Advice and Homemade Remedies for Your Throat

Keeping your throat well hydrated is fundamental to avoid annoyances. This is because, through fever and nasal secretions, we lose a lot of liquid, and it leaves the throat feeling dry.

Written and verified by the doctor José Gerardo Rosciano Paganelli.

Last update: 11 June, 2022

When we have a sore throat, or simply a little tickle and constant burning, generally, we search for a natural solution to provide relief. Among the most common remedies, you can find several hot drinks and even the consumption of foods with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

A tickle or pain in your throat can be a result of an infection, allergy, sudden weather changes, contamination in the air and, even because you haven’t drunk enough water.

Sometimes this becomes something serious. But even when it isn’t, it can still affect your daily activities if it’s constant. Coughing a lot makes it difficult to talk or eat normally.

Sometimes, a tickle in your throat comes with irritation and reddening. This may make you feel like you need to clear your throat. You should remember that when you try to do this, you may damage your vocal cords because they’re delicate.

Home remedies for your throat

If the irritation in your throat is caused by allergies or acid reflux you need to deal with those conditions directly following the advice of a doctor. Now, if it’s a result of a cold or a mild infection, you can resort to certain natural remedies as a complement to pharmaceutical treatment. Some of the most effective are the following:

1. Honey

If you decide to use honey to treat a tickle in your throat or a cough, it’s a good idea to take two teaspoons at bedtime.

2. Ginger tea

Ginger has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, many people believe that another way to tackle that tickling in your throat is by drinking ginger tea.

Ingredients

• A cup of water (1/2 pint)
• 1 or 2 tablespoons of grated ginger root, or pieces (4/5 oz.)
• 1 tablespoon of honey (3/5 oz., optional)

Preparation

• First, heat a cup of water, wait until it reaches a boil, and add the ginger.
• Then, allow it to steep for 10 minutes until it takes on a yellowish color.
• Let it cool.

How to consume it

• Once your tea reaches a comfortable temperature, drink it in small sips.
• We recommend you leave the pieces of ginger in the tea and chew them.
  • You can also add a tablespoon of honey to make it more pleasant.

3. Lemon tea

Hot tea with lemon will also calm any itching and tingling in your throat. In addition, lemon juice is packed with vitamin C, which helps you prevent respiratory diseases.

Ingredients

• 2 lemon peels
• 1 cup of water (1/2 pint)
• 6 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (1/8 pint)

Preparation

• First, heat the water and add the lemon peels.
• Let them boil for 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add the lemon juice.
• Drink this at least three times a day.

4. Gargling with saltwater

It’s also a good idea to gargle with salt water when you have a scratchy throat, according to popular belief. Although this technique may be a bit uncomfortable due to the taste, doing this once a day can help provide relief.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water (1/2 pint)
• 1/2 tablespoon of salt

Preparation

• First, boil the water.
• Remove from heat, add the salt, and mix well.
• Gargle while the temperature is still warm.

5. Aloe vera juice

Apparently, aloe vera juice can help to reduce the burning sensation and also alleviate itching in your throat. This is because it has refreshing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of water (1/4 pint)
• 2 large stalks of aloe
• 1 cup of citrus fruit juice (1/2 pint)

Preparation

• Open the aloe vera leaves and use a spoon to scrape out the gel inside.
• Put the gel in a strainer with thin holes and run it under a stream of water to remove the yellow substance that covers it.
• Once it’s clean, put it in a blender with the other ingredients and process it until blended.
• Serve in a glass and enjoy your drink.

6. Apple cider vinegar

Another old wive’s tale claims that the tingling in your throat can be treated with apple cider vinegar. In this case, you don’t need this ingredient to make a drink. You’ll just gargle with it.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup of warm water (1/8 pint)
• 1/4 cup of pure apple cider vinegar (1/8 pint)

Preparation

• First, mix both ingredients well with a spoon.
• Then, take small sips and gargle for about 15 seconds.
• Repeat this procedure twice a day.

7. Drink more water

Itching, burning, and dryness of the throat are often the result of dehydration when the region doesn’t have enough mucus to lubricate and protect your sensitive tissues.

• You should try to drink at least 4 glasses of water a day as a minimum.
• Drinking water is very important when you have the flu or a cold. After all, you lose a lot of fluids through sweat or fever, and mucus (when you sneeze or blow your nose).

Other considerations to protect your throat

• Avoid consuming caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and sodas. These can cause dehydration.
• Cigarettes are harmful to your throat and cause itching and irritation (in addition to many other health problems). Consider quitting smoking or at least reducing how much you smoke.
• Protect your voice. When you talk, yell, or sing too much, you overwork your throat, which can cause dehydration and itching.
• If you think this could be causing a scratchy throat, try to rest your voice (don’t talk, sing, or shout) for at least one to two hours.

Remember

By paying more attention to your diet and hydration when you feel unwell, you can avoid a lot of annoyances, including a tickling throat. All of this is thanks to the nutrients that provide the body with additional reinforcement for its defenses.

Of course, if the pain persists for several days, you should consult your doctor and follow their advice. It’s important that you mention these natural remedies to see if they’re suitable for you right now, or if it’s better to leave them for another time.