Yes, a slice of ginger is a good addition.

When should I see a doctor?

If the sore throat lasts over a week, or you have high fever, trouble swallowing or breathing.

Is mulethi the same as licorice candy?

No, candy is mostly sugar and flavour; mulethi is the dried root.

Mulethi and Tulsi Tea for a Scratchy Throat

A small piece of mulethi root and a few tulsi leaves simmered into a naturally sweet tea for a sore, scratchy throat. Two or three days only.

Important: this remedy is only a supportive home measure. Keep taking any medicine your doctor has prescribed, monitor your readings, and consult your doctor before adding anything new.

The Ayurvedic view of mulethi

Mulethi (licorice root, yashtimadhu) is naturally sweet and soothing, which is why it shows up in throat remedies. It contains glycyrrhizin, which in larger or longer use can raise blood pressure and lower potassium.

Mulethi coats and soothes the throat, and tulsi adds warmth and aroma. The tea is naturally sweet, so no sugar is needed. Keep it short because of mulethi's effect on blood pressure.

Ingredients

1 small piece (2 cm) mulethi
6 to 8 tulsi leaves
1½ cups water

How to prepare

Crush mulethi and simmer with tulsi for five minutes.
Strain.

How to use

Sip warm twice a day for two or three days.

Helpful habits

Buy dry yellow sticks; they keep for months in a closed jar.

Precautions

Avoid with high BP, heart or kidney disease, and in pregnancy.
Avoid with high BP, heart or kidney disease and in pregnancy.
Keep use short, a few days at a time.
A home remedy, not a treatment. See a doctor if symptoms last more than a few days or get worse.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add ginger?: Yes, a slice of ginger is a good addition.
When should I see a doctor?: If the sore throat lasts over a week, or you have high fever, trouble swallowing or breathing.
Is mulethi the same as licorice candy?: No, candy is mostly sugar and flavour; mulethi is the dried root.