6. Sweet condiments like anise, fennel and cinnamon are excellent in relieving sore throat. These three things are like really powerful in curbing a sore throat. All you have to do is to procure them and eat them. However, these are condiments and spices, and as such must be taken in small quantity.
Anise seed for sore throat : Anise seeds make a wonderful herbal tea, try that out. Its really sweet smelling and sweet tasting.
Fennel : Eat 1 tablespoon of fennel seeds. Munch them really nice in your mouth. It secretes its juices which greatly relieve sore throat pain and redness.
Cinnamon : It goes great with honey. Pound some ground cinnamon with honey to make a thick paste and take 1 tablespoon of it 3 times a day for sore throat.
Why they work ?
These eatables have some anti-inflammatory capacity. They soothe your sore throat and reduce the pain.
( Photo Courtesy: trophygeek )
7. Licorice Root for Sore Throat
This is a champion remedy for sore throat. Licorice is a wonderful natural remedy. It has been mentioned in numerous ancient texts, especially in Ayurveda and TCM ( traditional Chinese medicine ) for the treatment of multiple diseases. Those remedies are complex. Nevertheless, even by taking licorice alone, one can get rid of sore throat, gastric ulcers, voice troubles.
- Ingredients
Licorice roots or powder.
- Directions / How to use
Powder the licorice and put 1 tablespoon of it in a pot of boiling water. Make into a herbal tea and drink it. It would taste pretty sweet and soothing to the throat. Don't drink this tea very hot.
- Why it works ?
I mentioned that it is perhaps the best remedy for sore throat. Lets see why. Licorice is a very powerful immune booster. It increases the ability of body's immune system to fight off infections, especially the viral ones. Sore throat, in more than 80 % of the cases is a viral infection. Secondly, licorice coats the throat and digestive tract. It is a slight demulcent. Thirdly, it clears the respiratory passage, so you may see some phlegm coming out. Licorice is a powerful anti-inflammatory as well. So, you see, it acts in a holistic way to treat a sore throat.
Word of Caution : However, there is one precaution here. Licorice root is sweet to taste but it has ability to alter blood pressure Licorice root worsens hypertension ( high blood pressure ). If used for long periods of time, then it can bring about hypertension in a perfectly healthy person. So, it should be used in moderation and never for extended periods of time. I would suggest taking the herbal licorice root tea 3 times a day for just 3 days and not more than that.
If you suffer from hypertension, then I suggest you avoid it completely, or you should discuss with a doctor on the safe amount of licorice that can be taken.
Anise and fennel on the other hand are extensively used in cooking. So, one can take them in food or chew them directly. The sweetness that they exude is really soothing for the throat.
( Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia )
8. Use a humidifier
To control the humidity inside the house, you need a humidifier. But, what has it git to do with a sore throat ? The humidity of air flowing in the house has an effect on the sore throat. It can irritate the mucus membrane lining your throat and make sore throat worse. Increasing the humidity in a dry room helps a lot. It also prevents one from change in voice as that is what most singers do. They have humidifiers installed in their rooms.
- Ingredients
A humidifier
- Directions / How to use
Set the humidifier to a humidity level between 30 to 50 %. That is the comfortable range of humidity. Some people just prefer to use a humidifier only when they sleep, while others would just let it run all day long.
- Cost
You can get a nice humidifier for around $ 30.
Alternative : You can cultivate the Boston Fern plant indoors. It acts as a natural humidifier for your house.
( Photo Courtesy: joeshlabotnik )
9. Holy basil leaves tea
This is also a nice remedy if you can get fresh holy basil leaves from your garden. Now, there are many kinds of basil, like sweet basil, Thai basil, lemon basil and one of those varities is the Holy Basil. This herb is known as tulsi in India and it is sacred. It is excellent for sore throat and for anxiety.
- Ingredients
Fresh holy basil leaves . ( if you can't get fresh, you can use dried tulsi ).
- Directions / How to use
In a kettle, add half a handful of Holy Basil leaves to about 250-300 ml of water. Bring to boil and keep the kettle covered. Holy Basil has got aromatic compounds in it. These compounds escape in vapor form but if you keep the kettle covered, some of them would dissolve back, making the Holy Basil tea more potent. Sip this tea slowly, letting it go over your throat.
You can also put this into your regular black tea ( without milk and sugar ) , if the purely herbal tea feels too bitter. For sweetness , you may add stevia. Drink this remedy 2 times a day.
