I provided, in a recent previous article, instruction on preparing a tincture from your herb garden plants, so if you have carried out those instructions you are ready to learn how you can make your own throat sprays, gargles, mouthwashes and inhalants which can all be made from your tinctures. What better herb garden delight is there than that.
The tincture is the result of extracting the oils – the chemical components of each herb, made by soaking the herb in a mixture of water and alcohol. Because the alcohol acts as a preservative, the tincture is wholesome and usable for at least two years if stored in a cool dark place.
Do not forget that when the tincture is to be used for children or if you prefer not to drink alcohol yourself, heat the potion to nearly boiling so that the alcohol will evaporate away. This will of course leave a higher concentrate of the medicinal content in the potion.
Herbs can be used in many different ways to treat anything from acne to worms but for the purpose of this article we shall concentrate on remedies for treating various respiratory, nose and throat infections by using tinctures of Echinacea, chamomile, cinnamon, golden seal, and hyssop. These can then be used variously as teas, compresses, inhalants, gargles, or like any medicine; a teaspoonful at a time.
To combat a heavy cold or influenza, make up a cup of tea with two teaspoons of Echinacea in a cup of hot water (to remove the alcohol use near boiling water and allow to cool down to drinkable temperature). This may be sweetened with a spoonful of honey. Instead of two spoons of Echinacea use one plus a spoonful of chamomile or even cinnamon as alternative concoctions and see which is most comforting.
For treating sinus problems, catarrh, excess mucus; use teas made individually, or as mixtures, of golden seal, hyssop and cinnamon. Again a spoonful of honey may help the medicine go down. Any of these tinctures (try any combination to find which suits you best ) put into a small bowl filled with boiling water will make a pleasant inhalant. Just cover your head over the bowl with a large towel and breathe in the fumes.
A sore throat can be treated by gargling with a strong tea made from any single one, or mixtures, of these herb tinctures. Just make up a small glassful with water as hot as you can comfortably use and gargle immediately. Again, to remove the alcohol use near boiling water and allow to cool down to a usable temperature. A throat spray can be prepared in the same way. For a freshening mouthwash, make up a small amount of strong just warmed tincture and water mix in a small glass. Thoroughly rinse around your mouth and spit out until all used. Do this three or four times a day while symptoms persist.
Another way to ease a sore throat or blocked nose is by making a hot compress. Use a clean flannel or small towel soaked in and rung out from a strong mixture of herbal tinctures and water as hot as you can bear. Put on your chest, or round your neck, or even wrapped around your face. Feel the heat and breathe the fumes for immediate comfort.
At the end of a busy day put several spoonfuls of a tincture into a hot footbath. This will comfort and refresh your feet, and inhaling the fumes will soothe and relax you helping you to fall into bed for a deep rejuvenating sleep.
