A sore throat is the result of an inflammation of the pharynx, the tube that extends from the back of the mouth to the esophagus.
Some of the major causes of this condition are viral, bacterial, or fungal infections; irritants like pollution, smoking, acid reflux, or dry air; excessive shouting; or some kind of allergic reaction. A sore throat is often accompanied by a headache, stomach ache, the common cold and swollen glands in the neck.
Sore throats, while very common, can be painful and uncomfortable. Instead of making an appointment with a doctor, you can try some easy, natural remedies that will help alleviate the pain and, depending on the cause, possibly cure the problem.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for a sore throat.
(Out of the 10, we have covered 3 highly effective home remedies in this video as well.)
Contents
1. Lemon
You can use fresh lemons to get relief from a sore throat as they help remove mucus.
- Try hot lemonade with honey. Mix the juice from half a lemon and one teaspoon of honey in one cup of warm water. Sip it slowly.
- Another option is to gargle with freshly pressed lemon juice diluted with an equal amount of warm water.
- You can also take half a lemon and sprinkle salt and pepper over it. Slowly lick the lemon.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is helpful for treating a sore throat due to its antibacterial properties.
- Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon each of lemon juice and honey to a cup of warm water and drink it slowly. Do this two or three times a day. Soon you will get relief from the pain and inflammation.
- You can also make a gargle solution with apple cider vinegar. Mix one teaspoon of salt and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in one cup of warm water. Gargle with it several times a day.
3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon can be used to treat a sore throat caused by the common cold.
- Add one teaspoon each of cinnamon powder and black pepper powder to a glass of warm water. You may also add cardamom. Strain the solution and gargle with it two to three times a day.
- Another option is to mix a few drops of cinnamon oil and one teaspoon of pure honey. Eat this two times a day to get relief from the pain and inflammation associated with a sore throat.
4. Salt Water
One of the best ways to get relief from a sore throat is gargling with salt water. Salt works like an antiseptic and helps draw water out of mucous membranes in the throat. This cuts phlegm and reduces inflammation, giving you instant relief.
- Mix one-half teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. If you do not like the salty taste, add a small amount of honey.
- Gargle with the solution. Do not swallow it. Spit the water out after gargling.
- Do this at least four times a day for best results.
5. Garlic
Garlic has antibacterial and antiseptic properties along with other medicinal properties that can help treat or prevent sore throats.
- Eat a raw garlic clove daily to release the chemical known as allicin that helps kill the bacteria may be causing the sore throat.
- Alternatively, you can use garlic oil. Add a few drops of garlic oil to one-fourth cup of water and gargle with it once daily.
- Also try to eat garlic in raw and cooked form. If you do not like the taste, you can take garlic pills.
6. Slippery Elm
Slippery elm contains mucilage, a gel-like substance that coats the throat, eases soreness and reduces irritation.
- Add one teaspoon of the inner bark of slippery elm to two cups of boiling water.
- Let it steep for a few minutes, and then strain the solution.
- Drink it slowly while it is still warm.
In fact, you can use this solution for the treatment of any kind of respiratory illness or laryngitis. If the herb is not available, you can also buy slippery elm in capsule form from any drug store.
7. Honey
Honey has antibacterial properties, which can fight the infection and speed up the healing process. It also works like a hypertonic osmotic, which means that it helps draw water out of inflamed tissue and thus reduces swelling.
- Add one to two tablespoons of honey to one cup of hot water and drink it several times a day. You can also add honey to your favorite cup of herbal tea.
- Before going to bed, eat one teaspoon of honey as it will give you soothing relief and help you sleep.
8. Turmeric
Another great remedy for a sore throat is turmeric, which has powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Mix one-quarter teaspoon of turmeric powder into a glass of warm water. Drink it slowly in the morning on an empty stomach. Do this once daily for three or four days.
- Alternatively, you can add one teaspoon of turmeric powder and one teaspoon of ground black pepper to a glass of warm milk and drink it before going to bed.
- You can also gargle with turmeric to soothe a bad throat. Add one-half teaspoon of turmeric powder and one-half teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and mix it well. Gargle with this mixture twice daily.
9. Marshmallow Root
Marshmallow root contains mucilage and hence it can also be used to coat the throat and soothe a sore throat. Marshmallow root tea is great for a sore throat along with a common cough and cold. This remedy is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women, or people who are diabetic.
