Sore throats can be caused by allergies, excessive use of the voice or screaming, pollution, or respiratory infections. Just as the causes are many, there are also many remedies. If you are tired of a sore throat, there are some home remedies and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals you can try.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Drink Fluids
Step 1. Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of water and other restorative fluids. Sports drinks are usually a great option. They rehydrate you quickly and taste great.
Drinking plenty of fluids also helps you wash away the thin layers of mucus or other allergens that may have lined your throat, resulting in inflammation and discomfort
Step 2. Drink orange juice
Orange juice is rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant. This vitamin is essential for the health of bones, muscles and blood vessels.
Many people testify to the effectiveness of vitamin C supplements, but no medical studies have proven whether vitamin C can reduce the duration of a cold
Step 3. Try making yourself a hot drink
A chamomile tea with a little honey and lemon is a great way to relieve a sore throat. In supermarkets you can also find specific drinks against sore throats. Most of them have the same effect as chamomile with honey and lemon.
Step 4. Drink some warm broth
Chicken broth is a classic homemade remedy for a sore throat. Broths contain a lot of nutrients and soothe pain. Avoid soups that contain solid foods, however, as they may irritate your throat.
Step 5. Make a "hot toddy"
Often, all you have to do is wait for the sore throat to pass on its own. To help ease the pain in the meantime, try a hot toddy. Choose the hot drink of your choice, such as coffee, tea, cider, chocolate or simply hot water with lemon and honey. Many people also add cinnamon. What makes a hot toddy effective though is the alcohol it contains. Traditionally, these drinks are made with whiskey, brandy or rum. The hot liquid will soothe the pain. Liquor won't make you think about problems.
Step 6. Try the garlic broth
Many believe that garlic has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It is also believed that it can strengthen the immune system. While there is no scientific evidence to support this theory, many practitioners of holistic medicine prescribe the use of garlic broth.
- Peel and crush two cloves of garlic. Pour a cup of boiling water over it. Add some salt to improve the flavor.
- If you prefer the flavor of ginger over that of garlic, try replacing garlic with ginger in the previous recipe. Ginger helps clear the sinuses and soothe a sore throat.
Method 2 of 4: Remedies to Try at Home
Step 1. Gargle with warm water and salt
Dissolve a teaspoon of salt (5 g) in 250 ml of warm water. Gargle with salt water four times a day. Don't drink salt water or you'll end up dehydrated in no time.
- Don't just rinse your mouth with salt water. Make sure you gargle. Get the water down your throat and let the salt do its job.
- Salt sucks moisture from inflamed throat tissues. Harmful bacteria need that moisture to survive. Therefore, the salt will reduce the inflammation of the throat and attack the root of the problem.
- You can also gargle with Listerine. The antiseptic present in Listerine which attacks plaque and harmful bacteria in the mouth will help you fight infections in the throat as well. It will burn at first, but you will get better in a short time.
Step 2. Apply honey and cayenne pepper to the throat
Mix these two ingredients together. Use a cotton swab to smear the solution on your throat. Cayenne pepper is a natural anti-inflammatory, and reduces swelling. Honey helps pepper stick to the throat.
Step 3. Make a home hydrogen peroxide rinse
You can find hydrogen peroxide in any grocery or pharmacy. It is a mild antiseptic that kills most of the bacteria that can irritate the throat. Take a measuring cup of hydrogen peroxide and mix it with a tablespoon of water and a drop of lemon juice to give it flavor. Put the solution in your mouth and gargle. Spit it out after about a minute.
Step 4. Use a balsamic ointment on your nose or chest
Most inhalant ointments are designed to decongest the nostrils. Mint from the ointment can also relieve a sore throat. You can find these products in supermarkets and pharmacies.
Step 5. Eat some marshmallows
This advice may seem strange to you, but this remedy has been used for centuries to relieve sore throats. The jelly contained in the marshmallow lines the back of the throat, protecting it from other irritants.
Step 6. Relieve throat pain with a warm compress
Wrap a warm compress, such as a hot water bottle, hot water bottle, or warm, damp washcloth around your throat. We often try to relieve a sore throat from the inside, but we forget that it is also possible to do it from the outside.
Step 7. Use a humidifier
Humidifiers increase the humidity of the air. If you have a dry, itchy throat, a humidifier can make you feel better. Use one in your room for better sleep. You can also take long hot showers. Moist air in the shower will act as a humidifier.
Method 3 of 4: Using Over-the-Counter Pharmaceuticals
Step 1. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever
Paracetamol, ibuprofen, and naproxen can help you. You probably already have non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in your medicine cabinet - use them to relieve swelling in your throat.
Step 2. Find a cough syrup
Cough syrups aren't just for treating coughs. They are also useful for most throat problems. Be very careful about the side effects of syrups though. Many cause sleepiness. If you have to go to work, are about to drive or operate heavy machinery, choose a product that does not make you drowsy.
Step 3. Purchase an anesthetic throat spray
Most sprays contain acetaminophen, which numbs the throat and reduces swelling that causes discomfort.
Step 4. Try using throat lozenges
As with antiseptic sprays, many "cough pills" contain small doses of acetaminophen, which reduces swelling and numbs the throat. They are available in many flavors and at different concentrations of the active ingredient. Try different types to figure out which one is best for you. Be sure to read the details on the package to see how many you can take per day.
Method 4 of 4: Other Precautions
Step 1. Breathe through the nose
This can help keep the throat moist, which can prevent a sore throat. So avoid breathing using your mouth and do it through your nose.
Step 2. Avoid pollution and other allergens
Stay indoors when there is a lot of smog on the streets. Limit your outdoor activities during times of the year when common allergens like pollen saturate the air.
Step 3. Avoid talking
When you speak, the air flows down your throat. This activity can further irritate the throat, leading to prolonged inflammation.
Step 4. Eat only foods that are easy to swallow
Try eating yogurt, ice cream, or popsicles. These foods refresh the throat and put it to sleep at the same time.
Step 5. Don't smoke
Tar from cigarettes and secondhand smoke can irritate the lining of the throat. If you have a sore throat often and suspect smoking may be the cause, consult your doctor and consider quitting.
Step 6. Seek medical help if:
- The condition does not improve after a few days.
- You have a fever, swollen glands, or white patches in your throat. These symptoms can indicate a bacterial infection.
- The inside of the throat is scratched or bleeding.
- Sore throat is accompanied by stomach pains. You may have acid reflux problems.
