There is nothing worse than a niggling irritated throat. It hurts when you swallow, speak, and particularly in bed at night. Paired with a flu, it is just the depths of misery. Being a professional singer, a sore throat is simply not an option for me, as it affects my work, and rehearsal. Over the years. I have tried every remedy in the book for various ailments. I have come to realise that, like most things in life, the natural remedy is best! Strepsils.. forget about them! Don’t even entertain them. If they are in your house throw them out, they will do nothing for you, and are merely a money racket! You may get some short-term relief from some of these lozenges, but in the long run you will still have an irritated, or itchy throat. If you like to carry lozenges, Vocalzones are amazing pastilles for singers, and public speakers. They contain Myrhh, and can be bought online. I also find Jakemann’s lozenges good for some relief, as they contain eucalyptus, and they can be bought inn most pharmacies.
However, one of my vocal coaches gave me this recipe one time, and I have never looked back. Honey is a great agent in relieving a dry, or irritated throat, as it is soothing, and smooth on the affected area. However, it is twice as powerful when paired with some other magic ingredients. Most of these ingredients are probably already in your home. If i feel an irritated throat coming along, or a hoarseness, I whip up a batch of this remedy. It is so simple to make, and can be drank either hot or col all day long. I tend to make it in the morning, and pour it into a bottle, and sip it throughout the day, for a few consecutive days.
What you will need….
- Generous spoonfuls of Manuka Honey ( this can be expensive, but can be bought in Lidl, or Aldi for a fraction of the price, and available in many strengths).
- One or two lemons
- A couple of sprinkles of Cayenne Pepper
- Boiling Water
- Some ginger .
Method…
- Boil a kettle
- Into a mug, grate some ginger.
- Follow with generous amounts of Manuka honey.
- Squeeze a lemon or two on top .
- Pour boiling water into the mug, and tap in a couple of sprinkles of Cayenne Pepper.
- Give it a good stir.
Drink this hot or cold! Voila!
The taste can be a bit overwhelming, but once you get used to this taste, it actually becomes a lovely tea. The Cayenne Pepper can make this drink quite hot too. Not only does it have a lovely soothing affect on your throat, but it warms you up if you are feeling unwell. Drink this for a couple of days, and if you are anything like me, you should be right as rain! This is not an invitation to throw away the contents of your medicine cabinet, but it really does help relieve a horrible irritated, hoarse, dry throat! I swear by it, and it never fails. Very handy for public speakers, teachers, and singers.
Enjoy! x
The Littlest Polkadot 