Sore Throat Home Remedies

Sore throat refers to the inflammation of the pharynx or back of the throat. It occurs frequently when a person has a cold or an attack of influenza. 10% of sore throat may be due to strep throat infection. Strep throat is an infection of the pharynx, caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, whereas sore throat may be a viral or a bacterial infection. Strep throat is common among children and teenagers, between the ages of 5 to 15.This off course should not be taken to mean that sore throats simply affect youngsters or teenagers. Sore throats, as we all know, can affect absolutely anyone causing a great deal of discomfort.

A sore throat is almost always a non threatening condition but even though it may not be serious in most cases it is a source of great discomfort. A sore throat can be quite painful and make even necessities like eating food and swallowing excruciating. Sore throat causes are generally mild and there are plenty of natural sore throat cures and strep throat remedies that can offer relief from the condition and even cure it.

Chronic sore throat in some cases can be a result of allergies or even a condition known as mononucleosis which is more serious than allergies. It is therefore very important to determine the exact cause of the sore throat so that the right treatment can be administered to the patient. In most cases a chronic sore throat is caused by allergies and therefore by treating these allergies first, the sore throat problem itself can be treated and cured. Usually doctors prescribe antihistamines in the form of tablets or nasal sprays to treat such problems. Over the counter medications in the form of throat sprays and medicated gargling solutions can also be of help in easing chronic sore throat symptoms. In cases where the sore throat has been caused by bacterial infections, doctors may recommend antibiotics to fight the infection. However use of antibiotics should be avoided unless advised by a doctor.

Sore throat remedies are the most popular choice of treatment for the simple reason that the condition is so common, and most individuals today realize the risks of unrestricted usage or over dependence on pharmaceutical medications. Excessive reliance on medical products that contain chemicals can cause some long term ill effects, and very importantly the unrestricted or careless use of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance making illnesses even harder to treat as it renders the antibiotics ineffective when they really need to be called into action. Sore throat remedies are particularly popular among singers and talk show hosts or even telemarketers for that matter because of the simple reason that they aren’t just more vulnerable to sore throats because of the very nature of their occupation that subjects the vocal cords to stress, but also because they are reliant on their vocal abilities for a livelihood. Sore throat remedies for singers and entertainers or various other professionals are therefore popular as a source of relief from the condition. Sore throat remedies for kids and pregnant women are also highly valued as it is not advisable to put kids through unnecessarily strong doses of medication, and sore throat remedies while pregnant are again the only option. Cough remedies, cold remedies, and sore throat remedies for children are preferred options for sore throat medication.

The most effective and popular of all sore throat remedies is the salt water gargle. Sore throat remedies with apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper are also quite widely used. This however is just the tip of the iceberg and there are plenty more remedies for sore throats. Off course the most effective cure for a sore throat as with any other health problem would be to identify and eliminate the cause. Most often a common cold infection causes congestion and uneasiness because of the characteristic runny nose. In such a scenario treating the problem promptly with runny nose remedies or stuffy nose remedies can help to even prevent the development of a sore throat, which normally develops as a result of breathing in through the mouth. Steam inhalation is the other most popular and effective sore throat or lost voice remedy that can help solve or at least reduce the problem overnight. It helps to effectively clear the nasal passages, ensuring that there is no congestion at all. If you wish to you could even add a few drops of eucalyptus or spearmint oil to the steaming water before inhaling the vapors.

Sore Throat Symptoms

Pain, Irritation of Throat, Chills and Fever

In the case of an acute sore throat, the patient complains of pain, irritation and inflammation in the throat - followed by chills, fever, and some hoarseness or laryngitis

Lymph Glands Become Swollen and Tender

The lymph glands along the sides of the neck may become swollen and tender. The back of the throat may become very red and even covered with a grayish-white membrane. The patient may experience difficulty in swallowing, especially during the acute stage. There may also be some postnatal discharge if the inflammation has spread to the nasal passages. In addition to the above mentioned symptoms some of the symptoms of strep throat are difficulty in swallowing, headache, rash, stomach pain and so on. But having all these symptoms does not necessarily mean that your child is suffering from strep throat.

Since a sore throat is generally caused by other conditions that indirectly contribute to the development of a sore throat, you should probably notice some other sore throat symptoms that could give you a clue into the underlying causes. The only way to treat the condition in this scenario would be by addressing the underlying cause.

At times the sore throat causes may be due to some serious underlying condition, in which case it may require more intensive treatment. In such a scenario you may notice these sore throat symptoms:

• The appearance of white patches or even formation of pus on the area of the tonsils or the throat.

• An inability to swallow or recurrent sore throat that does not heal naturally.

