If you feel down the outside of your throat when it is sore, you will probably notice some hard lumps in your throat area that are tender to the touch. These are swollen lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are swollen because the lymphatic system has been draining away the excess fluid from the inflamed tissues in your throat, and that fluid contains toxic irritants.

The following is a list of sore throat home remedies that include herbs and essential oils which can be massaged into the throat. The essential oils should be diluted in a fixed oil, such as olive oil or almond oil. Use one part essential oil to 10-20 parts olive oil.

Garlic oil
Eucalyptus essential oil
Lavender essential oil
Lobelia extract
Rosemary essential oil
Tea tree essential oil
Thyme essential oil

• Salt water (use 1/2 teaspoon of Real Salt, Celtic salt, Sea salt, or some other high quality salt in a half cup of water)
• Warm herbal teas such as basil, thyme or your personal favorite. The heated water cleanses the throat area while the herb disinfects.
  
• Cayenne extract diluted in water (although it stings, it eases the pain very rapidly)
• A decoction (the process of boiling an herb in water for 20 min. to extract its essence) made of equal parts goldenseal (or Oregon grape), bayberry rootbark and myrrh gum.
• Mineral water

These are not the only options, but these are some that I have found very effective.

After gargling, work on the lymph nodes. With children it isn't necessary to make them gargle. Just give them a little garlic oil internally and proceed straight to the massage.

In addition to the respiratory system, horehound is also beneficial for the digestive system. In fact, horehound may help with all of the following:

• Intestinal gas
• Nausea
• Parasites
• Jaundice
• Sore Throats
• Cough
• The common cold
• Asthma

Ingredients

-1 cup dried horehound leaves
-1 cup water
-1 1/2 cup raw, local honey

Equipment

-stainless steel pot
-cheesecloth
-spoon
-cookie sheet
-candy thermometer (optional)

Directions:

1. In a small stainless steel pot, boil the horehound leaves and water, covered, for 25 minutes.
2. Cool and strain the mixture using a cheesecloth.
3. Reserve the liquid and compost the leaves.
4. Add the honey to the liquid, return to the pot, and bring to a boil once again.
5. Once boiling reduce to a simmer.
6. Cook mixture, stirring constantly, until the syrup reaches 300 degree F (this will take a while). Or, if you’re like me and don’t have a candy thermometer, use the “test” (see below).
7. Grease a cookie sheet with butter or coconut oil and pour in the syrup
9. Allow lozenges to cool on pan.
10. Store in a cool, dry place.
To insure that the syrup has reached the right temperature/consistency, I place just a drop or two of the syrup into a bowl full of ice water. If the syrup turns and stays hard (like a cough drop) then you know it’s ready. If it is still soft and sticky, it needs to keep cooking. these lozenges will have a slightly bitter taste. That is part of what makes them so effective as an expectorant.

1/4 oz. Ever Clear (from the Liquor Store)
1 1/2 oz. Purified Water
1 tsp. honey
10 drops X-Plague Essential Oil Blend
5 drops therapeutic grade Peppermint essential oil
5 drops therapeutic grade Lemon essential oil
2 drops Stevia

Blend together and store in a 2 oz. dark glass spray bottle. Spray 1-2 squirts on the back of throat for soothing relief.

Super Kids Throat Spray: A blend of herbs for the throat.Used historically to help calm and soothe coughs. Recommended dosage is one teaspoon or more, as required, as often as needed.
Ingredients: Wild Cherry Bark, Licorice Root, Mashmallow Root, Horehound Herb, Mullein Leaf, Ginger Root, Anise Seed and Organic Lemon Peel, in a base of Vegetable Glycerine.

Dr. Christopher’s herbal remedies. Although this remedy was made to help strep throat, it can also relieve a sore throat. If you have garlic, raw honey and cayenne pepper on hand, it is quite simple to make.

Proportions
Decide how many proportions you will need to prepare.

• 1 Tablespoon of real honey
• 1/4 – 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 3-4 cloves garlic chopped up real fine

Directions

• Mix honey and cayenne together. Then add chopped up garlic.

Instructions for taking remedy

• Give 1/2 tsp of mixture at a time every 1/2 hour, chew it very well and swallow it. Do not wash it down with anything else. It is important for the ingredients to do their work.

The honey will stick itself to the esophagus, the Cayenne brings blood to the surface because it is a rubefacient, blood will rush to the area. The immune system that comes with the blood will get kicked into action. The garlic stimulates the immune system to be active. Garlic is also good since it is anti bacterial. This can be given during waking hours. Dr. Christopher says sleep is also medication, there is no need to wake up the child.

Dr. Christopher states that this procedure takes around 24 hours  every half hour to help relieve strep throat. It may take longer though.
3 in 1 is a specific Essential Oil Blend for Strep Throat.

Active ingredients in ginger are turpines (yes, similar to turpentine) and oleo-resin compounds called Gingerols. They are antiseptic, lymph-cleansing, circulation-stimulating, and mild constipation-relieving qualities, and potent perspiration inducing action.

