Many people prefer to use a sore throat remedy instead of taking prescription medication and with so many great options available, relief is something easy to achieve. Of course, the exact remedy would depend on the cause of sore throat, severity, and whether any other health issues were involved.
Sore Throat Causes
Before we offer ideas on any sore throat remedy, we wanted to address the different causes of a sore throat.
- Bacterial Infection – Sore throats can be caused by different types of bacteria with the two most common being Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, which affects young adults mostly and in some cases, a red rash would appear, and Streptococcus, the bacteria that leads to Strep Throat
- Viruses – There are actually a number of common viruses that could also lead to a sore throat. For instance, the same viruses that cause the flu and mononucleosis are responsible for sore throats. In addition, depending on the exact virus involved, a person could also develop what is known as Aphthous stomatitis, blisters that form inside the mouth.
- Sinuses – Whether from regular sinuses or a sinus infection, post nasal drip would cause irritation that produces discomfort or actual pain
- Breathing – When someone breathes through the mouth instead of the nose, a sore throat could be possible
- Smoking – While a sore throat could develop in someone who is a mild smoker, typically heavy smokers are at greater risk
- Medical Treatments – Several kinds of medical treatments have also been the reason for a sore throat to include chemotherapy, taking medications that compromise the immune system, antibiotics, and others, which experts believe leads to Candida, a type of yeast infection
- Allergies – Many people exposed to pollutants or allergens from the environment or during seasonal changes will develop a sore throat
Keep in mind that using a sore throat remedy, over-the-counter commercial product, or prescription medication, a person should experience dramatic relief within a few weeks. If a sore throat of any severity lasts for two weeks or longer, medical attention should be sought in that this could be a sign of a major illness to include AIDS and cancer, as well as others.
Additionally, if a long lasting sore throat were ever accompanied by a high fever, aching joints, bloody discharge, difficulty swallowing, intense headache, or earache, seeking medical attention would be critical. However, in many cases, using the right sore throat remedy would provide the relief needed without further medical intervention required.
Effective and Safe Remedies
The following are some of the favorite remedies used to ease or stop symptoms associated with a sore throat. However, anyone thinking about using a sore throat remedy could conduct a search online and find a multitude of other possibilities.
- Salt Water – Probably one of the oldest remedies that people still depend on today involves gargling with warm salt water. For this, two tablespoons of table salt would be added to eight ounces of warm water and then gargled. This would need to be repeated two to three times a day until the pain disappears.
- Lemon Herbal Tea – Hot tea is also a great sore throat remedy that not only eliminates pain but benefits the body as a whole. One of the best recipes is hot green tea and fresh lemon juice. If a person prefers sweetened tea, honey could be added. The great thing about this remedy is that it would be suitable for both adults and children.
- Garlic – The interesting thing about garlic is that it offers analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Because of this, garlic used as a sore throat remedy is very powerful. A person has several options although the two recommended include drinking garlic juice and mashing three cloves of garlic, mixing with honey, and eating.
- Myrrh – Used in ancient times, myrrh continues to be an excellent remedy for symptoms of a sore throat. As just with garlic, myrrh possesses analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties to calm mucous membranes. For the best results, one-half teaspoon of myrrh would be added to six ounces of warm water and gargled with two to three times a day.
- Vitamin C – The last sore throat remedy we wanted to recommend is good, old-fashioned vitamin C. Although a person could take actual vitamins, many people get relief from sore throat symptoms by eating foods high in this vitamin to include black currants, lemons, and strawberries.