• A sore throat accompanied by headaches that could be mild or severe and vomiting.

• Swelling or inflammation of the tonsils.

• The simultaneous appearance of a skin rash.

• The presence of blood or saliva in the phlegm.

• As with any condition, symptoms of dehydration should always be treated seriously and these could include severe exhaustion and decreased urine flow.

• In babies if accompanied by a fever of over 38.3 degrees Celsius or 101 F and in adults if there is a fever of over 39.4 degrees Celsius or 103 F.

Although sore throats are painful and discomforting in most cases they resolve naturally and quite effectively with strep throat remedies and sore throat home remedies alone. This is because most often the causes are viral and antibiotic sore throat medicines would have no effect. Even when the causes are more complicated a sore throat usually resolves within a week. A persistent sore throat does however warrant medical attention and could be particularly worrying in children. The appearance of a sore throat if accompanied by the outbreak of a rash could suggest a more serious condition like measles or meningitis.

Sore Throat Causes

Sore Throat Symptoms, Causes, Remedy and Diet

Common Cold and Influenza

The main causes of a sore throat are common cold and influenza. Other causes include sinusitis, measles, diphtheria and even leukaemia in rare cases:

• Very often a sore throat can be caused by viral infections that are responsible for flu. The mononucleosis virus is another such infection and at times viruses that can cause a sore throat may also cause blistering in the mouth and throat as in the case of aphthous stomatitis.

• At times the condition may not actually be caused directly by an infection but could occur because of breathing through the mouth, which we tend to do when suffering from a cold or congestion that makes inhaling through the nasal passage difficult. Breathing through the mouth results in dryness and soreness of the throat.

• Sinus drainage could also be a common cause of a sore throat.

• Bacterial infections are another common cause of sore throats, the most common being the Streptococcus bacteria, responsible for strep throat.

• Although thrush or candida infections are generally in the realm of toddler health issues, they can also cause sore throats in adults if there has been heavy treatment with antibiotics, chemotherapy, or other medications that compromise immunity.

• A persistent sore throat or cough that does not respond to treatment may be indicative of more serious illnesses like cancer or AIDs.

Sore Throat Remedy

Sore Throat home remedies and natural cures, Questions and answers

Sore Throat Treatment using Mango Bark

Mango bark is efficacious in the treatment of a sore throat and other throat disorders. Its fluid, which is extracted by grinding, can be applied locally with beneficial results. It can also be used as a throat gargle. This gargle is prepared by mixing 10 ml of the fluid extract with 125 ml of water

Sore Throat Remedy using Belleric Myroblan

The herb "belleric myroblan" is a valuable sore throat remedy. A mixture of two grams of the pulp of the fruit, a quarter teaspoon of salt, half a teaspoon of powdered long pepper and two teaspoons of honey should be administered in the treatment of this condition. The fried fruit can also be roasted after covering it with wheat flour, and used as a cure for a sore throat.

Sore Throat Treatment using Bishop's Weed

Bishop's weed is valuable for sore throat treatment. An infusion of the seeds mixed with common salt can be used beneficially as a gargle in an acute condition caused by a cold.

Sore Throat Treatment using Cinnamon

Cinnamon is regarded as an effective remedy for a sore throat resulting from a cold. One teaspoon of coarsely powdered cinnamon, boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder, and two teaspoons of honey can be taken as a medicine in the treatment of this condition. Two or three drops of cinnamon oil, mixed with a teaspoon of honey, also give immense relief.

You could also use ginger along with cinnamon and honey to prepare one of the most effective sore throat remedies for quick sore throat relief. Both ginger and cinnamon are highly valued for their healing properties and have been widely used among naturalists and in traditional medicine to aid the treatment of sore throats and throat infections in a variety of sore throat home remedies.

Sore Throat Remedy using Fenugreek Seeds

A gargle prepared from fenugreek seeds has been found to be a very effective remedy for treating a sore throat. To prepare this gargle, two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds should be put in a litre of cold water and allowed to simmer for half an hour over a low flame. This should then be allowed to cool to a bearable temperature, strained, and then used entirely as a gargle.

Fenugreek seeds have been a valuable ingredient in ancient medicine since the time of the ancient Egyptians and possibly even earlier in ancient India. Their healing effects are not simple quackery or folklore but can be attributed to an important ingredient in the seeds called Diosgenin. This is an ingredient that is used in medical steroids and gives fenugreek seeds their powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Sore throat remedies prepare with fenugreek seeds are therefore extremely effective in delivering sore throat relief.

Sore Throat Cure using Henna

The leaves of henna are useful as a sore throat cure. A decoction of the leaves can be used as a gargle for this purpose.

