Laryngitis
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Name not given
Posted on: February 21, 1999

Have heard that there is an herbal tea that helps alleviate laryngitis? Can you identify or recommend such an herb?

Chronic laryngitis may be caused by disease, and should be analyzed by a doctor.

Occasional laryngitis is an inflammation of the vocal cords, usually caused by excessive use of the voice. It is important to rest the voice for a few days to avoid infection.

Sage is effective in relieving laryngitis. It can be used both as a tea and a gargle. Steep one teaspoon of dried sage in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes.

James Duke in "The Green Pharmacy" (available at Richters) recommends a tea made with herbs high in the chemical cineole, which is reportedly useful in laryngitis. These herbs are, in decreasing order of cineole content, cardamom, eucalyptus, spearmint, rosemary, sweet Annie, ginger, nutmeg, lavender, bee balm, peppermint and tansy. He recommends steeping a selection of these herbs in boiling water, going heavy on the ginger, and adding pineapple juice before drinking.

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