Having a sore throat isn't fun, but don't let it ruin your day. You can relieve pain and promote faster healing by taking better care of yourself. Use natural remedies to soothe your throat and pay more attention to your body until you feel better. Also, as long as your throat hurts, avoid foods and drinks that can irritate it further.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Quickly Relieve a Sore Throat
Step 1. Dissolve a tablespoon or two of honey in a cup of hot water
Honey is a natural antiseptic and is also a valuable aid against coughs. Stir to dissolve it in hot water, then slowly sip the drink. Make sure the water isn't too hot before drinking.
- Alternatively, you can directly suck the honey in small doses.
- Do not give honey to babies under one year of age because it contains bacteria that their body is not yet able to process.
Step 2. Gargle with salt water
Dissolve one or two tablespoons of sea salt in a glass of warm water. Put it in your mouth a little at a time and gargle until you have used it all. It is a simple, yet effective, method of disinfecting the throat and reducing inflammation along with pain.
- You can gargle with salt water every 2-3 hours as well. In addition to relieving irritation, salt water improves blood circulation and thus promotes faster healing of the throat.
- Apple cider vinegar is also useful for gargling when you have a sore throat; it works the same way as sea salt. Pour one or two tablespoons into a full glass of water and slowly gargle. If you want, you can add a little honey to improve the flavor, but don't expect it to completely cover the sour taste of the vinegar.
Step 3. Treat sore throats with steam
You can take a hot shower, use a humidifier, or stand next to a pot of boiling water. Dry air aggravates pain in the throat, while breathing in the hot steam will provide relief.
Step 4. Eat something hot
Try sipping some broth, soup, or eating some cooked fruit (as long as it's not a very sweet fruit because it's best to avoid getting too much sugar when you have a sore throat). Thanks to the heat, the pain should subside.
Washes, separates and freezes the fruit; blueberries and mandarin wedges, for example, are small and easy to suck. Once frozen, let them thaw slowly in your mouth to soothe your throat
Step 5. Drink hot herbal tea
You can use the properties of plants to reduce sore throats, such as those of ginger or chamomile. Choose a herbal tea with a taste you like and add a teaspoon of honey to enhance its benefits.
Step 6. Suck on some candy for a sore throat
Those that contain pectin, in particular, can help relieve pain. Buy specific sweets for sore throats instead of using cough sweets.
- Follow the directions on the candy packaging for maximum benefits.
- You can buy sweets for sore throats at a drugstore or drugstore.
Part 2 of 3: Taking Care of the Body
Step 1. Stay in bed
Rest is a very powerful remedy for illness, so do what you can to avoid getting up or exercising too much. Since you are sick, running left and right will only aggravate your condition and also risk making the people around you sick. Rest and sleep are very important to heal. You can watch television or read a book to keep your mind busy and distract yourself from the pain in your throat.
Step 2. Fill up on zinc and vitamin C
Both of them strengthen the immune system, thus helping the body to return to health. You can take vitamin C or zinc separately or together through a multivitamin supplement.
Consult your doctor before taking any type of supplement, especially if you are taking any medications
Step 3. Treat yourself with fruit juices
Our grandmothers knew very well that fruit juices are useful for treating sore throats. Among the most effective and recommended ones are apple juice and orange juice. Note that cider is definitely not as beneficial as apple juice.
Step 4. Avoid sugar-filled fruit juices
Sugar creates a supportive environment in which germs can proliferate quickly. You should drink some freshly squeezed juices and natural juices. The best are those prepared with fruits that have a high vitamin C content, such as oranges, grapefruits and lemons.
Step 5. Feed your body with hot soup or broth
A soup or a minestrone is all your body needs to heal.
Step 6. Treat yourself with medication
When a sore throat is severe, you can find relief with medication. Generally those recommended are based on ibuprofen or diphenhydramine hydrochloride. They might make you sleepy, but in this case it's good because you need sleep to heal.
Step 7. Sleep
Forget the discomfort caused by a sore throat for a moment and take a nap. It is normal for you to feel tired and in need of rest.
Step 8. Cover up
It's important to stay warm, so wear long, heavy clothing. If you have the flu, a sore throat or a cold, you don't have to stay cold or your condition will get worse.
Step 9. Try to have fun
Since you can't leave the house you could feel a little bored. Wrapped up in a blanket or robe, you can easily reach your computer (for fun with wikiHow articles) or the living room. There are many things you can do for entertainment, such as reading a book, writing, playing video games or watching television.
Part 3 of 3: Avoid Throat-Irritating Foods and Drinks
Step 1. Avoid cold drinks and foods
Due to the cold, the airways contract and tighten rather than relax. For this reason, if you eat or drink something cold, your sore throat may get worse. Hot or lukewarm drinks and foods are sure to do better for you.
Step 2. Avoid ice cream and all dairy products in general
The reason is that they cause phlegm to form, which in turn causes coughing. Since your throat tends to become more irritated when you cough, it's best to avoid drinking or eating milk and dairy products until you feel better.
In addition to milk and ice cream, you should avoid yogurt, cheese and chocolate
Step 3. Avoid foods that can irritate your throat until you are healed
You must try to preserve the throat in all possible ways. Hard, dry foods, such as potato chips or crusty bread, can make you feel a lot of pain the moment you have to swallow them. Until you feel better it is best to continue sipping hot juices, broth and herbal teas.
If you feel like a food is bad for you, listen to your instincts and don't eat it
Advice
- Speak as little as possible to let your throat rest.
- Drink some warm (not hot) water often.
- Slowly suck on a throat candy that contains pectin.
- Try eating hot porridge, it's very good and can relieve your throat.
- Remember that candies do not heal the throat, they simply numb it for a short time, nevertheless they are useful for not feeling pain.
- If you are concerned that you will not be able to sleep, apply a spray directly to your throat before going to bed. It will relieve inflammation and therefore pain as well.
Warnings
- Avoid dry and hard foods or your sore throat will get worse.
- If your symptoms don't improve within a week or if they get worse, call your doctor. it could be something more serious than just a sore throat.
