Sore throats are no fun. They can be caused by simple situations like overuse, snoring, or a lack of humidity. They can also be a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection. Viral infections are more common than a bacterial, or strep, infection. Both are contagious meaning they can be passed from person to person.
One of the best things you can do when struggling with any illness is to encourage your body to use all its energy to heal itself. So drinking more fluids and avoiding foods that cause swelling, burning, and even feed bacteria and viruses is a good place to start. If you are suffering from a sore throat be sure to avoid sugar, fruit juices, caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners and dairy. Below are some more ways to soothe a sore throat.
Lemon, Ginger and Honey
Each of these on their own have benefits, and together they make a wonderful sore throat home remedy. Lemon has antibacterial properties and supports the body in detoxification. Ginger is naturally an anti-inflammatory, is anti-bacterial, and boosts blood circulation. Raw unpasteurized honey contains anti-oxidants and helps boost the immune system. So try this sore throat home remedy. Mix 1 teaspoon each of powdered ginger and honey, 1⁄2 cup of hot water, and the juice of 1⁄2 squeezed lemon. Pour the water over the ginger, then add the lemon juice and honey, and gargle.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is one of the best ways to remove bacteria from the mouth. It works as an oral detox and creates a clean, germ-free environment in the mouth. To practice oil pulling, use a 1 tablespoon of high quality organic coconut oil and mix it with one drop of a pure food grade essential oil to boost the benefits and relief even more. Some suggestions are lemon, peppermint, or clove essential oil. There are also blends made by several companies that are designed to boost the immune system. Swish for at least ten minutes. Then spit out the oil in the trash, rinse your mouth and brush your teeth.
Gargle
Gargling is an easy way to get anti-inflammatory and pathogen unfriendly ingredients right to the source of the problem. There are lots of different ingredients you can try. Using a high quality sea salt helps to reduce swelling, soothes a sore throat and creates an unpleasant environment for bacteria in your mouth. Salt also temporarily increases the pH balance of your mouth, creating an alkaline environment that makes it hard for bacteria to survive. The acetic acid found in organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar provides powerful disinfectant activity. Apple cider vinegar also contains polyphenols that provide the body with antioxidant support and contribute to a healthy immune response.
The capsicum in hot peppers helps alleviate pain and fights inflammation. You can try a few shakes of cayenne pepper or a few drops of hot sauce in a glass of water and gargle. Cloves have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe and heal a sore throat. Add 1 to 3 teaspoons of powdered or ground cloves to water, then mix and gargle. And don’t forget turmeric. Add 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric to water and you’ll experience many benefits of this amazing root.
Teas
There are pre-mixed teas that contain herbs and roots that are know to soothe sore throats. Or you can make your own by combining some of these ingredients. For example, the marshmallow plant has been used to treat sore throats and other conditions since the Middle Ages. Its root contains a gelatin-like substance known as mucilage, which coats and lubricates the throat when you swallow it. Slippery Elm is another herb that contains mucilage and coats the throat. Licorice root has many benefits, including relieving pain. Horehound is an antioxidant-rich herb with anti-inflammatory properties. It has traditionally been used as a remedy for sore throats and colds.
Throat Spray
Again, you can buy pre-made sprays or make your own using any of the ingredients discussed in this article so far. And here are a few more to consider. Sage has been used to treat many inflammatory conditions, and can help relieve sore throat pain. Echinacea is a herb that is widely used in traditional medicine. It has been shown to fight bacteria and reduce inflammation. Chamomile is a known anti-inflammatory and it also also has antioxidant properties which are helpful for tissue repair. Here is an example of a throat spray to try. Boil 1/2 cup water and add 1 teaspoon ground sage and 1 teaspoon ground echinacea. Let it steep for 30 minutes and then strain. If desired, add 1/2 cup of hard liquor and fill a spray bottle.
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