Natural health: Treating throat infections during winter

I tend to get painful throat infections during the winter. Is there a natural treatment I could take?

A. The short and simple solution is to supplement with zinc. This mineral is well known as being important for a healthy immune system, but it is particularly useful in treating infections because zinc is naturally secreted into fluids by the body as an antiseptic. Not only is this helpful when dealing with throat infections, but also infections of any organ or tissue.