When a viral infection causes a sore throat; you need to treat it yourself. You do not have to go out and spend money; most of what you need to make these home remedies for a sore throat work for you, are right there in your kitchen. Learn how to effectively use what you have to get rid of a sore throat…

1. Picture courtesy www.quickmeme.com

2. Home Remedies For Sore Throat Pain
When in pain, we want relief, and we want it fast! Before exploring the very
best homemade remedies for sore throats however, let’s quickly run over
the most common causes of sore throats and the symptoms typically
associated with sore throats.
Most common causes of a sore throat include, but are not
limited to:
Viral infections are responsible for more than 70% of sore throat
occurrences; typically bring about the following health conditions:
 common colds (caused by rhinoviruses and corona viruses)
 influenza (caused by RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus)
 mononucleosis (mono) – “kissing disease” (infection with the EpsteinBarr virus (EBV) causing a glandular disease primarily spread through
saliva)
 mumps (very contagious viral infection of the mumps virus from the
genus Rubulavirus of the paramyxovirus family), etc
Picture credited to healthinfoblog.info

3. Bacterial causes of sore throats are:

strep throat is caused by the streptococcus pyogenes bacteria; a
contagious infection usually spread from person-to-person through
saliva and respiratory droplets from sneezing. Is the most common
bacterial cause of sore throat

diphtheria is caused by the bacterium baccorynebacterium diphtheria,
aka the Klebs-Loffer bacillus. A very contagious disease which may be
life-threatening. Respiratory diphtheria affects the nose, throat and
tonsils, and can lead to severe breathing problems.

whooping cough (infection of the respiratory system),

bacterial tonsillitis is usually caused by group A streptococcus bacteria
often found inside the throat.
Non-infectious causes include but are not limited to

irritation from alcohol

cigarette smoke
Picture courtesy www.wisegeek.com

irritation from nasogastric tubes used to administer drugs and feed
critically ill patients

foreign objects (chicken or fish bones for example) stuck in throat.

4. What are the signs and symptoms commonly experienced with a
sore throat?
Depending on what caused it, the symptoms of a sore throat generally
include:

swallow with difficulty

throat is dry (from breathing through the mouth)

tonsils are red and swollen

hoarse voice
Symptoms of sore throat which may indicate you need medical
attention are:

fever (temp of 101 F (38 C) or higher)
Credit www.medindia.net

headache, abdominal pain and vomiting on top of sore throat

tiredness

drooling

5. Sore throats caused by viral infections are not treatable by antibiotics;
bacterial infection needs to be diagnosed before prescription medicine can be
used.
OK…let’s see how many quick and easy homemade remedies for sore throat
we can find…
Analgesics: are defined as medicine that relieves pain. These are typically
over-the-counter painkillers such as Ibrufen, Panadeine, Panadol, Tylenol,
Aspirin, etc, and all are probably good when looking for home remedies for
sore throat pain. Whilst these may bring temporary relief from the pain
associated with a sore throat, they do not kill the viruses/bacteria
responsible for the sore throat. Use painkillers only when the home/natural
remedy for sore throats you apply do not take care of the pain sufficiently.
Courtesy spartanpharmacy.wordpress.com
Apple cider vinegar: is one of the best home remedies for sore throats!
ACV is made when crushed apples are fermented until such time that the
liquid forms acetic acid (vinegar). The acidity of ACV fights infection,
bringing relief from the viral or bacterial infection which causes a sore
throat. You can either take as a beverage or use to gargle.

6. Prepare a ACV beverage by adding 1 tablespoon of ACV to 8 ounces of hot
water (you can add 1 tablespoon of honey), stir and sip while still hot. Do
this 3 times a day until sore throat has cleared up. For more effective
treatment increase the ACV concentration by adding more to the water.
Credit to www.mygetridofguide.com
Baking soda: is another of those natural remedies for sore throat relief one
can depend on to deliver real results.
Add ½ teaspoon baking soda (anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory
properties) and ½ teaspoon table salt (salt is a great antiseptic and will also
loosen phlegm) to a cup of hot (not boiling) water and stir. Keep in mind it
should be gargled with while still hot; but cool enough not to burn your
throat. Take a sip, lift your head and let solution drop into your throat.
Leave for a few seconds before gargling; spit out. Repeat 2 more times. Do
3 times daily until pain in throat stops.

