Making Herbal Medicine: Soothing Honey Throat Balls
With cold and flu season upon us, soothe your sore throat with these wonderful Honey Throat Balls that you hand make yourself!
These throat balls will also clear your respiratory system. Taking herbal balls such as this is also a great way to give herbs to children (in small quantities, of course!). The below recipe is one of the recipes taught in our Making Herbal Medicines workshop (a standard part of our curriculum).
Honey Throat Balls Ingredients
- 9 gm Marshmallow or slippery elm powder
- 4 gm Cardamom powder
- 3 gm Turmeric powder
- 2 gm Ginger powder
- 3 tsp Water
- 1 tsp Honey
Use all herbs in powdered form. Note that the herbs are listed in grams. You can convert to teaspoons if you wish; the conversion is 1 gram = .2 tsp (for example, 9 gm x .2 = 1.8 tsp). Two drops of quality, pure essential oil may also be added if desired. Good essential oils to try would be peppermint, wintergreen, orange, clove, cinnamon, or ginger.
Directions
Mix all ingredients together. Press into a large ball with a dough-like consistency. Roll the dough into small balls that are approximately 1/8-1/4 tsp. Lightly coat the balls with a dusting of the marshmallow or slippery elm powder (whichever you chose to use).
Take these Honey Throat Balls as needed for a sore throat, allowing the throat ball to dissolve in your mouth.
Source: “Making Herbal Medicines” handbook, California College of Ayurveda, copyright 2009
