DIY Herbal Sore Throat Spray: An Easy Recipe

When you have kids, a sore throat seems to be JUST around the corner. Everyone seems to be fine, then the dread words appear. “Mom, my throat hurts.”

It’s currently May, and my kids are passing a cold back and forth, accompanied by a sore throat. We use cough drops, but a soothing, herbal sore throat spray calms inflammation and helps more than cough drops.

I used Rosemary Gladstar’s Beginner Medicinal book as a basis to create this recipe. She uses tinctures. That does provide a longer shelf life, but my kids dislike the flavor. So, I switched the recipe to an herbal-infused tea instead. However, if your kids don’t like tinctures OR you’re using this recipe for yourself, I would personally use a tincture.

Related: How to Make Elderberry Syrup: An Easy Recipe

Make an Herbal Tea or Tincture for Your Throat Spray

The first step is to make an herbal tea infusion for this sore throat spray. An infusion is basically a really strong herbal tea. Here’s how to make this.

• Use 1-2 TBSP of dried herbs (doubled if fresh) into a heat-proof jar or mug.
• Cover the herbs with one cup of hot water.
• Allow this to steep for one hour. The longer it steeps, the stronger the infusion. You’ll reap more benefits from it.
• Strain the herbs with cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer.

Whether you choose a tincture or an herbal infusion, you can select the herb (or herbs) you want to use. You should always research each herb yourself before use to make sure there is nothing contraindicated for your personal situation.

Here are some herbs to consider.

• Thyme: This is one of my favorite herbs when my kids have a sore throat. It’s antiseptic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. It will soothe inflammation, reduce muscle spasms, and act as an expectorant for mucus.
  
• Lemon Balm: Another great choice is lemon balm. It has antiviral properties, calming and soothing your throat. Lemon balm helps with cold sores as well!
  
• Echinacea: Who doesn’t LOVE echinacea? It will boost your immune system, reducing the length of your cold. Research shows it can reduce a cold’s severity by 48 to 72 hours.
  
• Elderberry: Everyone thinks of elderberry syrup, but you can make a tea or tincture as well. These berries are known for their antiviral properties, effective against many colds and influenza.
  
• Sage: Another great choice is sage. It is a natural anti-inflammatory herb that reduces swelling and irritation in the throat.

Tinctures need to be made several weeks in advance. I usually have a stock of different tinctures that I use regularly. You could slowly heat the herbs in alcohol in a slow cooker or a double broiler for a quick extract method.

Related: How to Make Echinacea Tincture: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Make an Herbal Sore Throat Spray

Since this recipe contains honey, it is not safe for children under one year of age. As always, when using medicinal herbs, consult a medical professional.

• 2-3 TBSP herbal tea or tincture – can be a blend of herbs OR a single herb
• 1-2 drops peppermint essential oil OR extract
• 1 TBSP honey
• 1 TBSP water

Mix everything together and pour into a 2-ounce glass bottle.

This can be made into a larger quantity IF you have a larger spray bottle. I prefer the small, 2-ounce bottles. When using tea, the spray only has a shelf life of 2-3 days. There is no need to make a large amount. However, you can also do this.

• 3/4 cup herbal tea
• 1/4 cup vodka or brandy
• 2-4 drops peppermint oil
• 1-2 TBSP honey

This larger amount will store better because of how much alcohol is used to create the shelf-stability.

Using a Sore Throat Spray

You can use this spray as often as you like to soothe throat irritation. Allow the spray to rest in the back of the throat.

When made with herbal tea, this should be refrigerated for the best shelf life. I only keep my bottles for 2-3 days before dumping, an ideal duration for most sore throats. If using tinctures instead of an infusion, this can be stored on the countertops and has a much longer shelf life as the alcohol keeps it shelf-stable.

The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, clinical herbalist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health objectives.