Herbal Teas for Sore ThroatsSore throats are usually due to excessive "heat" or yang chi energy. Chinese medicine looks at root causes of illness and treats the causes, not the symptoms. Laryngitis and other throat infections, certain types of headaches, a deep red tongue and canker sores are all common manifestations of excessive "heat" or yang chi. Remove the "heat" and the throat infection will heal itself. The Japanese variety is rounder, whiter and juicier, but less effective for our purpose. Even more effective is the yali or ya pear, which is also very "cooling" and therefore will help remove the "heat" or yang chi and thus, any resulting throat infection. 
Crush the entire fruit into small pieces (including shell and seed), and add boiling water to steep for one or two minutes before drinking. It has a rich sweet flavor, not unpleasant to taste. One fruit can last for two or three steepings. Drink as much of this until the infection disappears. Depending on the severity, it can take one to a few days. The mangosteen is a well known fruit common in China and southeast Asia. Both anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory, it is rich in the antioxidant xanthone, and is often used in herbal infusions for treating dysentery, gonorrhea, diarrhea, skin ailments such as eczema, allergies, urinary disorders, cystitis, thrush, and regulating menstruation.
One fruit can last for two or three steepings. Drink as much of this until the infection disappears. It has a rich sweet flavor, not unpleasant to taste. Depending on the severity, you might have to consume this beverage for one to a few days. The mangosteen is a well known fruit common in China and southeast Asia. Both anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory, it is rich in the antioxidant xanthone, and is often used in herbal infusions for treating dysentery, gonorrhea, diarrhea, skin ailments such as eczema, allergies, urinary disorders, cystitis, thrush, and regulating menstruation. 
For added effectiveness, you can add equal amounts of honeysuckle and chrysanthemum to your mangosteen tea. Both of these flowers make good herbal teas in themselves, and when added to mangosteen, also have the "cooling effect" that will soothe and heal sore throats and infections. If you live in a region that has a temperate or subtropical climate, you can grow many of the herbal flowers and other ingredients yourself. If not, these ingredients should be readily available in your local Chinatown herbal stores. So even though sore throats may not be a thing of the past, at least you can say goodbye to them much more quickly with these herbal beverages!
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For excessive yang chi, try the Chinese Tianjin xueli, translated literally as "snow pear," or better known in the Western world as the pear apple or Japanese pear. 
