Cough & Throat · 2026

Medicinal herbs for coughs & sore throat

The gentle plants people reach for when the throat gets scratchy — what each does, and how to grow them.

Marshmallow root and honey tea with lemon on a wooden table
01

Marshmallow

The root's mucilage coats and soothes a raw, sore throat and calms a dry cough.

02

Chamomile

Anti-irritant tea that soothes the throat and helps you rest through a cold.

03

Echinacea

Traditionally taken at the first tickle to support the immune system early.

04

Calendula

A gentle gargle from the cooled tea for an inflamed, scratchy throat.

Simple soothing tea: steep marshmallow root in warm (not boiling) water 15 min for the most mucilage, add honey and lemon. Not medical advice — see a professional for a cough lasting more than a couple of weeks.

Grown & used, on video

Grow your own throat shelf

Marshmallow, chamomile and echinacea are all in the Medicinal Garden Kit — non-GMO seeds plus Nicole Apelian's remedy guide.

See all 10 herbs to grow →

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