DIY Natural Throat Tonic is a homemade concoction of soothing, healing sips of ginger, honey, lemon, mint and a splash of whiskey for adult relief.
Throat Tonics
Winter colds, spring allergies, throat in need of relief? I’ve got just the thing for you!
There are lots of reasons our throat feels out-of-sorts, and homemade remedies are far more effective than anything you can buy.
The natural oils and health properties in citrus, ginger and mint leaves have far more to offer the relief you are after than a diluted concoction over the counter, and no preservatives of chemicals.
These reasons alone should inspire you to get out your chopping block, sharp knife and mason jars!
Natural Tonics
Since all the ingredients are fresh and natural they still have much of their natural oils and homeopathic healing properties.
But since the ingredients are natural, this soothing throat tonic will last 2 weeks in the fridge; so make it when you need it and it will be ready to add to a shot of whiskey, or simply a hot tea.
If you’d like to look at other home remedies, here are a few you might want for you or your family:
- Citrus Health Hacks – the vitamins and natural oils in all citrus lend so many health properties.
- Health Hacks For Hangovers – we’ve been there, done that and certainly would welcome relief.
- IBS Herbal Tea Recipe Relief – No one thinks about irritable bowel syndrome relief until IBS hits and our gut health suddenly becomes a priority. An herbal tea recipe to the rescue.
- Turmeric Ginger Shots Recipe – Turmeric root, fresh ginger with lemon juice, honey and pinch of black pepper is the best turmeric shot recipe with abundant wellness benefits.
Why DIY Natural Throat Tonic?
When our throat is feeling raw, dry and sore, we know it is because other things are out of sorts too.
Often times a bacteria triggers illness in our body. Do you know what the worst thing is for a bacteria? Sugar!
Honey vs Sugar In Health Tonics
Sugar provides the added energy for bacterial growth, which is only going to prolong wellness.
Most of our over-the-counter throat tonics and cough syrups are loaded with sugar; but this DIY natural throat tonic uses honey.
Sure, a tonic needs to taste good enough to swallow, so why not enjoy the added health benefits of honey as well as its ability to help make the medicine go down.
Understanding Why DIY Tonics Are Best
If you’ve made any of my homemade breads, you will understand that sugar is used to grow the bacteria in the yeast that makes bread rise, and that is a good thing.
In a sort-of similar way, added sugar in the body, when an unwanted bacteria is present, is the last thing it needs!
Making our own wellness tonics and health remedies allows us to know exactly what we are putting in our body, and at a time we don’t feel well, this is the wiser approach.
Natural Herbs For Healing Tonics
If we were to take the leaf of an herb, mint, oregano, parsley or other herbs, and rub them between our fingers, we would feel something released from the leaf.
That something, is nature’s oils that contribute to the powerful aspect of the herb for both flavor and medicinal purposes.
For this reason, it is wise to keep a few small pots of healing herbs growing in your windowsill, year-round.
I have chosen mint for this DIY throat tonic because it contains menthol, which has several properties that can soothe and relieve a sore throat.
Ingredients Needed And How They Help
- Lemon juice and its zest helps to break up mucus in the throat due to its citric acid content. Of course the vitamin C levels in lemon will boost the immune system to fight the infection.
- Fresh Ginger root has antimicrobial properties that can reduce inflammation in the throat, which can cause pain, itching and burning.
- Fresh Peppermint leaves – aside from the cooling effect that mint brings to sooth a sore throat, it has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation and encourage healing.
- Honey aids in soothing the throat and reducing inflammation due to its natural healing properties.
- Whiskey (optional), can have adverse effects on healing when we are sick, however just a little (a tablespoon per tonic dose can help calm muscles and perhaps help fall asleep.
Equipment Needed
- Mason Jar – 8 oz for easy layering and storing in the fridge.
- Cutting board and while we probably have a sharp knife, I prefer this 5 inch chef chopping knife for all my vegetable slicing.
DIY Natural Wellness Tonic
Equipment
- 4 oz. mason jar with lid
- Cutting board and sharp knife
Ingredients
- 2 Lemons
- Fresh large ginger root medium size
- 8-10 Fresh mint leaves
- 1/4 cup Honey
- Whiskey (optional) 1 shot per helping
- Mason Jar with air tight lid
Instructions
- Thinly slice the lemons, retaining all the juices, about 8 slices. Peel and thinly slice the ginger into as many slices as the lemon.
- Layer the lemons and ginger slices in the jar, placing a mint leaf between the layers. Pour the honey over the top of the layers.
- Place lid on tight. Give a shake. Place in fridge for at least an hour. Give a shake again, as the juices will all begin to marinate.
- When ready to use, add a shot of the citrus tonic and a shot of whiskey in a glass and sip. Or 1 tablespoon of tonic to a cup of hot water to make a tea.
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