10 home remedies for a sore throat
In the majority of the cases a sore throat can be treated using natural home remedies. These remedies can help alleviate the pain and speed up cure until a sore throat clears up after 7-10 days. They are easy to follow and don’t pose any risk to your health.
Important: The tips below are not meant to replace the advice of your doctor. If you suffer from any disease or infection it is best to seek professional assistance. Read our disclaimer.
What causes a sore throat?
Before getting into the remedies it is always helpful to identify what are the major causes of a sore throat.
Common viruses including cold and flu
Bacterial infections
Smoking and allergies
Blocked nose that forces you to breathe through the mouth
What are the symptoms of a sore throat?
Difficulties in swallowing, pain when talking or eating are the major symptoms of a sore throat. Sometimes it is also accompanied by fever or tiredness a sign that you may be catching a cold or flu.
So, what helps a sore throat go away?
Tea with lemon and honey
This is one of oldest home remedies for a sore throat. Honey can soothe the pain while lemon can destroy bacteria. Preparation is simple: hot water, 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of honey. Drink it every 4-5 hours.
Gargle with warm salt water
If you feel that your throat is swelling, gargles with warm salt water can relief the pain. Use warm (not hot or cold) water and dissolve a teaspoon of salt. You can gargle every hour until the swelling goes away. If the swelling is not very big you will feel better fast after a couple of gargles.
Keep your throat hydrated
Many people don’t drink liquids when they have a sore throat because of the pain but keeping your throat hydrated actually helps. Drink plenty of water, lemonade (can be hot as well) or tea to keep your throat lubricated.
Avoid dry air
Dry air can irritate a sore throat so in order not to make things worse try to use an air humidifier to make more humid air and prevent your throat from becoming too dry.
Stop smoking and get lots of fresh air
It goes without saying the if you suffer from a sore throat you should not smoke. Instead try to get lots of fresh air and avoid closed rooms or places that don’t have a good ventilation system.
Boost your immune system with Vitamin C
While suffering from a sore throat vitamin C will not help ease the pain but it will boost your immune system and make it stronger against bacteria and infections. Fresh oranges are the best candidates or if you want faster results ask your pharmacists for a vitamin c tablet.
Lozenges
Lozenges act as a pain reliever but their effect is only temporary. You can take them every 3-4 hours (or as per dosage instructions or doctor orders) .For some people lozenges cause stomach problems and better be avoided and do the gargle with salt water instead. Be careful not to give lozenges to young children.
Garlic and hard candies
Dried garlic is a great antibacterial agent and has antiseptic properties as well. If you don’t like garlic or worried about the mouth smell try any of the above remedies.
Sucking on hard candies or anything else that can produce saliva can soothe the pain and keep your throat hydrated.
Pomegranate Rinds
This is a really old remedy but it actually works. The only problem is that it’s difficult to find pomegranate rinds when you need them. Boil a handful of rinds in water, let it cool down for a couple of minutes and drink it as tea. This is the method I use most often and it is very efficient.
Rest and sleep
When you have a cold, a sore throat or any other disease or infection, rest and sleep can help the body recover faster. Avoid exercise or intense activities and try to sleep and rest for as much as you can.
These are the most common remedies for a sore throat. Try them and see which of them works best in your case and don’t forget to consult your doctor if symptoms get worse or persist.
If you have a home remedy for a sore throat that is not listed above let us know in the comments below.