- Why it works
Holy Basil is an adaptogen, a nervous tonic and an immune booster. You feel better after taking Holy Basil and the rest, your body does for you. The immune system revs up and performs its duty diligently, flushing out the pathogens from the body.
( Photo Courtesy: puzzlescript )
10. Eat mulberry
This fruit is delicious. One can pluck out mulberries from the tree, wash them in a pan and then the whole family can enjoy it. The best thing is that it relieves pain and discomfort of sore throat.
- Ingredients
Freshly plucked mulberries are excellent. If you can't procure that, then you can buy packed mulberries.
- Directions / How to use
Just chomp them down and see your tongue get a reddish or purple tinge. Mulberries are a pure delight to eat. Watch kids as they just can't take their hands off the berries.
- Why it works
Mulberries are deeply colored. They contain a special class of compounds known as anthocyanins. These have numerous health benefits and really help in most common diseases and syndromes.
( Photo Courtesy: eviltomthai )
11. Horseradish
is a condiment that is often added to meat, particularly in Germany. This herb can really cure a sore throat and swollen glands. In many cultures, the method of using it is to make a tea out of powdered root. Horseradish has been immensely valued as a medicinal item in Ancient Greek civilization. It really works for a sore throat.
- Ingredients
Horseradish
Honey
- Directions / How to use
Grate 1 tablespoon of horseradish. Then add this finely grated horseradish to 1 tablespoon of honey and mix well . Then gulp it down the throat. Do this 1 -2 times a day.
- Why it works
Horseradish has got many antibacterial and some anti-viral activity. It dissolves the mucus in our throat and provides relief from pinching pain.
( Photo Courtesy: avlxyz )
12. Marshmallow Root
Even though it is a herbal remedy, it is pretty easy to do it. You can get dried marshmallow root as it is pretty common, or you can grow it in your garden. Then all you have to do is to make a herbal tea out of it.
- Ingredients
Marshmallow root
Water
- Directions / How to use
Take 1 tablespoon only of Marshmallow root and add it to 1 cup of water in a kettle. Make a strong herbal tea ( that is keep it in the kettle for about 15 minutes after boiling ). In a strong herbal tea, you would see more color.
- Why it worksMarshmallow root is one of the finest demulcents out there. Demulcents are those things that coat our mucus. They provide a thin coating to the mucus and prevent further inflammation. You would feel less congestion in throat and symptoms like pain while swallowing , disappear.
"I have mentioned a list of some more demulcents in nature which you can try for sore throat. "
( Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia )
13. Honeysuckle Syrup ( Make at home uber powerful sore throat remedy )
This is perhaps the most powerful remedy for a sore throat. It has been the most common sore throat remedy in TCM ( Traditional Chinese medicine ). The exact recipe may vary from person to person, but it works pretty good. And the best part is that you can store this remedy and use it whenever you want.
- Ingredients
Honeysuckle flowers ( they come in many colors )
Water
Honey ( raw, organic )
- Directions / How to use
The recipe : Its a little elaborate and time taking, so follow me.
Step 1 : make 1 quart herbal tea from honeysuckle flowers. Make it strong, by steeping the flowers for about 30 minutes in boiling water. Cool it down.
Step 2 : Add 1 cup honey to this tea when it cools down.
Step 3 : Mix really well.
Step 4 : Refrigerate by pouring in the ice cube tray.
Your sore throat home remedy is now ready. It can be used for a week for so.
Each time, use 1 cube of this remedy. Put in the mouth and let it go down the throat slowly.
- Why it works
It has been mentioned in TCM. These ancient remedies were mentioned by ancient people which followed from community knowledge and extensive research in those times.
( Photo Courtesy: brianac37 )
14. Gargling with Cayenne Pepper powder
Its bright red and its really chilly, what's is its name ? Cayenne pepper. It is a tough yet incredible remedy for sore throat, one that promises quick relief.
- Ingredients
Cayenne pepper powder
Water
- Directions / How to use
Boil 1 cup water and add just 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and one lemon juice. Let it cool a bit and then gargle with this water. It would really heat up your tongue, mouth and throat. Bear as much as you can and spit it out, don't swallow. Do not drink anything afterwards. You can rinse the mouth with cold water if the tongue stings. You may get a runny nose from the pepper, but it does heal the sore throat.
- Why it works
It just seems to work for many people.
( Photo Courtesy: youasamachine )
15. The Sock Remedy
This one is an external remedy, so you don't need to ingest or gargle anything.
Ingredients and Directions
Take a sock and put some salt in it. Heat it in the oven. Take it out and place it around your neck. Make sure it is a comfortable temperature. Keep it in place using a scarf or just lie down. Within a few hours, you would find your throat pain reducing and inflammation too reduces. You can also put heated rice or flax seed also.
