There is a number of items that can be purchased from a Herbalist or in a Health Food Store. Some of the more popular herbs used as a natural remedy for a sore throat are Slippery Elm, Licorice, Marshmallow, Honeysuckle Flower, Chamomile tea, Sage, and a Lemon/Apple Cider Vinegar/Cayenne and honey tea.

My favorite is Ginger. You can peel the skin from a root, slice it into pieces and place into a pot of boiling water. Let it simmer until it turns a yellowish color. When it cools you can sip it as a tea. If you don’t have time to make a tea, splice the root into small wafers and place in a plastic baggy. You can suck on them throughout the day as you would a traditional cough drop.

I was introduced to ampalaya (bitter melon) in the Philippines over ten years ago. It traditionally has been grown in tropical and subtropical climates but thrives very well in other areas during the warm summer months. It produces a long, warty, and very bitter fruit that is edible. Here is a picture of a bitter melon grown in our southern Indian garden.

Medically, the plant has long been used by the indigenous peoples in the Philippines and other Asian areas to treat a number of disorders such as diabetes, intestinal gas, kill bacteria/viruses, reduce inflammation, hypertension, malaria, fevers, kill cancer cells, fight free radicals, enhances libido, cleanses the blood, prevents tumors, expels parasites/worms in adults and children, reduces blood sugar, enhance immunity, promotes milk flow, lowers cholesterol, fevers, headaches. It is also used topically to treat sores, eczema, and wounds.

Bitter melon is a major health herb that promotes health and longevity anywhere.