Gargling

[Guest guest]

On May 3, 2005, at 9:08 PM, Butch Owen wrote:

 

Here is one source .. discussing sore throats/hoarseness .. there are

> many others.

>

> " Don't Gargle:   Contrary to popular belief, gargling with mouthwash

> actually makes hoarseness worse, says Alessi, M.D., an

> otolaryngologist

> in Los Angeles.  Most contain alcohol, which irritates mucous

> membranes

> and dehydrates vocal cords.  The gargled liquid doesn't really get

> anywhere near the vocal cords, and the action of gargling itself is

> harmful.  It will bang your vocal cords together and increase

> swelling. "

 

Very interesting information. It makes sense- thanks for sharing this

Butch.

 

I have never cared for the commercial gargles (or most commercial

products for that matter) but have found gargling with a small amount

of sea salt (pure and non iodized) in warm water- a saline solution

strength, to be very effective for the throat as well as irrigating the

nasal passages. Too much salt would also be drying and irritating and

create more inflammation.

 

Most commercial gargles contain both synthetic and naturally derived

base ingredients which are drying and irritating, and many used for

numbing, and the research is based on those kinds of products- vs

gentler blends, so it is not necessarily the gargling itself- but the

gargling with these formulas that is the issue. What do you think?

 

I think in some cases a gargle may be very helpful if it is formulated

properly. Many herbal teas can be used this way (sage and honey for

instance), however simply drinking warm soothing herbal teas with the

herbs that are specific to the need along with some honey is good for a

sore throat. I have also used some hydrsols diluted in distilled water

for effective gargles- tea tree, lavender, peppermint etc.

 

I did not see the beginning of this thread, but for a sore throat I

like a propolis spray, warm teas containing of all things our herb of

the week, MARSHALLOW RT ;-), licorice (which also sweetens the blend) ,

and slippery elm, warm soups, etc. A high quality (I like to make my

own fresh) Echinacea tincture is good too locally- and numbing. If you

chew on good fresh rts you will immediately feel a numbness in the

throat. Zinc lozenges and slippery elm lozenges are also useful. I

personally also like to use Geranium (diluted of course) externally for

throat pain.

 

Elizabeth

Whole Life Essentials

http://www.WholeLifeEssentials.com

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Rosanna,

 

> Hi everyone,

>

> Butch - Why do you recommend not gargling when you have a sore throat?

 

Because .. some doctors also recommend against it .. and I have found

that I get better results quicker when I avoid gargling. We won't find

the old GP fellers recommending against it but ideas are changing.

 

When I first heard this new line of thinking .. maybe 18-20 months or so

ago .. I brought the subject up one night at the Pub .. we had a table

full of folks .. including two very new doctors. Both went along with

not gargling.

 

Gargling is a strain on an already irritated throat and if the vocal

cords are also irritated (which is a norm when we cough a lot) and we

are hoarse, we make the situation worse while trying to deliver

medication to the irritated site.

 

Here is one source .. discussing sore throats/hoarseness .. there are

many others.

 

" Don't Gargle: Contrary to popular belief, gargling with mouthwash

actually makes hoarseness worse, says Alessi, M.D., an otolaryngologist

in Los Angeles. Most contain alcohol, which irritates mucous membranes

and dehydrates vocal cords. The gargled liquid doesn't really get

anywhere near the vocal cords, and the action of gargling itself is

harmful. It will bang your vocal cords together and increase swelling. "

 

There are other ways to deliver relief without resorting to the

old fashioned gargle .. even steam inhalation without EO is superior.

 

So .. these are my reasons for not gargling.

 

> Blessings,

> Rosanne

 

Y'all keep smiling. :-) Butch http://www.AV-AT.com