Rosemary And Sage Sore Throat Spray
A sore throat is a symptom of many viral infections such as the common cold and flu, but in some rare cases, it may be caused by bacteria such as streptococcus. Of course, the average sufferer may not know exactly what the cause of their sore throat is, since even the common cold can be caused by several viruses or bacteria, so the remedy below tries to cover a broad range of anti-bacterial and anti-viral compounds that are found in just three common (and hardy!) garden herbs.
Rosemary
One of my favorite herbs that grow wild around our place, the compounds cineole, camphor, and alpha-pinene in rosemary essential oil are proven pain relievers. Rosemary also can increase blood circulation and decrease inflammation and it can increase the potency of over-the-counter antibiotics when used in combination. There are numerous compounds in rosemary which help to battle a sore throat associated with a cold or flu. This includes the anti-influenza rosmarinic acid, oleanolic acid, and eucalyptol, as well as the anti-bacterial caffeic acid, camphor, and alpha-pinene. It can also break down the biofilm surrounding viruses and bacteria.
In general, plants high in triterpenoids like rosemary tend to have good anti-viral properties.
Oregano
Another hardy herb to grow, oregano has numerous medicinal properties perfect for treating a sore throat, particularly strep throat. In lab tests, oregano essential oil started destroying streptococcus bacteria biofilm within 5 minutes.
Oregano essential oil is approximately 91% carvacrol. This produces a warming, tingling sensation which can be irritating at first if your throat already feels hot and inflamed.
Sage
Sage essential oil is another herb for fighting strep throat. It can break down the biofilm of strep bacteria (although it took up to 4 hours in lab tests to achieve this) and it is a strong generalized anti-bacterial agents. It is thought that the active compounds to fight strep throat in sage essential oil is alpha-thujone (28.5%) and camphor (16.6%).
At least three flavonoids have been identified in sage that inhibits the influenza virus, and in addition to this, sage also reduces the body’s sensitivity to pain and reduces inflammation.
Sore Throat Spray
While many of the beneficial compounds mentioned above are found in essential oil, some of them are more soluble in alcohol (or water), especially warm alcohol. For this reason, the remedy below uses both plant material (either fresh or dried) and essential oil.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups of alcohol (at least 40% or 80 proof)
- 1 tablespoon of chopped sage
- 1 tablespoon of chopped rosemary
- 1 tablespoon of chopped oregano
- 10 drops of sage essential oil
- 10 drops of rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops of oregano essential oil
Method
Warm the alcohol to between 120 – 140 °F (50 – 60 °C) in a jar sitting in a pot of warm water (or sit the jar on the woodstove in winter as I did below) then add the 3 herbs, stir and put the lid on.
Maintain the heat for 2 hours and stir occasionally.
Allow to cool and then strain.
Add the essential oil, pour into a small spray bottle and it’s ready to use.
Application and Shelf-life
Be sure to shake before use.
Give your mouth and throat a spray every 3 hours.
Store in a dark, cool location for up to 1 year.
Something to always bear in mind is that the medicinal effects seen in some medical tests and research are sometimes using chloroform extracts that are more potent compared to your average DIY remedy, especially with respect to anti-inflammatories. For this reason, I have tried to reference research articles that utilize essential oils where possible.
With the cold and influenza season in full swing, we need all the help we can get to keep our immune systems healthy and strong. Here are a few of Nicole’s top picks that are found in the Essential Winter Defense Bundle. Whether maintaining lung health, boosting immunity, or reducing fevers, each herb supports overall well-being this winter and beyond.
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Can you use dried herbs or do they need to be fresh?
Also can you omit the herbs all together and just use the EO’s?
Hi Kelley,
If you only want to use dried herbs without any EOs, then for 1.5 cups of alcohol, you want to add 35 grams of each of the 3 herbs (105 grams in total).
If you only want to use EOs, then for 1.5 cups of alcohol, you want NO MORE than 40 drops (or 2.6 ml) of essential oil in total. This will give you a dilution rate of about 0.5% which is the maximum for ingesting EOs.
** Essential oils can be safe for internal use if you are using high-quality, organic, adequately tested, and sourced essential oils. If the essential oil says it is for “aromatherapy only” then do not use it. Those types of oils have been blended with perfumes or toxins to achieve the aroma and are not safe for ingestion.
I hope this helps!
What kind of alcohol?
I usually use vodka as it doesn’t have flavor to it. It does not have to be “top shelf”, the cheap stuff works just fine. I also use Everclear for tinctures or extracts because it is 190 proof or 95% alcohol. However for this I wouldn’t recommend that because it is highly flammable.
I need 5 full cups of alcohol? Seems like a lot. What is the ratio if I only want to make a cup of the throat spray.
The recipe says 1.5 cups not 5 cups
They changed it obviously. You will see other comments at 5 cups
Not to be rude or anything but the recipe says 1.5 cups not 15 cups
Hi Wendy,
Good catch 🙂 Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention.
Unfortunately, it was an editing error and we already made the appropriate changes.
We always appreciate your feedback. It means that we can better understand what we are doing well, and where there are areas where we need to make improvements.
Many blessings and good health!
Thank you! I love these great recipes for better health!
Where do I find these essential oils?
