3 Natural Solutions for a Sore Throat
Today, we’ll tell you what you need to know about sore throats and then give you three ways to find relief the natural way. Read this article to learn three natural solutions for a sore throat.
What is a sore throat?
A sore throat consists of inflammation of the pharynx or tonsils, and most people have had it at some point in their life.
Since a good part of your throat stays warm and moist, it’s the perfect breeding ground for viruses and bacteria. More than 80% of sore throats are from viruses, and between 10% and 15% are due to infections.
What causes a sore throat?
Sore throats come from viral infections and get worse when the microorganisms don’t respond to antibiotics.
Colds and the flu often cause sore throats.
Symptoms of a sore throat
- Inflammation
- Hoarse voice
- Need to cough
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Painful swallowing
- White or yellow spots in the throat
What can I do about it?
If the sore throat is from a virus, a prescription for antibiotics will be needed to get rid of it.
It’s also highly advisable to drink more fluids. Pain relievers will be prescribed only if the pain is very bad.
However, never self-medicate, because antibiotics can have side effects and make your resistant to bacteria. That means you’ll need more toxic and expensive antibiotics.
Of course, take the entire treatment, without interruption or stopping early. Otherwise, there could be a relapse and the germs will be stronger.
When should I worry?
You should see a doctor if the sore throat persists, which could happen if you have strep throat (a quite contagious infection) but it was treated as if you had pharyngitis.
Pharyngitis can only be treated with antibiotics. The symptoms are:
- Painful swallowing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Fever with rash
- Muscle pain
- Cough
- Post-nasal drip
With these symptoms, you need to see a doctor especially if the fever does not go down, because natural remedies could complicate the situation.
Natural solutions for a sore throat
Below, we’ll introduce you to three 100% natural solutions for mild cases of a sore throat.
1. Apple cider vinegar with honey
Apple cider vinegar lowers the pH of the area and helps get rid of germs in your throat.
However, it also works as an expectorant and the honey acts as a powerful antibacterial.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (10 ml)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon (5 ml)
- 1 tablespoon of honey (15 g)
- Pepper to taste
- 1 cup of water (125 ml)
Preparation
- Boil the water.
- Add the apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.
- Pour the honey in and mix until dissolved.
- Add a pinch of pepper if you like.
How to use
Drink a cup after each meal to reduce the pain and coughing.
2. Hydrogen peroxide
Another natural way to treat a sore throat is to put a drop of hydrogen peroxide in each ear as soon as symptoms appear.
How to use
- Clean both ears carefully with a Q-tip.
- Lean your head back and put one drop of hydrogen peroxide in each ear. You’ll feel a bubbling, which is completely normal.
- Wait for the bubbling to stop, 10 minutes maximum.
- Clean with a cloth.
Recommendation
We advise using this remedy only the first two days of the sore throat, once a day.
3. Lemon
Lemon is considered to be a natural disinfectant and antibiotic, in addition to a powerful source of vitamin C.
It can be used in different ways to relieve the pain, whether sprinkled on some salt and then swallowed, or like this:
Ingredients
- 4 lemons (40 ml juice)
- 2 tablespoons of honey (30 g)
Preparation
- Put the lemons on low heat.
- Squeeze them and then add the honey to the juice.
- Stir until well-mixed.
How to use
- Gargle twice a day until symptoms go away.
Additional recommendations for sore throats
- Rest.
- Drink enough fluids to break up the phlegm and help with the pain.
- Do nasal irrigation with salt and water.
- Use a humidifier or inhale steam.
- Don’t smoke.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Stay away from crowds and closed spaces.
- Get the flu shot every year.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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