What is the best single thing we can do for overall good health? Wash hands frequently. Medical science says this is the best prevention. We touch so many things that other people have touched. Then we tend to touch our eyes, nose or mouth, our mucous membranes. Those moist places are excellent breeding grounds for bacteria and virus.

We are not perfect. Perfection only lives in paradise. So, now and then we get a sore throat. I recently learned of a remedy for sore throat: Sage Tea.

My nurse friend told me to bring water almost to a boil. A full boil will kill the healing properties. Add ¼ teaspoon ground sage (what you might add to the Thanksgiving turkey stuffing) to one cup of very hot water. Cover and let it steep for 15 minutes. Stir and drink. WARNING: Drink only ONE cup, or this tea will mess up your digestive track.

I had a very sore throat. I made two cups of Sage Tea: one for drinking and one for gargling. While I drank, I spoke with a friend on the phone. My distorted voice came much closer to normal in 30 minutes.

The other cup sat on the kitchen counter until the next day. My sore throat was gone; however, my throat felt a little scratchy. So I gargled with some of the Sage Tea. The scratchy feeling went away. And I felt better overall.

Warning:  If you are allergic to sage, avoid this tea. It would be wise to sip slowly and “listen” to your body’s response. Gargling is not wise if you have sage allergy.