Chamomile and other healing herbs for sore throat

The effectiveness of gargling with chamomile

You can reduce discomfort and get rid of sore throats that occur with infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract by gargling with chamomile. Healers began using a decoction of this plant more than 2000 years ago. But even now, many patients prefer traditional methods rather than pharmaceutical drugs.

When using chamomile for rinsing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and analgesic effects are observed. After the procedure, the pain decreases, some pathogenic microorganisms die.

The effectiveness of gargling with chamomile is due to the properties of the flowers. They have an antiseptic effect and help destroy pathogenic microorganisms. This influence is due to the composition of the flowers. They include healing components:

• vitamin C;
• flavonoids;
• glycosides;
• organic acids;
• coumarins;
• essential oils, incl. which contain chamazulene.

Rinsing is recommended for inflammatory diseases of the larynx, pharynx and mouth. They help alleviate the condition if the patient:

• laryngitis - inflammation of the larynx, accompanied by a dry cough and hoarseness;
• tonsillitis (acute tonsillitis) - damage to the tonsils caused by the action of streptococci, in which severe sore throat, white plaque on the tonsils and enlarged lymph nodes;
• pharyngitis - an inflammatory process localized in the pharynx, manifested by cough, pain and a sore throat.

Just gargling is not enough for recovery. This is a method of auxiliary therapy with which you can moisturize the mucous membrane and temporarily reduce the intensity of pain. The procedure will produce results if you repeat it every 1-2 hours. It is advisable to gargle at least 4-6 times daily.

But gargling with chamomile for a sore throat will not be effective unless you take antibiotics at the same time. Traditional methods can alleviate the condition and speed up the healing process, but it is impossible to get rid of bacteria with their help.

Chamomile does not have a significant effect on the microbes that infect the tonsils or the pharyngeal mucosa.

In addition to infusions and decoctions, you can use special pharmaceutical preparations for treating the throat and oral cavity, which are made on the basis of chamomile. A popular remedy is Aqualor. It contains Roman chamomile extract and aloe vera. It moisturizes the throat, has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

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Is it possible for children and pregnant women?

Nominally, chamomile decoction does not include pregnancy or childhood in the list of contraindications.

But there are several nuances:

1. The plant is not used to treat children under 1 year of age.
2. During pregnancy, use with caution, since there is a high probability of developing allergies.

During the period of frailty, the body's susceptibility increases, which leads to an increased risk of developing various allergic reactions. You can consult a gynecologist or carry out a test rinse and prepare a solution with a low concentration of the active substance. That is, add a little chamomile and pour hot water over it, and then gargle with this decoction. If no allergies are detected, then you can safely use the drug to treat sore throat and other diseases of the respiratory tract and nasopharynx. But how to use a solution for gargling with salt, soda and iodine and who is suitable for this remedy is described here.

Rules for choosing chamomile

You can reduce the severity of the inflammatory process in the throat if you choose the right raw materials for preparing decoctions. Experts in traditional methods of treatment recommend brewing medicinal chamomile. You can collect it yourself or buy it at a pharmacy. Only inflorescences are used for medicinal purposes.

When independently procuring raw materials, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Only medicinal chamomile should be collected - it differs from other types by the empty cavity inside the flower (it can be seen if you cut the inflorescence in half) and the honey-apple aroma;
• The plant should be dried in the open air at a temperature not exceeding +40 ° C in places where the sun’s rays do not reach;

• during the drying process, the inflorescences should be carefully mixed;
• dried plants should be packaged in linen or paper bags; it is not advisable to pack them in cellophane.

It is better to collect flowers in places that are far from roads. Plants located near highways accumulate heavy metals and other harmful substances.

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It is customary to use the inflorescences of the plant for medicinal purposes. They are collected by hand at the very beginning of flowering. The prepared raw materials are dried at an air temperature of no more than 40 degrees and always under a canopy.

One kilogram of freshly picked flowers will ultimately yield 200 grams of medicinal raw materials. Store the resulting product in cellophane or paper bags in a dry place.

Chamomile contains a very valuable substance called chamazulene. It is characterized by powerful action:

anti-inflammatory; anesthetic.

Chamazulene can saturate liquid with its valuable substances, but at a temperature of no more than 90 degrees. When boiled, this beneficial compound is completely destroyed. For this reason, it is prohibited to boil chamomile with water when preparing rinsing solutions.

Gargling with chamomile has an anti-allergic effect and can make the immune system activate. The inflorescences of the plant also contain a large amount of vitamins C and A.

Thanks to these wonderful properties, chamomile decoction will be an excellent cure for a sore throat.

Steaming rules

To prepare a healing liquid, you need to figure out how to brew chamomile for gargling. Fans of alternative medicine offer several options for making infusions, decoctions or teas. They are designed to disinfect, moisturize, reduce inflammation and reduce pain intensity.

You can gargle with any of the prepared drinks.

Before carrying out the procedure, the liquid should be filtered. If desired, you can add 1-2 drops of iodine to it. It accelerates the process of regeneration of damaged tissues. Adding salt allows you to equalize osmotic pressure and prevent the appearance of swelling and a feeling of dryness that occurs after rinsing with chamomile.

