20 Home Remedies for Sore Throat

Sore throat is a very common discomfort. Although it can be treated mainly with certain drugs, can also be relieved with the help of some home remedies in a complementary way. The idea of using home remedies is to avoid over-medicating throughout the day and feel more comfortable.

The discomfort in the throat is one of the most common conditions in the winter seasons. They usually have discomfort and pain in the throat area, and sometimes other symptoms such as fever or discomfort. All this will depend on the cause that produces it. In bacterial cases, the administration of antibiotic medications is necessary for their elimination.

However, in many cases, the pain can be mild, caused by cold or viral agents. In this article, we will present 15 natural remedies to relieve a sore throat in these cases.

What is Sore Throat?

It is an irritation or inflammation of the duct located at the bottom of the palate. The ailments in this area may be due to several reasons. These may be excessive contact with smoke, allergic conditions, cold irritation or infectious agents such as viruses or bacteria. Similarly, the sore throat can come from an inflammation of the vocal cords generated by the forcing of the voice.

Sore Throat Symptoms

Depending on the cause of the sore throat the symptoms may vary. However, the following are usually presented:

• Hoarsely
• Tonsillitis
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pain that worsens when swallowing or speaking
• Pain or itchy throat
• Swollen glands that hurt in the neck or jaw

In addition to these, there are those who may also experience:

• Fever
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Runny nose
• Headache

People who prefer to be treated with natural remedies, here we share some options.

15 Home Remedies for Sore Throat

The following natural remedies can be used to relieve a sore throat (in addition to the pharmacological treatment prescribed by the doctor):

1. Gargle with Salt Water

Gargling with warm water and salt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to relieve a sore throat. Salt helps eliminate bacteria, relieve pain and prevent upper respiratory infections.

Ingredients

• 1 glass of warm water (250 ml).
• 1 teaspoon salt (5 g)

Directions

• Mix both ingredients well and let the salt dissolve before gargling.
• Perform 2 to 3 times per day.

2. Candies

There are various candies, without pharmacological analgesics, which serve to relieve a sore throat and stimulate the production of saliva.

Mostly, they combine elements such as honey (whose texture soothes inflammation and discomfort to a large extent) and refreshing herbs such as:

• Mint
• Bulbs
• Eucalyptus

3. Chamomile Fusion

Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. While it is best to drink an infusion of freshly prepared chamomile, it can also be used as a natural atopic remedy to relieve a sore throat.

The infusion is prepared and, once this warm, a cloth is moistened, squeezed and placed on the neck as a compress. Once it cools, the procedure is repeated as many times as desired to get relief.

4. Hot Throat Compress

Since the sore throat includes inflammation of the area, it is considered that applying a heat compress to the area helps fight it.

Therefore, grandmothers recommend wrapping their throat with scarves. The heat has a vasodilator effect that relaxes the muscles and, therefore, relieves pain.

5. Ginger Tea

Ginger is another natural ingredient that can help relieve a sore throat. This is because the root has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that directly fight the agents that caused the infection.

Various home remedies can be prepared with ginger, however, the following is one of the easiest to perform. It is recommended to drink it up to 3 times a day when the sore throat is very annoying.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of ginger powder or two tablespoons of fresh grated root (15 g).
• 1 glass of boiling water (250 ml).

Directions

• Peel and grate a piece of ginger.
• Boil a glass of water.
• Add the ginger and let stand 5 minutes before straining.
• Drink warm. You can add lemon. 

6. Honey with Lemon

Honey is rich in vitamins and trace elements. It has anti-inflammatory, energizing and antimicrobial properties.  For its part, lemon is rich in vitamin C and also has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Therefore, the combination of both natural ingredients helps relieve a sore throat.

Ingredients 

• 1 cup of water (250 ml).
• 2 tablespoons of honey (50 g).
• The juice of ½ lemon.

Directions

• Boil 1 cup of water. Once the water reaches the boiling point, add the honey.
• Add the juice of half a lemon when the water is warm, this way, it will not lose its properties.
• Mix well and drink.