7. Candy: of the hard variety, does not cure sore throats; it merely produces
saliva which lubricates a dry throat, and only for a while. Indulge your sweet
tooth a bit; keeping in mind that sugar generally speaking is detrimental to
good health.
Cayenne pepper: Prepare a hot beverage by stirring ½ teaspoon of
cayenne pepper into a cup of boiling water. Add 1 teaspoon of honey to
make it more palatable. While cayenne pepper will not kill the virus
responsible for the sore throat, it most certainly will bring relief from the
pain associated with it.
Cinnamon and honey: is one of my personal favorites when it comes to
home remedies for sore throats and coughs. Quickest method is mixing 2-3
drops of cinnamon oil with 1 teaspoon of honey. Eat 2-3 times daily as
needed for quick relief from sore throat pain.
Courtesy beyondphys1cal.wordpress.com
Fenugreek seeds: have been found to be a very effective home remedy for
treating a sore throat, as it is antiseptic and has expectorant properties
which ultimately soothe the throat. Prepare a gargle by adding 2 tablespoons
of fenugreek seeds to a liter of cold water and simmer over low heat for

8. about 30 minutes. Strain and let it cool down to a temperature comfortable
to your throat and gargle with the tea throughout the day.
Side effects: Ingesting fenugreek not advised for pregnant women; also not
to be taken by people who have been treated for high blood sugar or
cholesterol.
Garlic: is one of those excellent natural home remedies for a sore throat
with both antiviral and antibacterial (allicin) properties. It also is a powerful
antimicrobial agent which builds up your immune system and helps the body
to fight off ailments.
Courtesy vgourmet.ca
Garlic tea is prepared by boiling 1 cup of water in a medium sized pot. Add 4
fresh cloves of garlic. Bring down the heat and let it simmer for about 5
minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool. You may want to
inhale the steam as the tea cools for 5 minutes; it may very well kill some of
the germs. Use cheesecloth to strain tea into a mug. Stir 1 teaspoon honey
into the tea and slowly sip until finished. Drink as often as you like to get rid
of your sore throat.
Ginger: Ginger tea, used as a sore throat treatment, can be prepared from
either powdered ginger (1 teaspoon) or grated fresh ginger root (up to 2

9. teaspoons) added to 1 cup boiling water. Drinking 3 cups a day for a couple
of days should take care of your sore throat.
Honey: taken straight has antibacterial properties which will soothe a sore
throat by reducing the swelling; its natural antimicrobial properties fight off
infection. A home remedy for sore throat using honey is a very tasty option,
and only 1 teaspoon is needed for welcome relief from the pain associated
with a sore throat. You may prefer to rather add honey to hot water or
herbal tea also.
Humidity: is necessary to prevent the air from drying out. A blocked nose
usually causes breathing through the mouth, which dries out the throat
causing even more discomfort and pain. The home remedy for dry sore
throat caused by a congested nose is running a humidifier. Do not sweat it if
you do not have one, you can also keep the air moist by placing a large
container with warm air near you. Natural evaporation will create enough
moisture to ease breathing.
Credit to wikihow.com
Juice bars: will soothe your hot throat. Do not suck them, as the strain of
this action will only irritate the throat some more. Rather bite off a small
piece at a time; let it melt in your mouth.
Lemonade: add 1 teaspoon of honey to ½ glass of warm lemonade and
drink; limiting yourself to only 1 glass a day in order to curb high sugar

10. intake. Make your own lemonade: add boiling water to 1 tablespoon lemon
juice and honey (to taste) in a mug and stir till honey dissolved. Drink once
it cooled down sufficiently without burning yourself.
Listerine: is claimed to give instant relief from sore throat pain. Gargle with
undiluted Listerine mouthwash or take equal parts hydrogen peroxide (HP)
and Listerine and gargle for 15 seconds. Do not rinse. Repeat as needed.
Orange juice: heated up in microwave with a little honey added is a great
tasting remedy for your sore throat. Alternatively, 1 teaspoon lemon or lime
juice can also be added to warm orange juice.
Credit carrotsformichaelmas.com
Peppermint: is a herb used as flavoring agent in various consumer
products. The main ingredient in peppermint is menthol which has
decongestant and expectorant properties. The herb is available in tincture,
tea, capsule and cream forms.
Prepare peppermint tea by adding 1 teaspoon dried leaves to 1 cup boiling
water. Let tea steep for 10 minutes and strain. Drink while still warm, up to
5 times daily as needed.

11. Not recommended for
(gastrointestinal reflux).
children
or
people
who
suffer
from
GERD
Steam: away that sore throat! Put 2-3 cups of steaming hot water in a bowl
and add some eucalyptus oil. Test the heat by putting your hand over the
steam, if too hot, let it cool a bit. Cover your head with a towel and breathe
deeply through your nose and mouth for 5-10 minutes. Do as often as
needed.
Tabasco sauce: is your alternative when you do not have any cayenne
pepper at hand. Gargle with 15-20 drops Tabasco sauce mixed with a glass
of warm water.
Courtesy nykhunnybunch.blogspot.com

12. Zinc lozenges: for a sore throat is highly recommended by many to soothe
a sore throat. Take 1 every 2–4 hours as needed to clear up a sore throat;
not for longer than 1 week though.
My name is Sonia and I do research on minor ailments which plague
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If however you believe laughter is the best medicine, here is the
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