- Add one tablespoon of dried marshmallow root to one cup of boiling water and steep it for about half an hour.
- Strain the solution, add some honey and drink it.
- You can have three cups of this herbal tea in a day.
10. Fenugreek
The mucus-dissolving properties present in fenugreek will give you instant relief from pain and inflammation. You can prepare a gargle solution using fenugreek seeds, which is very effective for treating a sore throat.
- Add two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds to six cups of water.
- Boil it for about half an hour. Allow it to come to room temperature and then strain it.
- Gargle with this solution three or four times a day.
Next time you have a sore throat, simply try some of these remedies to feel better. However, if your sore throat lasts more than two or three days, consult your doctor.
good and healthful message.
very useful n effective advice / suggestion……
really a good and useful message………
Yes yes very useful message.
Excellent Information is served
Useful information for the forthcoming winter season
very useful messages. Thanks
Informative one
superb msg tanx guys………..
..very useful suggestions thank you.
Honey mixed with ginger juice is the best for indtant relief from sore throat, cough rtc.
It works everytime for me.
gargle cinnamon once a day for a week is killing me … i need fast solution. i’m trying cinnamon, honey and apple cider vinegar for my itchy throat now. hope it works!
Nice & helpful tips on natural therapy for health issues.
Very useful and easy solution
Thank you . I will try the lemon. Salt water and the slippery elm. At different times I know of these home remedy. And prayer.it is God who heals after the enemy strikes us with sickness.
The salt water and garlic was good, I take the two of them on the same day and my soar throat get better.thank you I really appreciate it
Thanks very helpful .
Good info, I love this post
its really works lot…. tnx
Helpful guidance for the solution.
Very helpful
gud very helpful
Agree with this point, honey and also lemon water are useful to treat throat problem and the taste are good.
this very nice…….will exercise
I found a hot totie to do the trick. Its brandy with a seared fresh lemon half squeezed into brandy and honey heat and sip slowly .Or a liquor called Anisette its good jusy by its self sip it heated and slowly hard to find though kind of like turpentine now that cures all but they banned it from all shelves and stores because people were healing their selves and they didnt like or want that
Thank you so much this is so helpful guys I suffer from sore throat caused by mucus dat drip down my throat.
Thanks alot
It is very help full.
Thanx a lot…very helpful
Thanks for your nice opinion, honey and lemon with warm water is very useful in throat infection.
Thanks and I hope that its work insha Allah
drink turmeric milk also known as huldi dudh
And turmeric tea
To make the turmeric milk
Put one cup milk in a saucepan and bring to boil
Add one level teaspoon turmeric powder
Simmer for 10 mins
Add honey to taste
Turmeric tea great in the morning
Boil one cup water
Then add 1/4
Teaspoon turmeric powder and simmer for 10
Mins
Add honey to Taste
These have outstanding benefits
I had the flu so I drank the milk at night and the tea in the morning
I can not emphasise how much of a relief i had and my breathing was absolutely clear
I love it. Hope it will help you too
Yeah nice i must be try the options how to release pain in throat i love it
Gargling throat with Sodium bicarbonate or / and take it in a cup of water is my best option and experience. Sodium bicarbonate has numerous excellent uses.
Very useful. Very much helpful. Very much impressed.
very useful tips i appriciate with this thanks for it.
Thank you!! Immediately tried the lemon and honey water,sipped It very slowly.but first I gargled with TCP in warm water. Thank guys!!!!
A very useful tips.thanku so much
I have throat pain, let me try above remedies.
Very useful tips. I will try gargaling with salt hot water n honey. Hope it will give a relie.
Very good useful tips thanks ….
Gargling with salt water is what I always do. Glad to see it posted.
thank you very much for the remedies I will try <3
VERY USEFUL INFORMATION AND TIPS THANK YOU
Salt water and turmeric water gargling is best way to relif from sore throat. Its ayurvedic medication
Its aurvedic
Thank you ?
For useful information.
Thank you for useful information
One tbl spoon of ACV and one tbl spoon of honey with warm water.
Gargle and drink slowly ease the pain in throat.
Thank you, I’m trying it right now. I hope to return to work in a couple of days.