All-natural recipes to ease sore throats

These herbal remedies are soothing and easy to make at home, so they ease throat pain as well as any commercial products for a great deal less.

This old-fashioned gargle will make your throat feel much better, and it costs very little.

• 30 ml (2 heaping tbsp) brown sugar
• 2 ml (1/2 tsp) salt
• 1 ml (1/4 tsp) baking soda
• 946 ml (1 qt) warm water

  1. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the brown sugar, salt, baking soda and warm water. Shake well before each use.

  2. Gargle with up to 125 millilitres (1/2 cup) of this mixture as often as needed.

You can also make an inexpensive, effective mustard plaster using a strong mustard powder such as Coleman's.

• 15 ml (1 tbsp) mustard powder
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) flour

  1. In a small bowl, mix the mustard powder with the flour. Add enough water to make a paste.

  2. Spread the paste over half of a dishtowel. Then fold the towel in half, covering the paste, and apply to chest. Don't apply the mustard paste directly onto the skin. Check chest skin often and remove the mustard plaster if there are signs of irritation.

• 10 ml (2 tsp) powdered slippery elm bark
• 10 ml (2 tsp) powdered marshmallow root
• 175 ml (3/4 c) boiling water

  1. In a cup, place the slippery elm and marshmallow root. Pour in the boiling water and steep until cool.

  2. Strain into a teacup and drink. Store in refrigerator and gently reheat as needed.

These lozenges are called pastilles, and are made with dried plant ingredients. They are cheap, easy to make, and very effective.

• 50 g (1/4 c) violet petals
• 50 g (1/4 c) rose petals
• Honey or maple syrup
• 5 ml (1 tsp) dried marshmallow root
• Confectioner's sugar (optional)

  1. With a mortar and pestle, crush the violet and rose petals until you get a fine powder. Mix with just enough honey or maple syrup to form a ball and add marshmallow root. If the mixture is too liquid, add more herbs or powdered sugar until it can hold its shape.

  2. Form into small balls about the size of a large pea and place on a greased cookie sheet. Leave 24 to 48 hours or until they harden, then wrap each individually in plastic wrap and store in a cool, dry place.

• In a clean 250-millilitre (eight-ounce) spray bottle, combine 15 millilitres (one tablespoon) of cayenne pepper with just enough water to almost fill the bottle.
• Shake well and use as a spray to numb the back of your throat. You can also use it for gargling. Just don't get it near your eyes.