If you’ve been running around all week and feeling dead beat, all of a sudden, you get this horrible scratching sensation in the back of your throat. Oh no! The dreaded sore throat is about to strike.
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Here are 10 Ways to Sooth A Sore-Throat:
1. Gargle raspberry tea
Raspberry tea tastes great, and it is high in anti-oxidants, and great for treating a sore-throat. To make, pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 teaspoons dried leaves. Steep for 10 minutes, then strain. Allow to cool. If you have a fever, this will help make you feel better too, and perhaps break the fever.
2. Suck on Echinacea herbal lozenges
Echinacea is a traditional remedy that helps to relieve the symptoms of colds, sore throats and tonsillitis. One of the ways that echinacea works is as a bactericide. It stimulates cells in the body called phagocytes, which destroy bacteria or other foreign bodies.
3. Gargle with Salt Water
Salt is a natural anti-bacterial. Gargling with salt water at least once an hour can help with inflammation and swelling, and can ease the discomfort of a sore throat. To make the perfect salt water mix, add one tablespoon of salt to one cup of warm water. Gargle with this mixture at least once an hour. If you have post nasal drip, you might want to gargle more often to soothe your throat. If you want to add a little flavor to the solution, add one tablespoon of sage or a half-teaspoon of turmeric. Both can also help ease inflammation of the throat.
4. Drink Cider Vinegar
This sore throat cure is found in several different remedies. Try this formula:
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon vinegar, preferably apple-cider vinegar
8 ounces hot water
Mix all the ingredients together in a mug and sip slowly. Use as often as desired.
For gargling: You’ll need 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup cider vinegar, and 1 cup warm water. Dissolve the salt in the vinegar, then mix in the water. Gargle every 15 minutes as necessary.
5. Make a Horseradish Cocktail
This is an old fashioned Russian sore-throat remedy, but it works! Combine 1 tablespoon pure horseradish or horseradish root with 1 teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon ground cloves. Mix in a glass of warm water and drink slowly.
6. Take Slippery Elm in tea
Slippery elm was once considered a conventional treatment for sore throats in North America. Slippery elm comes from the inner bark of the tree. The inner bark contains mucilage, a gel-like substance that swells when it is mixed with water. The mucilage is thought to reduce throat irritation and soothe sore throat. Slippery elm is can be found in capsule form. It is a common ingredient in herbal lozenges, either on its own (made by Thayer’s) or combined with elderberry and zinc. Slippery elm is also found in herbal teas for sore throat, such as Throat Comfort (Yogi Teas).
7. Gargle Licorice Root
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has a long history of use as an herbal remedy for sore throat. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), licorice root is used for its anti-inflammatory properties and for stomach ulcers, allergies, canker sores and viral infections. A study in Anesthesia & Analgesia examined the use of a licorice root gargle to prevent sore throat. Five minutes before general anesthesia, patients either gargled with a diluted licorice root solution or plain water. The patients who gargled with the licorice root solution were less likely to have a sore throat after surgery and experienced less post-operative coughing than other patients. Licorice should not be used in large amounts, as it can lead to high blood pressure, salt and water retention, low potassium levels, and can affect levels of the hormone cortisol. It should not be combined with diuretics, corticosteroids, or other medications that reduce potassium levels in the body. People with heart disease or high blood pressure should use caution when using licorice. Pregnant women should avoid licorice.
8. Take an Analgesic
Taking anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or even regular acetaminophen can do wonders for sore-throat pain. However, aspirin shouldn’t be given to children under the age of 19 because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal condition. Pregnant and nursing women should check with their doctor before taking any medication. For a list of precautions to take when using over-the-counter analgesics, click here.
9. Drink Hot Liquids
Especially if you’re not good at gargling, drink hot fluids, such as coffee, tea or hot lemonade. Coating the tissue in your throat with warm liquid provides a soothing effect, though temporary. To make a delicious, soothing tea, use a spoonful of marjoram steeped in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain, then sweeten to taste with honey.
10. Steam It Out
One old-fashioned remedy for a cold or sore throat is a steam tent. Sit with your face over a bowl of steaming hot water and your head covered with a towel to keep the steam in. Adding 1 to 2 drops eucalyptus oil and inhale deeply. Several scientific studies have shown that steaming can actually shorten the duration of a throat infection.
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