Herbal Remedies for Bad Breath (Halitosis)

In addition to good oral hygiene and paying attention to how and what you eat, there are a number of herbal remedies for bad breath that can be quite effective.

• The chlorophyll cure. “Chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, is a powerful breath freshener,” says Maryland botanist/herbalist James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy. Ever wonder why restaurants often garnish meals with a sprig of parsely? It’s a modern echo of the ancient Roman practice of chewing parsley after meals as a breath-freshener. Parsely is rich in chlorophyll. So are basil and cilantro. “Refrigerate sprigs of fresh parsley, basil, and cilantro in a glass of water,” Dr. Duke suggests. “Nibble them throughout the day.” (Chlorophyll is the “Clor” in Clorettes breath mints, and one of the active ingredients in Certs.)
• Good ol’ cineole. Cineole is a powerful antibacterial antiseptic found in several medicinal herbs. “The richest source is cardamom,” Dr. Duke says, “but eucalyptus, spearmint, peppermint, rosemary, sweet annie, ginger, and tansy are also good sources. Munch them, or brew them in tea.”
• Take time for thyme. Thyme is another notable antibacterial herb, thanks to the thymol in its oil. Chew some leaves, or brew up a tea. Or rinse your mouth the Listerine, whose active ingredient is thymol. In one study, participants rinsed their mouths twice a day with either Listerine or a placebo mouthwash. The Listerine group wound up with 43 percent less plaque. The downside of Listerine and most commercial mouthwashes is that they contain alcohol, which can dry your mouth, and promote bad breath. But in Listerine, the antibacterial action of the thymol more than makes up for the alcohol.
• Be sanguine about your breath. In addition to Listerine, Dr. Brauer also recommends Viadent, an over-the-counter mouthwash that contains and extract of the medicinal herb sanguinaria (blood root). “Sanguinaria is a powerful antiseptic,” he explains. “It kills bacteria in the mouth and under the gums that contribute to bad breath.”