is gargling with tea and lemon helps the soar throat?

Ok so I have the flu, and my throat hurts like hell, so my dad made me gargle with warm tea with lemon and to put it deep in my mouth till I’m almost about to vomit I know gross right? and afterwards I’d gargle again with colgate splax or whatever its called.and to be honest it actually made my throat feels a bit better still kinda hurt though and I wanted to ask if this method is healthy? Or is it doing worse to my throat than helping it?