7. Cloves

Cloves contain a substance called eugenol which, in turn has anesthetic, antifungal, bactericidal and antiviral properties, which help to fight infection and, consequently, sore throat.

Directions

Insert 1 or 2 cloves into your mouth. Keep them there for a few moments and then, if you wish, chew them and swallow them.

8. Cayenne Pepper

To relieve a sore throat, it is recommended to gargle water with cayenne pepper. Just mix half a teaspoon of this pepper with half a cup of water. Repeat the gargles several times a day to get relief.

9. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has a lot of antibacterial properties that directly attack the infection caused by bacteria and helps soothe a sore throat. This occurs because the vinegar acid interacts with the pH, which decreases and this causes the microbes to continue growing. In addition, the expectorant nature of vinegar dilutes the mucus, which makes it easier to expel phlegm.

To relieve a sore throat you can also gargle with apple cider vinegar and hot water. As in the previous case, it is recommended to repeat the gargles every hour, until you notice improvements. 

10. Thyme Tea

Because of its antitussive, balsamic and mucolytic properties, thyme is an excellent remedy against sore throat.  Prepare 1 tablespoon of dried thyme in a cup of boiling water. Let it warm and gargle.

11. Licorice Root

You should prepare an infusion containing one or two pieces of licorice roots per cup of water and drink a sip. You can also chew a little root so that, along with saliva, relieve a sore throat.

Licorice root can increase blood pressure if used in excess, so this remedy should not be used in hypertensive patients. It is also not recommended for pregnant women or during breastfeeding.

12. Green Tea

In addition to its antimicrobial component, green tea contains anti-inflammatory properties that help achieve sore throat relief. It can be used as a hot drink or as a rinse to gargle. 

13. Sodium Bicarbonate and Salt

You should mix half a tablespoon of baking soda with half a salt in half a cup of warm water. Gargle with this preparation a few times a day and you will relieve the sore throat in a short time.

14. Eucalyptus Leaf Water

Another mouthwash that you can prepare to gargle and say goodbye to a sore throat is eucalyptus leaf water.

It will only be necessary to boil water and add a handful of eucalyptus leaves. Let stand for about 10 minutes and then, when it is warm, proceed to gargle.

15. Hydrogen Peroxide

In case the sore throat is due to an infection, it is recommended to gargle with hydrogen peroxide (3%). If you think it has a very ugly taste, you can dilute it with water in equal parts. Eye, it is very important to be careful not to ingest the hydrogen peroxide.

16. Take a Hot Shower

Because the most damaging for our throat is the dryness of the environment, we must try to moisten it as much as possible, either thanks to a humidifier, especially useful in winter, when the humidity drops or to the steam of a good shower with water hot. You can also open the hot water switch and sit in the bathroom vacuuming the steam formed, if you do not want to take a bath, or add herbs and essential oils to the water.

17. Take a Chicken Soup

Any hot broth is beneficial for your throat, but doctors particularly recommend chicken soup, as well as vegetable or beef soup, at the same time, that they advise against excessively acidic tomato or those that contain dairy, which increases mucus production. The hot soup will provide relief to sore throats and a good amount of sodium to our body.

18. Have a Marshmallow

The sap of the marshmallow plant has been used over hundreds of years to relieve sore throats and flu. Although the marshmallows they sell in the store are not the same as the natural remedy, modern reports do indicate that the jelly of these candies helps to relieve a sore throat.

19. Do not Self-medicate

We should not self-medicate ourselves specially antibiotics, under any circumstances. We must remember that antibiotics kill bacteria and not viruses. So we should not ask the doctor to prescribe it, as it can end bacteria that are part of our defenses.

20. Rest Well

If the sore throat is from an infection, the best thing you can do is rest and let your body recover.

Conclusion

These 20 natural remedies are a complementary aid, not a cure as such. Therefore, they should be used in parallel to the treatment prescribed by the doctor. On the other hand, the most advisable thing is to take a single remedy and not several, since it can be counterproductive.

Finally, if the sore throat does not go away or is accompanied by fever, swollen lymph nodes or rashes, see a doctor immediately.