Sore throat is a condition that causes irritation and inflammation of the throat. It can occur due to bacterial infection or viral infection. Sore throat can cause discomfort in eating and swallowing. Medical conditions like fever, common cold, laryngitis, infections like influenza, mumps and herpangina can cause sore throat. Streptococcus infection, tonsillitis, epiglottises, and sexually transmitted diseases can cause sore throat. For some people sore throat can be caused due to allergies, and reflux disease like GERD can cause sore throat.
1. Rinsing With Salt Water
Most of the cases of sore throat can get resolved if you simply gargle with lukewarm water. Add 1-2 tsp of table salt in a cup of lukewarm water. Now gargle this solution such that the salt water touches your throat. Salt is very effective in relieving the sore throat helping in neutralizing the acidity in the throat.
Prepare fresh salt water and heat it to the extent you can tolerate the heat in your throat. Repeat this simple home remedy 4-5 times a day to get rid of sore throat. Salt water helps in balancing the irritated mucus membrane and reduces swelling caused by throat infection. It really shrinks down the swollen cell in turn reducing pain and inflammation.
2. Lemon Juice
Add few drops of lemon juice in a cup of warm water and gargle it thoroughly. Virus and bacteria may not be able to tolerate the strong acidity of lemon and would perish shortly. Lemon also helps in repairing the injured membrane and reducing swelling.
3. Ginger and Lemon
Crush some pieces of ginger, add few drops of honey and lemon and mix it in a cup of hot water. Drink this juice slowly. As the juice enters your throat, it would soothe the passage. Hone and lemon are capable of reducing inflammation and irritation in the throat caused by infection. Ginger is an effective remedy for sore throat.
4. Sage With Water
Mix 1 tsp of sage, little brown sugar and few drops of vinegar in a cup of hot water. By drinking this solution for 2-3 days sore throat can be cured.
5. Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is enriched with chlorophyll which is effective in preventing the growth of bacteria. You can do gargling with wheatgrass juice for few minutes which can create amazing benefits. This is good for improving your breath and to remove bacterial growth in the mouth.
6. Clove Rinse
Crush some pieces of clove and add hot water to it. Rinse this mixture for few minutes which can reduce pain and inflammation.
7. Simple Green Tea
Green tea is not only for drinking but for gargling also. Green tea has the natural power of healing any inflammation and cure infection. It can cause smoothening effect on your sore throat.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
Germs like bacteria or virus would die due to the high acidity of apple cider vinegar solution. You can rinse your mouth with 1 tsp of this solution added with little salt. You can repeat gargling this solution many times a day. For better effect, you can even add few drops of honey in this mixture.
9. Water and Echinacea Herb
Echinacea is an excellent agent for killing virus that causes sore throat. Add a handful of Echinacea in hot water and gargle this solution for 3-4 times a day. This is effective for boosting your immune system that would trigger hormones to fight sore throat.
10. Myrrh and Water
Mix few drops of myrrh in hot water and rinse it thoroughly in your throat. Myrrh is effective in reducing inflammation and is a good antiseptic to fight infection.
11. Marshmallow Root
Crush some pieces of marshmallow root and add in a cup of water. Boil it for few minutes and allow it to settle for an hour. Now strain the water and drink it. This special herb is effective in soothing the inflamed mucus membranes of your throat. Repeat this for 2-3 days many times a day and you are sure to get relief from sore throat.
12. Steaming Therapy
This is a valid easy home remedy for sore throat. Fill a large bowl with hot water and lean over it and cover your head with a bath towel to inhale the steam. It would be better if you could add few drops of eucalyptus oil in this water. This simple therapy can give you quick relief from sinus, headache and sore throat.
13. Honey With Pepper
Add about a tsp of Cayenne pepper powder into a cup of boiling water. You can add few drops of honey to counteract the taste of pepper. Drink it slowly when it becomes lukewarm. You can repeat drinking this easy solution for the entire day as and when required. Honey can provide you relief from soreness and pepper can reduce the pain and stiffness from your throat.
14. Honeysuckle Flowers and Leaves
Take few leaves and flowers of honeysuckle (fresh ones) and add them in a cup of boiling water. Boil it for few minutes and strain it before drinking. This is an effective home remedy for sore throat. You can add a tsp of honey for taste. Honeysuckle leaves are available in TCM shops and supermarkets.
15. Clove
Spice like clove is useful in reducing toothache and sore throat. Clove contains Eugenol which is an effective anti-inflammatory agent reducing pain. Gently chew 2-3 pieces of clove and suck them slowly which can help in numbing the throat pain.
16. Gargling Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
Add a tsp of hydrogen peroxide to a cup of boiling water and allow it to become warm. Now keep gargling this liquid until you feel better in your throat.
17. Pomegranate Tea
Take fresh pieces of pomegranate and boil the rinds for 10 minutes in a cup of water. Once it gets warm you can drink this tea or gargle the liquid for few seconds.
18. Chamomile Tea
Sore throat can be treated easily with chamomile tea. Add 1 tsp of chamomile tea in a cup of boiling water and boil it for few minutes. Strain this liquid and drink slowly. This can reduce the throat pain gradually. Repeat this easy remedy many times to get quick relief.
19. Ginger Tea
Cut fresh pieces of ginger and drop it in boiling water. Allow it to boil for few minutes. Now strain this before sipping it slowly. Sore throat is gone forever by this home remedy.
Tips For Prevention
- Don’t drink ice cold water or juices. This can irritate the soft mucus membrane of your throat causing sore throat.
- Similarly avoid having hot tea or coffee. Consider drinking it warm.
- Even when you get emotional or excited don’t shout at the peak of your voice. This can affect the balance of vocal cord causing sore throat.
