If you've ever needed to relieve a sore throat fast, throat coat tea is probably on your radar. Performers, especially speakers, actors, and singers, rely on throat coat tea to reduce ailments that negatively affect the throat and voice. However, anyone suffering from a sore throat or upper respiratory ailments may benefit from a warm cup of throat coat tea, and its ingredients may improve function elsewhere in the body.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about throat coat tea, including how it works, the benefits and potential drawbacks of its ingredients, and how to make your own throat coat tea if you can't find any in the store.
What Is Throat Coat Tea?
"Throat coat tea is just a tea that contains ingredients that coat your throat and soothe inflammation," says Heather Hanks, nutritionist at USA Rx.
Essentially, throat coat tea is a formula, but manufacturers have zeroed in on certain ingredients that have been shown to provide relief to irritate throats. Store-bought throat coat tea primarily utilizes licorice root, echinacea, or, more often than not, both.
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Throat Coat Tea Ingredients and Benefits
The overall purpose of throat coat tea is to soothe a sore throat, but depending on which ingredients are used, it can have additional effects. Here is a list of common ingredients in throat coat tea and their benefits:
Echinacea, a group of flowering plants in the daisy family, may reduce inflammation, has anti-microbial properties, and can boost immune function. Before the onset of antibiotics, echinacea was widely used to treat blood poisoning, syphilis, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and malaria. Today, it's primarily used to reduce cold and flu symptoms, specifically cough, sore throat, and fever.
Lemon is rich in Vitamin C, which aids immune function.
Licorice root, one of the world's oldest herbal remedies, can aid digestion and can help ease acid reflux and heartburn. Its main component, glycyrrhizin, has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial affects, and may ease upper respiratory conditions. However, in the case of a glycyrrhizin overdose, licorice root can do more harm than good.
Marshmallow root is traditionally used to ease inflammation in the respiratory tract. It helps loosen mucus, which contains enzymes and antibodies that kill or neutralize harmful bacteria. Marshmallow root can also act as a pain reliever for sore throats.
Slippery elm contains a substance called mucilage, which helps create mucus that lines your stomach or throat. It is approved by the FDA as a botanical drug for reducing inflammation and irritation in the throat.
Throat Coat Tea Drawbacks
There aren't many hangups to throat coat tea, but one of its most popular ingredients can impart serious damage: Glycyrrhizin, the primary constituent of licorice root, is what gives black licorice and throat coat tea its sweet flavor — it can also cause adverse effects and even death if ingested in large enough quantities.
In 2017, the FDA stated that eating two or more ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks can cause irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia in individuals over 40. Glycyrrhizin can cause potassium levels to fall, too, which can lead to abnormal heart rhythms as well as congestive heart failure, edema (swelling), lethargy, and high blood pressure.
Glycyrrhizin can also interact with certain medications, herbs, and dietary supplements. No matter your age, it's best to play it safe and limit licorice root consumption to 100 grams daily, and for no longer than a week at a time.
Another drawback of throat coat tea is that it's not a cure-all solution. If you're looking for relief, then throat coat tea will help, but if you're truly sick you'll have better luck with taking traditional cold or flu medicines or by contacting a medical professional.
How to Make Throat Coat Tea
While throat coat tea can easily be found at a grocery store, there's no reason you can't make your own, especially if you're nervous about adverse effects from certain ingredients.
You can build your throat coat tea from scratch by combining your desired herbs and steeping them in hot water, or you can simply add a soothing ingredient, such as honey or lemon, to a hot cup of tea. As long as you're consuming hot liquid, the tea will ease throat pain.
Get the Recipe: Throat Coat Tea
Related:
- 9 Foods That Can Boost Immunity — And 3 That Can Hurt It
- Could Jell-O Be a Home Remedy for Sore Throats? TikTok Thinks So
- 10 Best Teas to Soothe Your Sore Throat