Infusions

Most alternative healing experts recommend making an infusion. To prepare it, rinse the teapot with 200 ml boiling water and pour 2 tsp into it. chamomile flowers. It is recommended to fill them not with boiling water, but with water whose temperature will be +90…+93 °C. The infusion is prepared for 30 minutes.

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You can make a cold water infusion. But the concentration of nutrients in it will be low; it can only be used to moisturize the throat. To prepare you need 10 tsp. dried flowers pour 2 cups of boiled water at room temperature. The solution must be prepared for at least 10 hours.

You can make an infusion in a thermos. For 1 liter take 4 tbsp. dried inflorescences. In 30 minutes, the healing remedy for a sore throat will be ready.

Decoctions

Healers recommend using chamomile infusions for sore throats. It is better to prepare the remedy in enamel containers. For cooking you need 2-3 tsp. pour 0.5 liters of water over the inflorescences and bring to a boil over low heat. Then you need to keep the pan on the stove for another 2 minutes and let it sit for at least half an hour.

You can brew chamomile for gargling in a water bath. For this, 2 tsp. flowers are poured with 2 glasses of water and kept in a water bath for 30 minutes. After this, the liquid needs to be cooled and can be used immediately.

Some advise diluting the prepared solutions with boiled cold water. If you use a concentrated decoction, you may experience a feeling of dryness in your mouth and throat. This is due to the astringent effect of chamomile. After rinsing, you may feel like after a tart persimmon. A similar effect can occur when using alcohol tinctures.

How to brew a decoction correctly

Gargling with chamomile will help eliminate the symptoms of the disease if the raw materials used are of high quality, and the principles of proper brewing are followed when preparing the solution:

• You can’t boil water with chamomile,
• Only enamel and glass containers are suitable for storing the solution,
• an infusion that has stood for a day is not recommended for use; if necessary, a fresh decoction should be prepared,
• The product should not be used immediately after brewing; you must wait a while.

To ensure that the resulting liquid contains as many useful substances as possible, the container with the solution should be wrapped in a towel or, another option, use a thermos for brewing. Boiling the prepared solution reduces its effectiveness, since even with short exposure to high temperatures, most of the beneficial substances, including chamazulene, are destroyed.

The classic recipe is chamomile infusion, prepared at the rate of 1 tea bag or 1 tbsp. l. dry crushed inflorescences per glass of hot boiled water, holding time 30 minutes. The solution can be prepared 2 times faster if instead of 1 tbsp. l. use 2 - 3 tbsp. l. crushed raw materials.

You can soften the bitter taste of the infusion with the help of honey: for 1 glass of decoction - 1 tsp of the product. To eliminate the symptoms of acute tonsillitis, you can gargle with a decoction with the addition of a few drops of iodine. To prepare the solution, in addition to chamomile, you can use other medicinal herbs: calendula, eucalyptus, St. John's wort. For example, to brew chamomile with eucalyptus, you need 2 tbsp. l. first and 1 tbsp. l. Pour half a liter of boiling water over the second plant.

Teas

It is not necessary to make decoctions or prepare infusions for the throat. Many people do not know whether it is possible to gargle with herbal teas. If you have chamomile in bags at home, you can make tea.

Manufacturers pre-grind the inflorescences before packaging, so they brew quickly. You can speed up the process of releasing nutrients if you first open the bag and pour its contents into a cup.

The concentration of beneficial substances in teas and infusions differs insignificantly, so the healing effect when using them will be the same.

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Rules for gargling

You can relieve pain and speed up recovery if you gargle at least 4 times a day. This should be done after eating - this way you can not only moisturize the mucous membrane, but also wash away food debris from the throat and oral cavity.

When carrying out the procedure, you need to remember the following precautions:

• the temperature of the solution should not be higher than +40...+45 °C, otherwise you may get burned;
• It is forbidden to be distracted or talk, so as not to choke.

It is not worth preparing the solution in reserve; if stored for a long time, it loses its healing properties. It is better to make it in such a volume that it can be used within 1 day.

Before carrying out the procedure, you should remember how to gargle. The patient is recommended:

• stand in front of the sink and put a small amount of solution into your mouth;
• tilting your head back, stick your tongue out a little and begin to pronounce the sound “a”, the liquid should gurgle, as if boiling;
• after 10-15 seconds, spit the liquid into the sink;
• Having collected a new portion of infusion from a glass (cup), repeat the procedure.

But for sore throat, intensive rinsing is contraindicated. Vibration negatively affects the tonsils; it slows down the process of regeneration of their tissues. And with laryngitis, active movements help the solution reach the inflamed tissues and speed up the process of their recovery.

Possible contraindications

But not everyone is allowed to use chamomile for a sore throat, although it is one of the safest remedies. Some people are allergic to the active substances contained in the inflorescences. You can check if there is a negative reaction to the plant by holding a small amount of the decoction in your mouth. If there are no unpleasant sensations or swelling, then chamomile can be used for rinsing.

It is not advisable to treat the throat with decoctions or infusions for patients who:

• gastritis in the acute stage;
• nervous disorders;
• diarrhea.

When rinsing, there is a risk that a small amount of the solution will enter the digestive tract. Therefore, if you have problems with the digestive system, it is better to avoid this method of treatment.