The highest frequency essential oils are from Young Living, who actually control every step from the seed used to planting, weeding, harvesting and distilling. Contact me for details. I share information and discounts so we all can benefit. Email is jwest161@yahoo.com
Hi, I buy my herbs and herbal products from Mount Rose Herbs. Look them up on the internet. They are fantastic
I second that. There products are pure. YL might be good but I tend to stay away from MLM products
Sage essential oil
https://amzn.to/3J10Iad
Rosemary essential oil
https://amzn.to/3L7OyhB
Oregano essential oil
https://amzn.to/3HsFUYT
Revive EO’s are great option and less expensive non MLM. Plus free shopping and 3rd party tested. Try them.
can i just use oils
Hi Pamela,
If you only want to use EOs, then for 1.5 cups of alcohol, you want NO MORE than 40 drops (or 2.6 ml) of essential oil in total. This will give you a dilution rate of about 0.5% which is the maximum for ingesting EOs.
** Essential oils can be safe for internal use if you are using high-quality, organic, adequately tested, and sourced essential oils. If the essential oil says it is for “aromatherapy only” then do not use it. Those types of oils have been blended with perfumes or toxins to achieve the aroma and are not safe for ingestion.
Many blessings and good health!
For people who are allergic to alcohol, what can be used in place of the alco?hol
Hi Debbie,
Glycerin could be a good substitute for the alcohol since it has similar extraction properties, but you would have to water it down quite a bit in order to get it into liquid form for the spray. This water would definitely reduce the shelf-life to 2 weeks or so, even when stored in the fridge.
Vinegar is another option. While it doesn’t have the same extraction power as alcohol, it won’t require any addition of water to the remedy, so it will have a shelf-life of at least 6 months.
Many blessings and good health!
Good morning, What kind of alcohol are we talking about?
Vodka, rum, etc
Thank you for your recipes! Can I make this spray only with essential oils?
Hi Rachel< If you only want to use EOs, then for 1.5 cups of alcohol, you want NO MORE than 40 drops (or 2.6 ml) of essential oil in total. This will give you a dilution rate of about 0.5% which is the maximum for ingesting EOs. ** Essential oils can be safe for internal use if you are using high-quality, organic, adequately tested, and sourced essential oils. If the essential oil says it is for “aromatherapy only” then do not use it. Those types of oils have been blended with perfumes or toxins to achieve the aroma and are not safe for ingestion. Many blessings and good health!
My preferred alcohol for herbalist applications is: culinarysolvents.com; they have high quality, pure alcohol solvents that affect flavor less than vodka, rum, etc.
Apologies, that link wasn’t supposed to have an ‘s’ at the end! It is rather: https://culinarysolvent.com/
25 drops of oil is a an intense amount if you are using pure EO – which you absolutely can’t tell by the label bc the FDA doesn’t regulate so… please research!!!
5 cups? Is this right? Can apple cider vinegar be used instead of alcohol – for children? Thank you.
On 12-06-21 $38.85 was taken out of my bank card for the foragers guide to wild foods. as of 2-2 22 i have received not received anything. let me know what is going on. thank you.
Hi David,
Thank you for purchasing The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods.
Please check your personal email for a message regarding your order.
Many blessings and good health!
It seems like since there is so much essential oils used, maybe you don’t need to use any herbs? Or can you make this with just herbs?
My son is a reformed alcoholic, what can I substitute for the alcohol?
Hi Sunny,
Glycerin could be a good substitute for the alcohol since it has similar extraction properties, but you would have to water it down quite a bit in order to get it into liquid form for the spray. This water would definitely reduce the shelf-life to 2 weeks or so, even when stored in the fridge.
Vinegar is another option. While it doesn’t have the same extraction power as alcohol, it won’t require any addition of water to the remedy, so it will have a shelf-life of at least 6 months.
Many blessings and good health!
Thank you-all for the advice
On 07-07-2021, or within a few days of that date, $37 (plus tax) was deducted from my bank for the book “Guide to Wild Foods”. I still haven’t received the (hard copy) book as of 2-4-22. I am sure your company had the intention of sending the book, and it may be an oversight, seen as it has been more that 6 months since I purchased it online. Thank you so much for looking into this for me.
Fran Christensen
Hi Fran,
Thank you for purchasing The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods.
Please check your personal email for a message regarding your order.
Many blessings and good health!
Fran, months ago I bought several books along with Lost Herbs book as well and never received them. I’ve never found a “contact” to send an email to. Can you help?
Oops. Did not mean to address this comment to Fran.
I never received my eBooks either. I purchased Lost Herbs last year. Can you assist?
Hi Bonnie,
Thank you for your interest in our work.
Please check your personal email. I sent you an email with a link that will give you access again to your purchase and your digital books.
Many blessings and good health!
Purchase date was 9/3/21
Similar to Fran, I purchased Lost Herbs on 9/3/21 along with several other books and never received them. Thanks for your help.
Hi – The recipe looks great.
Having said that, as an aromatherapist and certified herbalist, don’t you think that heating the EO even at relatively low temperatures might impair on their characteristics and benefits?
Wouldn’t it be more advisable to just heat the herbs and alcohol and only after that process is done to add the EO?
tnx
It looks like it says to add them after.
I am also still waiting for books I purchased.
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your interest in our work.
Please check your personal email for a message regarding your book order.
Many blessings and good health!
How can we make our own essential oils?
I also purchased books and still haven’t received them,I want the actual book,a book that I can hold in my hands not a book that I have to look it up in a screen,so can you please send me the actual books I bought, one of them is The Lost Book of Herbal Remedy I can’t remember the others,but you must have it in my record.
Similar to comments above, I also have purchased books in January but have not yet received them or had an email about them?
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your interest in our work.
Please check your personal email for a message regarding your order.
Many blessings and good health!