" You can even travel with this remedy, so if you need to move and you have a sore throat, this is the perfect home remedy. "
( Photo Courtesy: milele )
16. The All Heal Tea
Make a green tea with 1 clove of garlic, 1 inch ginger piece and a pinch of turmeric. Here is the recipe.
All Heal Tea recipe :
Step 1 : Take water in kettle.
Step 2 : Add peeled and grated garlic clove.
Step 3 : Add crushed ginger piece ( 1 inch thick approx ).
Step 4 : Boil the water and strain it.
Step 5 : Add a pinch of turmeric in this liquid.
Step 6 : Dip your green tea bag as you normally do and your tea is ready.
It is brilliant for sore throat.
Why it works
Garlic is powerful natural antibiotic. So , bacteria or virus, it doesn't matter to garlic. It just kills all of them. Then ginger and turmeric are top of the line anti-inflammatory foods. Finally, green tea is the best anti-oxidant known to man. Combining them gives you a very powerful formula not only for sore throat, but for many other conditions.
( Photo Courtesy: mckaysavage )
17. Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
I mentioned them together for a purpose. They seem to work better together in a sore throat.
- Ingredients
Apple Cider Vinegar ( organic )
Baking Soda
Water
Honey
- Directions / How to use
Take a pinch of baking soda, add to 2 tablespoon of ACV, 2 tablespoon honey and 1 glass water. Mix them well and drink this. Do this less than 3 times a day, because baking soda can cause irritation if taken in excess. Plus it is basic in nature and can alter the pH of blood, which is not a good idea.
- Why it works
AVC and Baking Soda both have some antibacterial power, plus honey, which has anti-bacterial as well as some anti-viral power. ACV is acidic and cuts through the mucus to allow the honey to effectively coat the throat wall and provide relief from sore throat pain. It thins the mucus , you can expel it easily.
18. Drink Sage Tea
Drinking sage water is pretty awesome home remedy. It has been added to food to improve brain functioning. Sage tea is good for your throat.
- Ingredients
Fresh sage leaves
Water
- Directions / How to usePrepare a nice herbal tea out of a handful of sage leaves. When it cools down a bit, drink it fast. Sage tea is bitter, especially if you taste it the first time, otherwise you can get used to it. Then take some honey afterwards, so that you don't feel the urge to vomit. You wouldn't want to vomit when you are already ill with a sore throat.
- Why it works
Sage has been used traditionally to ease colds, sore throat and many other conditions. You can take it either in the form of a herbal infusion, or just gargle with this tea.
( Photo Courtesy: cogdog )
Almost all of the common sore throat complaints should resolve with the above mentioned remedies in a few days time ( like 3 - 7 days ). Sore throat normally wouldn't stay for more than a week. But, if it is a persistent and stubborn sore throat, like the one that comes from post nasal drip, you ought to get it checked out by visiting a doctor. Most of the home remedies can deal with infections , but only to a certain extent. If the sore throat is resulting from some severe respiratory, nasal or sinus infection, treatment is required. Another point that I want to mention is that if you have fever with a sore throat, then you should go for treatment, because fever should never be neglected. Your body is signalling to you that hey, something is wrong inside.
A queer kind of sore throat that occurs only on one side of throat is usually because of a swollen gland, which can be caused by inflamed tonsils. There are many home remedies for tonsils.
It is not common to have headache during a sore throat, you should monitor that. Sometimes, sore throat can be triggered by allergies, like allergy to pollen ( very common ). In that case, these remedies would help, but you may suffer from it again and become like a chronic sore throat person. In that case, you should look at allergy home remedies.
Demulcents for painful sore throat
Some of the things that work as demulcents ( to coat your throat ) and ease a bad sore throat are these.
- Oatmeal
- Slippery Elm ( taken in the form of tea )
- Flaxseeds ( pretty easily available )
- Mullein ( this herb has been one of the most prominent natural cure for cough. But it is a herb, so exercise caution in taking it. Take help of a trained herbalist ).
- Okra pods
- Persimmons ( Oh delicious, you hardly get home remedies that taste as good as persimmons ).
- Pitted olives ( sans the brine )
- Pomegranate ( eat the fruit and make a tea of its shell ).
So, these are the things that should soothe your aching throat.
Last but never the least, drink lots of water. It is often stressed, but somehow we may end up never following it. Water is a wonderful healer, so make sure to drink enough of it.
