinese medicine is a collaborative medicine, meaning patient and practitioner work together to find health solutions, educate and empower the patient to heal themselves.  This is done by strengthening the protective qi (immune system) from penetration by pathogens (viruses and bacteria) and regulating internal systems such as the nervous system, immune system, breathing, sleep, emotionally, digestion, lymph and circulation. 

The most important thing that you can do to protect yourself from the flu virus and other illnesses, is to have a health practice everyday all year round.  In addition to a series of personalized acupuncture sessions that can quickly and efficiently help your body regulate itself, here are some basic steps.

What does a health practice look like? 

1. Sleep 7-8 hours of regenerative sleep

2. Diet - nutritionally dense and organic

3. Movement - exercise that help with circulation, mobility, strength and function

4. Mindfulness practice - consciousness around what you listen to and the thoughts that create your reality.

5. Regular acupuncture will get your body and mind in order much more efficiently so you don’t waste time. 

If you are stressed out, not sleeping, overweight, not exercising or eating healthy foods your immune system will be weak and unable to protect you.  Areas that you have control over are a great place to start.

What changes you can do now to avoid health pitfalls?

With all the health information available to people I was shocked at the statistics of causes of death in the US…

Poor diet:  678,000 deaths each year in the U.S., due to nutrition- and obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Tobacco: 480,000 (according to the CDC reports)

Alcohol: 88,000 (NIAAA-NIH)

Influenza: According to the CDC, the latest reports show in 2019-2020 influenza(flu) has caused the deaths of 16,000-41,000 Americans, hospitalized 280,000-500,000, and sickened 29 -41 million.