Clearing the Throat: 10 Herbal Teas for Soothing and Nourishing the Throat

What are the throat-clearing teas? The throat is the passage for breathing and the organ for producing sound. The airway connects to the lungs through the throat, and the lungs are responsible for breathing and sound production. The lungs are also connected to the throat through meridians, so the airflow and voice production in the throat are directly affected by lung qi and lung yin. If the lung qi is smooth and the lung yin is sufficient, breathing is smooth and the voice is loud. If the lung qi is depleted, the vocal cords are weak, resulting in a low voice and reluctance to speak. If the lung yin is insufficient, there may be internal heat.

What are the throat-clearing teas?

1. Lo Han Guo Tea

Lo Han Guo fruit 1 piece. Cut the Lo Han Guo fruit into small pieces, steep in boiling water for 10 minutes, and drink as desired. Take 1-2 times a day, 1 piece each time. It clears the lungs, transforms phlegm, quenches thirst, and moisturizes the throat. It is used for chronic pharyngitis, dryness and discomfort in the throat due to lung yin deficiency and phlegm-heat accumulation, hoarseness, loss of voice, or dry cough, among other symptoms. According to "Food Medicine and Prescription", "Actors, teachers, broadcasters, and others who need to protect their vocal organs often use Lo Han Guo fruit steeped in water as a substitute for tea, which is effective."

2. Olive Tea

2 olives, 1 gram of green tea. Cut the olives in half and put them in a cup with the green tea. Pour in boiling water, cover and let it steep for 5 minutes before drinking. It is suitable for chronic pharyngitis and the feeling of foreign body in the throat.

3. Dried Tangerine Peel and Rehmannia Tea

5 pieces of Dried Tangerine Peel, 12 grams of Rehmannia, 30 grams of rock sugar, tea as needed. Put the ingredients in a thermos and pour boiling water to fill half of the thermos. Cover and let it steep for about 15 minutes. Drink it as desired. Depending on the patient's drinking capacity, take 2-3 doses per day. It clears the lungs, benefits the throat, and nourishes yin. It is used for chronic pharyngitis with lung yin deficiency, such as hoarseness, dryness and itching in the throat or dry cough, dark red throat, thick vocal cords, and even incomplete closure of the glottis, small nodules on the vocal cords, red tongue with little coating, and other symptoms. It is most suitable for chronic laryngitis with lung yin deficiency and concurrent dry stools.

4. Olive, Dried Tangerine Peel, and Honey Tea

3 grams of olives, 3 pieces of Dried Tangerine Peel, 3 grams of green tea, 1 spoonful of honey. First, cook the olives in water for a moment, then steep the Dried Tangerine Peel and green tea, cover and let it steep for a while, then add honey and mix well. Drink it slowly. Take 1-2 doses per day. It clears heat, detoxifies, soothes the throat, and moisturizes the throat. It is used for chronic pharyngitis, dry and uncomfortable throat, hoarseness, and other symptoms of yin deficiency and heat-dryness.

5. Green Plum, Green Tea, and Ligustrum Tea

3 grams of Green Calyx Plum, 3 grams of green tea, 3 grams of Ligustrum, 6 grams of Ligustrum. Crush the Ligustrum and mix it with the other three ingredients in a cup. Steep with boiling water and drink. Take 1 dose per day, drink as desired. It nourishes yin, benefits the throat, promotes qi circulation, and transforms phlegm. It is beneficial for throat pain and discomfort, feeling of foreign body in the throat, and has a good effect when consumed.

6. Mulberry Chrysanthemum Almond Tea

10 grams of mulberry leaves, 10 grams of chrysanthemum flowers, 10 grams of almonds, appropriate amount of rock sugar. Crush the almonds and mix them with the mulberry leaves, chrysanthemum flowers, and rock sugar in a thermos. Pour boiling water and let it steep for about 15 minutes. Drink it as tea, adding hot water while drinking. Take 1 dose per day. It clears heat, disperses wind, transforms phlegm, and benefits the throat.

7. Isatis Root and Chinese Thoroughwax Tea

15 grams of Isatis Root, 10 grams of Chinese Thoroughwax, 10 grams of licorice, 5 grams of Dried Tangerine Peel. Put all the ingredients in a thermos, steep with boiling water, and let it steep for 20 minutes before drinking as tea. It can also be boiled with water and then poured into a thermos for slow consumption. Take 1 dose per day. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and soothing the throat. It is suitable for individuals with obvious throat pain caused by chronic pharyngitis.

8. Verbena Mung Bean Honey Tea

50 grams of fresh Verbena, 30 grams of mung beans, 30 grams of honey. Wash and drain the mung beans, wash the fresh Verbena with the roots, tie them into two small bundles with string, put them in a pot with the mung beans, add 1500 milliliters of water, simmer on low heat for 1 hour until the mung beans are soft, remove the Verbena while it is hot, add honey and stir until dissolved, then drink the soup and eat the beans. Take 1 dose per day, divided into 2 servings, and continue for several days.

9. Clear Voice Tea

5 grams of Dried Tangerine Peel, 3 grams of Cicada Slough, 15 grams of Dendrobium. Boil with water and drink as tea. It nourishes yin, moisturizes the throat, and treats hoarseness. It is suitable for individuals with chronic pharyngitis and hoarseness.

10. Hawthorn Throat-Clearing Tea

20 grams of hawthorn, 20 grams of Salvia miltiorrhiza, 15 grams of Prunella vulgaris. When using, wash away the dust with clean water, then add water and boil for 30 minutes, filter the decoction, and drink several times a day as tea. It promotes blood circulation, disperses stagnation, clears heat, and benefits the throat. It is suitable for individuals with obvious hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles in the throat caused by chronic pharyngitis.