It is also a good "carrier herb" which means it helps to bind several herbs together and help the entire formula to work more deeply and effectively. Great to add in to a combination with other herbs.

Here's my tried and true Cold Kicker recipe:

• 1/4 c. ginger root, freshly grated
• 1/4 c. onion, freshly chopped
• 1/4 c. fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1/4 c. fresh sage leaves, chopped
• 1/4 c. grated horseradish
• 4 cloves of garlic (you can up it to 6, if you feel adventurous)
• 2 Tbsp. ground cayenne pepper
• organic apple cider vinegar to cover

• Hydration-At the onset of first symptoms, start drinking a lot of water, up to a gallon and a half the first day
  
• Hot Tea and tons of Homemade Bone Broth-as hot liquids have been shown to stimulate the immune system and stop proliferation of the flu virus, continuously sip hot herbal teas, homemade chicken soup and hot water with lemon juice and honey.
• Lypo-Spheric™ Vitamin C - More and more evidence is showing that vitamin C in the encapsulation form can battle the flu and other viruses better than medication. Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C is the first choice of people who really understand bioavailability and the importance of high-dose vitamin C. Right out of the gate all other forms of vitamin C rapidly crash into an absorption barrier that vastly limits the level of vitamin C that can enter the bloodstream... and the vitamin C that doesn't get absorbed, gets flushed.
• Oil of Oregano-one drop in water every couple of hours is a powerful antiviral and antibiotic (not for use during pregnancy)
• Warmed, spiced apple cider. Just keep a pot on the stove. Made with cinnamon stixs, cloves, and ginger - Cinnamon because it is warming and can help when the person is feeling weak especially if sweating does not help them feel better. In this case, cinnamon will warm, strengthen and increase immunity. Cloves because it fights germs, viruses and bacteria, and it encourages the loosening of phlegm from the respiratory system. It also promotes sweating with fevers, colds, and flu, which is very healing. It is often used in remedies for whooping cough.   Ginger -because it is especially good if the person feels cold and is coughing. Similar to cinnamon, ginger strengthens the immunity for weaker people who are sweating without relief of symptoms.
• Homemade elderberry syrup *-1 Tablespoon every hour for husband, 1/2 Tablespoon every hour for kids. This is very similar to Sambucus, which is sold nationwide.
• Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with “the mother” One Tablespoon in 8 oz water every three hours. This alkalizes the body and kills any yeast that can be feeding infection.
• Removal of carbs and sugars from the diet until completely well-at the first symptom. If hungry, eat tons of soup, healthy forms or protein, vegetables and vegetable smoothies.
• Lot’s of rest-This one is pretty obvious during any illness

*Elderberry syrup is one of life’s great treats.   It tastes incredibly yummy and banishes colds and even flu in-the-most-delight-ful-way.  Its easy to make and lasts for months in the fridge.
Tools:
½ gallon mason jar
stainless steel pot with lip
pot strainer
1 unglazed wooden chopstick
Ingredients:
¾ cup dried elderberries
water
raw honey
Brandy
Square inch of raw ginger
5 star anise stars
2 cinnamon sticks

Directions:
Boil water

Place elderberries in bottom of ½ gallon mason jar.

Fill with boiling water (jar is safe unless cold.  Do this in the sink to be extra cautious.)
Gently place lid on jar. 
Wait a few minutes to let the water absorb into the berries.  Top off jar with more water so that it is dripping down the sides when you put the lid back on.  The objective is to have as little air as possible in the jar.  Screw the lid on tightly. 

Let jar sit for 12 hours on the counter.

The next day, pour the contents out into another pot, over a strainer, squeezing the berries.  Add the ginger, star anise, and cinnamon sticks to the pot. 

Put over the lowest flame possible.  The liquid should steam.  If it starts to bubble, take it off the flame immediately and lower the temperature of the stove.  Let the liquid steam down until it is at half the amount.  This will take 2 or 3 hours.  You can put the unglazed chopstick in the pot at the beginning.  When the dark purple liquid comes up half way on the chopstick, you know it is done.  Take it off the stove and let it cool until just warm. 

Remove ginger, cinnamon, and star anise.  Add raw honey.  The amount varies.  Some people like it very sweet, others less.  I use about 3 Tablespoons. 

Add 1-3 ounces of brandy (1-3 shots.)  If you don’t want to add brandy, it will still last in the fridge for about 6 weeks.  With the brandy it will be good for up to 6 months.  I actually use homemade elderflower brandy  tincture as my preservative, but straight brandy works just as well.

This tastes delicious mixed into orange juice, lemonade, apple cider, champagne, or taken straight by the tablespoonful. It is a strong antiviral and is great as a preventative measure to ward off a cold, as well as a medicine that will send a cold or even the flu far away fast.  I would take it five times a day if I had a bug.