A sore throat causes pain, irritation, and in some cases even itching. The feeling of "dryness" in the throat also makes it difficult to swallow. This disorder is quite common and can be a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection (pharyngitis). It also occurs in cases of allergy and poor hydration, can be the result of some fatigue after shouting, speaking or singing, accompanies gastroesophageal reflux disease and is present in HIV infections and throat cancers. Most cases of sore throats, however, are caused by a virus (such as that of the normal cold, the flu, mononucleosis, measles, chicken pox, and infantile croup) or a bacterium (such as strep). Thankfully, gargling with salt water is an effective remedy for soothing irritated mucous membranes, regardless of the cause.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Gargling with Salt Water
Step 1. Pour one teaspoon of table salt or whole sea salt into 240ml of water
Salt reduces the swelling of the mucous membranes of the throat by absorbing the water present in the tissues. It is also an antibacterial agent, which is why it is used to season and preserve some elements, as it prevents bacterial proliferation.
Step 2. Gargle the solution for 30 seconds
To proceed, take a deep breath and take a sip of 16-24ml of salt water without swallowing it. Tilt your head back (about 30 degrees), close the back of your throat and gargle for half a minute before spitting out the liquid.
If you need to help a child, teach them to gargle with plain warm water first. There are no age restrictions for this remedy, the only limit is the child's ability to gargle without ingesting salt water and this is generally not possible before 3-4 years of age. To make sure he can gargle for 30 seconds, you can turn the procedure into a game by challenging him to sing a song while he does the rinse
Step 3. Repeat this process until you have used up 240ml of salt water
Depending on the volume of sips of water you keep in your mouth, you can gargle 3-4 with 240ml of water. Take a deep breath and shake the saline solution down your throat for half a minute each time.
Step 4. If you can't use salt water, try other solutions
Some people have some difficulty, because they can't stand the intense taste of salt in their throats. You can try other blends or just add essential oils to the saline solution to mask the taste. Here are some ideas:
- Add apple cider vinegar. The acid contained in this product is capable of killing bacteria just like salt water. You can mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with salt water to enhance its antiseptic properties and, at the same time, mask the taste of the salt, although the taste of the vinegar is not that much better.
- Add a drop or two of garlic oil. This essential oil has antibacterial and antiviral properties.
- Add a drop or two of burdock oil. Traditional Chinese medicine commonly uses this herb to treat sore throats. However, scientific studies conducted on burdock are still very few.
- Try peppermint oil. Pour a drop or two into salt water as it is a great remedy for soothing throat pain.
- Dissolve a drop or two of althaea officinalis. This plant contains mucilage, that is, gelatinous substances that line the walls of the throat and relieve pain.
Step 5. Repeat the gargle as needed
You can do throat rinses every hour (or even more often), as needed. The important thing to remember is not to ingest salt water, as it dehydrates the body just like it does on the throat tissues.
Method 2 of 3: Other Home Remedies
Step 1. Drink lots of water
This way you avoid dehydration and keep the mucous membranes of the throat moist while minimizing discomfort. Most people prefer room temperature water, but you can sip it cold or hot, depending on what makes you feel better.
Try to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses a day or more if you have a fever
Step 2. Humidify the air
If you can keep the air around you moist enough, then you prevent your throat from drying out excessively. Use a humidifier if you have one. Alternatively, have cups full of water in the living room and bedroom.
Step 3. Get enough sleep
Regardless of whether you're battling a viral or bacterial infection, sleep is your immune system's best ally. Try to get eight full hours a night, especially when you are sick.
Step 4. Eat soft, not too spicy foods
Drink lots of soups and broths. Good old chicken broth really cures colds. Studies have shown that it slows the movement of some specific immune cells making them more effective. Chicken soup also increases the movement of fine hairs in the nose, reducing infections. Here are other soft foods you can consume:
- Grated apple;
- Rice;
- Scrambled eggs;
- Well done pasta;
- Oatmeal;
- Shakes;
- Well cooked beans and legumes.
Step 5. Bite into small bites and chew them for a long time
The more moist and in small pieces the food is, the less likely it is to irritate the throat further. Try to cut foods into really small bites and chew them for a long time, allowing the saliva to moisten them before swallowing.
Method 3 of 3: Get Visited by a Doctor
Step 1. Know when to go to the doctor
A sore throat is typically a symptom of another disease, such as a viral or bacterial infection. If the discomfort lasts more than a week (or more than three days during which you regularly gargled with salt water) or you show some of the symptoms listed below, then you need to see your doctor. Here's what you need to pay attention to:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty in breathing;
- Difficulty opening your mouth
- Joint pain
- Otalgia;
- Skin rash;
- Fever above 38.3 ° C;
- Presence of blood in saliva or phlegm
- Presence of a lump or mass in the neck
- Hoarseness lasting more than two weeks
- Remember that, as far as children are concerned, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a pediatric visit every time a sore throat occurs that lasts all night and that does not resolve with adequate hydration or is accompanied by difficulty with abnormal breathing, swallowing or salivation.
Step 2. Undergo diagnostic tests
To allow your doctor to determine the causes of your sore throat, you will need to carry out some tests, including a visual check, where the doctor will observe the throat and illuminate it.
Other tests might include a throat swab that collects a sample to determine the bacterial nature of the problem and identify the type of bacterium. If this test fails, the pain in your throat is most likely caused by a virus, especially if you also have a cough. Your doctor may also consider getting allergy tests and a complete blood count to assess your immune response
Step 3. If you have a bacterial infection, take antibiotics
If the culture of the throat swab has shown the bacterial nature of the disorder, then your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics to fight the infection. If so, take them carefully for as long as your doctor tells you, even if you start to feel better. Otherwise, some antibiotic-resistant bacteria could survive and develop a drug-immune colony, which could lead to complications or relapses.
- If you have been prescribed antibiotics, eat yogurt with live lactic ferments to replenish the "good" gut bacteria that have been killed by the drugs. You should consume this food because, unlike yogurt and pasteurized dairy products, it contains beneficial bacteria. This advice is useful for avoiding diarrhea, which is sometimes associated with antibiotic therapy, and for maintaining the normal balance of bacterial flora (vital for your health and that of your immune system).
- Watch for abnormal episodes of diarrhea when taking antibiotics, as they could be a symptom of another disease or infection.
Step 4. In case of a viral infection, rest
If your doctor comes to the conclusion that your throat pain is caused by a viral infection (such as a cold and the flu), then your doctor will advise you to get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and eat healthily. This strengthens the immune system so that the body can defeat the virus.
