Ryukakusan: My Wonder Candy for Keeping My Throat Healthy

The weather is getting colder as we are getting closer to the last months of the year. Hence, I now have dry eyes, I keep sneezing, and my throat is getting itchy. I become very lethargic and moody whenever I have these issues all at once.

So, I make sure I have my eye drops, Vicks Vaporub (mentholated topical ointment) to stop my nose from clogging, and Ryukakusan.

What is Ryukakusan?

Ryukakusan is a candy that has a variety of flavors like lemon, menthol, blueberry, etc. It’s like lozenges, that’s why whenever autumn and winter hits, I usually buy this candy to avoid having a dry throat.

Ryukakusan

For me, this candy is one of my greatest discoveries in Japan! It really helped me survive cold seasons, especially winter because I usually get dry or sore throat during this period. At home, I can easily drink tea and have no problem going to bathroom breaks several times. But, when you are working, especially in a language school, it’s very challenging.

You cannot really keep going to the toilet, while you are having class.

How did I discover it?

It was introduced by my Japanese co-worker to me. It was winter and I complained that I have a sore throat. My co-worker gave me some of her Ryukakusan and told me she’s also the same, so she buys it to soothe her throat.

Upon trying it out, I did feel better. When I stopped by the convenient store, I saw a pack of Ryukakusan and bought some. It was way cheaper than buying lozenges.

After that, I always make sure that I have Ryukakusan during the cold seasons.

Where to buy it?

Aside from the convenient store, you can also buy it in supermarkets. However, both places don’t usually have it. It can be a hit or miss. On the other hand, you can always go to big drug stores, they usually sell it there. Therefore, whenever I look for Ryukakusan, I often go to the drug stores.

Conclusion

To others, this may seem like a trivial thing, but for someone who works with kids or always talking to people, keeping your throat healthy is very important. It’s not really a good image if you keep coughing while you talk or teach. Parents would be concerned about the safety of their children.

Now that I’m mostly at home, I still have Ryukakusan during autumn and winter. It tastes good, it’s cheaper than lozenges, it soothes my throat, and it is just very nostalgic for me whenever I have it.

How about you? What are your tips for keeping yourself healthy during these cold seasons?