A 100% natural sore throat spray (with essential oils) is an effective and fast way to temporarily numb and relieve your sore throat while speeding up healing from a viral or bacterial infection.
But that’s not all.
It’s also super easy to do, it saves you money, and it’s a pleasant (and effective) alternative for gargling (which I dislike).
In this post you’ll find 5 homemade, simple recipes, with the best herbs and essential oils to cure a sore throat (including strep. throat) – naturally and fast.
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DIY Sore Throat Spray: 5 Tried and Tested Recipes (for Adults)
I made each one of these natural sore throat sprays, and they are all amazing. Some have essential oils in them, and some are herbal infusions.
They all have throat-numbing and healing herbs and essential oils such as Clove oil, Peppermint cooling essential oil, Sage oil, Thyme, Sage, Eucalyptus oil, and more.
👉 You’ll need an amber or blue glass travel-size spray bottle – I got mine HERE.
1. Sore Throat Spray with Apple Cider Vinegar
See the recipe HERE
This spray has several powerhouse ingredients to soothe a scratchy throat.
The apple cider vinegar is great for loosening up phlegm, the sea salt is to mimic the salt gargle, and the essential oils inside (lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus) help to fight bacteria and soothe irritation.
The ACV doesn’t taste great but is very powerful and I would advise to not skipping it.
This sore throat spray can be kept in the fridge and used for up to 6 months.
👉 Don’t forget to see how I get rid of the cold or FLU – and check out 50 more amazing uses of Apple Cider Vinegar!
2. DIY Throat Numbing Spray with Peppermint & Clove
See the recipe HERE.
This throat numbing spray is fantastic for sore throats. I used it and it definitely works.
The recipe contains pain-relieving and antimicrobial essential oils – Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lemon, and pain-numbing Clove oil.
It soothes a painful and irritated throat by fighting bacteria and reducing inflammation while boosting your immune system.
The apple cider vinegar inside is also a powerful anti-microbial ingredient (see many more amazing health benefits of ACV). I recommend using ACV with the “mother”.
This recipe makes at least three full 2oz. spray bottles.
3. Herbal Sore Throat Spray with Thyme, Sage, and Ginger
See full instructions HERE
This herbal sore throat spray is made mostly with fresh herbs such as Thyme, sage, and ginger.
(See the proven benefits of these herbs below)
All these herbs have a long history of being used for sore throats, coughs, and inflammation. They are highly antiseptic and antibacterial.
It’s very easy to make and can be stored in the fridge for up to 6 months.
You can use it a few times a day safely.
4. Sore Throat Spray with Slippery Elm Bark
See instructions HERE
This sore throat remedy has slippery elm bark in it (get it here), which takes a gel-like texture when heated. This helps to coat and soothe a sore throat – fast.
The recipe suggests using Licorice root as well, which was found (in this study) to soothe patients’ throats after surgery.
The small amount of Cayenne pepper inside is a great addition for adults because it contains capsaicin – which boosts blood flow and speeds up the healing process.
5. Soothing Echinacea Throat Spray
See the recipe HERE
The main ingredient in this sore throat spray is the mighty Echinacea.
Echinacea is proven by dozens of studies to boost immunity, fight infections and relieve pain, and has been long used for cold, flu, Sinusitis and any respiratory condition.
It can also increase your saliva, which soothes throat irritation and helps clear bacteria out of your throat.
The recipe also includes an herbal infusion (which is strained tea) of sage and propolis and a few drops of Peppermint cooling oil.
👉 You can use this one with kids as well.
The Best Essential oils for Sore Throat
Clove Oil – proven to show antimicrobial activity against many multi-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. It’s anti-viral and able to purify the blood and increase resistance to many diseases, including a throat infection.
Eucalyptus Oil – the active ingredient inside Eucalyptus – cineole – is proven to hold amazing medicinal effects, including reducing inflammation and pain, and even killing cancer cells.
Peppermint Oil – commonly used for the common cold, the flu, sinus infections, cough, bronchitis, and respiratory infections.
