The dry weather leaves many people with a dry mouth, a parched throat, and an itchy throat, so it's natural to reach for a throat lozenge. In fact, this method is not entirely correct. In spring, drink honeysuckle tea to relieve a dry, itchy throat.
Most throat lozenges on the market are health foods, containing cooling herbs like mint and dandelion, which can clear heat and reduce fire. Due to these cooling ingredients, throat lozenges can relieve symptoms such as a dry mouth and throat pain to a certain extent, but they are not suitable for long-term, continuous use.
Honeysuckle Tea
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a dry, itchy throat can be broadly categorized into two types based on its cause: deficient fire and excess fire. Besides the common symptoms of a dry, itchy throat and a sore throat, those with excess fire experience obvious thirst, a preference for cold drinks, and may be accompanied by irritability, anxiety, and insomnia. Those with deficient fire also feel thirsty but dislike cold drinks, and may have symptoms like hot palms and soles. Because those with deficient fire should not take cooling herbs, it is even less advisable for them to consume many throat lozenges.
For those with a dry, itchy throat, you can drink a Chinese herbal tea with effects such as clearing heat, promoting fluid production, moistening the lungs, and soothing the throat. For example, 5g of honeysuckle, 5g of Ophiopogon japonicus, 3g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 2-3g of raw licorice root, and 2-3g each of Sterculia lychnophora and Tibetan olive. Steep these in boiling water and drink as a tea substitute. It should be noted that people with poor digestion should not drink this in large quantities.
It's simple and delicious