Remedies For My Poor Sore Throat

This weekend my parents and I (hopefully my brother as well but that depends on his work schedule) are going down to San Luis Obispo to visit my sister (she's super smart and cool and goes to Cal Poly). We're going to celebrate her birthday! Now for the past few days I've been feeling a cold coming along, it started with a little sinus pressure then just mostly into a sore throat. The sore throat has continued and now I sound like a boy going through puberty/ Darth Vader. Not wanting this to turn into a full blown cold, because other than the throat and sounding like a boy I actually do feel quite fine, I want to get rid of it and get better for the weekend! So I have been searching the web for some natural home remedies and trying as many as I can.

First I did the whole gargle with warm water and salt thing, which my dad tells all of us always to do so at the on site of a cold. I always kind of brush off, but today I did look it up and I learned it cuts down the inflammation and phlegm (gross, but it's whats we're dealing with here). I've been continuing to do this a few times throughout the day which is recommended.

Secondly, I made myself some hot tea, just warm water, juice of half a lemon and honey. And oh my goodness it was wonderful, I can't believe I've never had this miracle concoction!

Thirdly I read that it's super important to be drinking liquids, which makes sense, and its also great to drink tea, all that warmth really soothes the throat, again an other no brainer. I also saw that raspberry leaf, sage, rosemary, ginger, sage and cinnamon all have varying qualities that help with a cold. Hurray! I have all of those things in my cabinet. The raspberry leaf actually threw me by surprise, but my sister had brought that little bag of "Garden Goddess Tea" from San Luis Obispo during her last trip up for my mom. I hadn't even looked at the ingredients until today when I was looking for a good base for my tea and volia! all I did after that was a dash of rosemary, ground ginger (obviously fresh would've been ideal), cinnamon and sage into the steeper and made me some tea and to my utter surprise it tasted wonderful, I've had four cups!

And then I made this interesting pastey thing that I found here, just a teaspoon of honey and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and it was yummy! Although you are supposed to have this at first onsite of a cold so I'm a little late but it was worth a try.

Then I steamed my face with my face over a bowl of hot water and two drops of Eucalyptus oil with a towel over my head to create a "tent." I guess it's an old wives tale but hey I'm trying everything and I actually did feel better afterwards. The steam feels really nice and taking deep breaths seems to ease my throat. yay!

Lastly, while sipping my tea, sifting through food blogs and blogging this myself I've been watching Boy Meets World, because they do say laughter is the best medicine!

There were quite a few other remedies I was unable to do today. If this cold persists I may try the others but so far I think I am on the right track.

Hope everyone stays healthy!