The active ingredient – menthol – promotes a cooling and calming effect on any inflamed area, while thinning mucus and phlegm. It is also antimicrobial and a decongestant.
👉 See my ultimate home remedies for sinus infections.
Lemon Oil – Lemon (Citrus limon) oil is made from the skin of the lemon and is proven to relieve sore throats since it is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, has a lot of Vitamin C increases your saliva (which keeps your throat moist) and cleanses toxins.
👉 Read: How to make your own Vitamin C powder/tablets – at home.
Thyme – this herb is known as one of the strongest antioxidants and antimicrobials. Thyme supports the respiratory system, the immune system, the digestive system, and more.
Apple Cider Vinegar – the main substance in vinegar, acetic acid, can kill harmful bacteria or prevent them from multiplying. It has a history of use as a disinfectant and natural preservative.
How to use a Sore Throat Spray (Safely)
Just like gargling, using a home remedy through a spray bottle allows the healing ingredients to have direct contact with the problem area – without digesting it.
However, a small amount will be swallowed of course, so when you use essential oils you must make sure they are safe, pure, and therapeutic grade.
(All the links inside the post are for essential oils that meet these terms.)
- I would recommend doing a patch test with the essential oils to make sure you are not sensitive to any of the ones you’ll be using.
- Children should not digest essential oils without professional supervision.
More Powerful Sore Throat Remedies
The list of the homemade remedies you’ll find below was contributed by the amazing community on my Facebook page, join us – we’re a supportive bunch of people 😊
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar + 1 teaspoon of honey or sweetener of choice in hot water (Thanks Victoria!)
- Sandalwood oil drops applied straight to the throat and Manuka honey – 15+ drops on a spoon and hold honey in the throat before swallowing (Thanks Tracy!)
- Blackberry Brandy
- In saltwater add little bit of iodine and wash your throat.
- Gargle 4 oz. warm water with 1/4 tsp. sea salt and 2 droppers of sovereign silver 3x per day. Don’t swallow, but keep in the back of your throat gargling for as long as you can before spitting it out. (Thanks Penny!)
- Oil of oregano, 3 drops in 1/2 cup of water, drink (Thanks Cheri!). See the proven health benefits of the amazing Oregano oil – my top choice for a natural antibiotic.
- Elderberry syrup and local honey. Gargle with saltwater before, as hot as you can stand. (Thanks Becky!)
- Orange juice 1 cup + quarter spoon of cayenne pepper (chili powder). Drink with a straw avoiding contact with the tongue (Thanks Ameen!)
- Eating fresh pineapple and then boiling the pineapple skin with ginger, lemon, turmeric, and water to cover and then leaving it to sit overnight then straining it and driving the liquid (thanks Cara!)
- Simmer ginger, lemon juice, and a little cayenne with water. Sweeten and it numbs your throat some. (Thanks Angela!)
- Elderberry Syrup is a must-have in any natural medicine chest. Elderberry is used for its antioxidant activity and can help stimulate the immune system, to help with coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections, and tonsillitis.
1 cup fresh elderberries
4 cup of water
3 cinnamon sticks
1” ginger
1 cup raw honey
1 teaspoon cloves
Put all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45mins. Remove from heat and let it cool where it’s no longer hot. Mash the berries to let out all the natural juices. Pour a strainer into a bowl and mash the berries. Add the honey and stir well. Pour elderberry syrup into a glass mason jar. You can store it in the fridge for about 2 months in an airtight container like mason jars.
recommended for babies under 1-2 years old. Some easy substitutes are: Use maple syrup or nutrient-rich molasses in place of honey. Give 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp to kids and 1 tablespoon for adults. If a cold or flu sets in, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear. It tastes so delicious you won’t forget to take it. (Thanks Angelica!)
And now over to you:
What’s your most effective home remedy for a sore throat? don’t keep it to yourself (unless your grandmother told you about it and swore you to secrecy) – share it with us in the comments below.
To your health and happiness,
Meital