Sore Throat Cure using Holy Basil

The leaves of holy basil have also been found beneficial in the in curing sore throat. Water boiled with basil leaves should be taken as a drink, and also used as a gargle to relieve a sore throat.

Holy basil is another widely used ingredient among practitioners of herbal medicine and scientific investigations into the medicinal properties of the plant have been quite revealing. Holy basil leaves can yield a powerful essential oil with properties like eugenol, carvacrol, methyl eugenol and caryophyllene. These ingredients give the herb its antibacterial and powerful healing effects, highly valued in sore throat remedies and sore throat cures.

Sore Throat Remedy using Kantakari

The herb kantakari is a valuable in sore throat remedy. An extract of the plant should be used as a gargle for this purpose. This extract is prepared by continuously boiling the plant in about two litres of water after washing it thoroughly

Sore Throat Treatment using Liquorice

Liquorice is a recognized home remedy for sore throat in all parts of India. A small piece of raw liquorice should he chewed or sucked for treating this condition. The healing property of the herb soothes inflammation quickly

Sore Throat Cure using Sage

Sage is another effective cure for a sore throat. Half a litre of boiling water should be poured on a handful of sage leaves. When moderately cool, a little vinegar and honey should be added according to taste. This mixture should be used as a gargle. A teaspoon of this mixture call also be taken internally at the same time.

Sage is highly valued because of the oils and tannins in it that give it its antiseptic and astringent properties. Sage is therefore one of the effective sore throat remedies and sore throat treatment using sage is widely used across the world. Herbal teas prepared with a mixture of sage and chamomile can also be quite effective.

Sore Throat remedy using Tea Decoction

A decoction made from tea leaves is very beneficial in the treatment of a sore throat. This decoction, mixed with a pinch of salt, should be used as a gargle. It can be used two or three times daily for obtaining relief. It is not necessary to use fresh leaves for this purpose. Boiling water can be poured over used tea leaves in the tea jug and this decoction used as a gargle.

Sore Throat treatment using Tamarind

Tamarind is also beneficial in the treatment of sore throat. Tamarind water should be used as a gargle. A powder of the dry leaves and an infusion of the bark can also be used for preparation of a gargle for treating sore throat

Sore Throat Treatment using Raspberry

A raspberry tea gargle is a very effective remedy for getting rid of sore throat phlegm. This gargle can be prepared by pouring a cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dried raspberry leaves and allowed to stand for 10-15 minutes. This mixture can then be cooled, strained and used as a gargling solution. It is important to avoid drinking this gargling liquid and it must be spit out once you have finished gargling.

Sore Throat Treatment using Turmeric

For allergies and sore throat a gargling solution can be prepared by combining a cup of water, half a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of turmeric powder. Gargling with this mixture two times a day can help provide effective relief from sore throat. Instead of a gargle you can even combine a cup of hot milk and half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and drink this mixture twice a day.

Sore Throat Diet

Sore Throat : Home Remedies suggested by users

All-Fruit Diet

A person suffering from a sore throat should fast on orange juice and water for three to five days, depending on the severity of the condition. When the severe symptoms subside, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for three or four further days.

An all fruit diet would help greatly because fruits are extremely rich in nutrients and essential vitamins like vitamin C and A and also in antioxidants, all of which can promote healing and also boost your immune system helping your body fight off an infection naturally. It would be best to avoid fruits that aggravate or irritate the throat however as these would for the most part include fruits with a high acid content like the citric fruits.

Well-Balanced Diet

Thereafter, he may adopt a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on seeds, nuts, grains, raw vegetables, and fresh fruit.

It is absolutely essential for you to avoid foods and drinks that could aggravate the condition and hamper the healing process. All junk foods and oily or fried foods should be avoided completely for the duration of the sore throat. Simply avoiding such irritants could help relieve sore throat symptoms to some extent.

Sore Throat Treatment: Other Suggestions

Warm-Water Enema and Wet Pack

During the initial juice and water fast, the bowels should be cleansed daily with a warm-water enema. This should be done twice daily in more serious cases. A wet pack should be applied to the throat at two-hourly intervals during the day, and one at night. The procedure is to wring out some linen cloth in cold water, wrap it two or three times around the affected part, and cover it with flannel. Gargles may be done several times.

Hot Epsom Salts Bath and Exercises

A hot Epsom salts bath, taken daily during this period, will be highly beneficial. Dry friction, deep breathing, and other exercises should form part of the daily health regimen.

Vaporizers

Since dryness of the throat and a loss of moisture is a common cause of sore throats and dryness can also cause further irritation of a sore throat it would make sense to use a humidifier or vaporizer as this can offer some sore throat relief, particularly if your environment uses artificial heating or cooling.