All Natural Sore Throat Remedies That Actually Works
How to Get Rid of a Sore Throat
A sore throat can be one of the most painful symptoms associated with a cold, flu or seasonal allergies. Sometimes, a sore throat can be so severe that it can make speech impossible, swallowing difficult and painful, and eating an almost unendurable obstacle. There are several sore throat remedies that can be used to both ease the pain and help speed the healing process. Before you begin a course of self-care at home, it is important for you to understand the distinction between two possible causes of a sore throat. Sore throats are sometimes caused by serious bacterial infections such as the Streptococcus bacteria. This bacterial condition, referred to as Strep throat, should be immediately treated with antibiotics in order to prevent further complications and serious health issues. However, antiobiotics will serve no purpose if the cause of the sore throat is a virus or allergies. If you are not sure what the underlying cause is, a visit to your doctor may be in order. Your doctor can perform a simple throat swab which will test for the presence of Streptococcus bacteria. Even if the bacteria is present and you are started on a course of antibiotics, you can still safely use any of the following methods to help ease any pain and discomfort. For centuries, people have uncovered a variety of healthy, natural ways on how to get rid of a sore throat rather than overloading the body with artificially produced medications.
Sea Salt Throat Gargle
Gargling with a mixture of sea salt and fresh lemon juice may not do much for your taste buds, but it can do wonders for alleviating a sore throat. Sea salt is a common ingredient in many natural sore throat remedies because it improves circulation and increases blood flow to the vessels in the throat. When the vessels are opened, the mucus in the throat rises to the surface and can be washed away by the salty gargle. The presence of mucus on the lining of the throat is often the cause of the pain, and this mucus usually houses the virus that is causing you discomfort. Once the mucus has been cleared away, much of the pain will disappear, and the cleared throat membranes are open to receive the antibodies that will fight off the infection.
Wondering how to get rid of a sore throat with salt and lemon? Begin by dissolving roughly two teaspoons of sea salt in a cup of boiling water. Slice a lemon in half and squeeze the fresh juice into the salty liquid. Mix well. After the liquid has cooled completely, fill your mouth with the lemon-saltwater and gargle for thirty seconds. Never swallow the saltwater; always spit it out. Repeat three times. This gargle can be performed as often as needed throughout the day until the symptoms subside.
Cayenne Pepper and Apple Cider Vinegar Tea
Some individuals are especially sensitive to bitter flavors and can’t handle the sea salt and lemon mixture. If you are looking for a sore throat remedy that does not include these two ingredients, you might want to try brewing a unique tea made with cayenne pepper and apple cider vinegar. The taste will not be much better, however, it is a spicy mix that is not at all bitter. The cayenne pepper stimulates the vessels of the throat much the same way that the lemon and saltwater liquid does. When the blood vessels expand and the mucus is released, the tea can wash mucus and toxins out of the throat. Cayenne pepper is also a vitamin rich spice. This pepper is filled with vitamins A and C and is an excellent source of vitamin B as well. Vitamin B is a superb antioxidant that can remove impurities from the human body. Apple cider vinegar is commonly touted as a catch-all, miracle liquid with a variety of healthful properties. One benefit of apple cider vinegar is its ability to alter the pH levels of the body. Because viruses grow rapidly in acidic environments, the apple cider vinegar’s alkaline effects can make your body a difficult place for viruses to live. Some people also add raw organic honey to this tea in order to make it easier to drink. In addition to offering a touch of sweetness, organic honey is a powerful cocktail of vitamins, amino acids and enzymes which can boost the immune system.
Here’s how to get rid of a sore throat with this specially brewed tea. Pour a cup of boiling water into a mug and add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, the fresh juice from a large lemon slice, and a couple of teaspoons of honey, if desired. Stir until the honey dissolves, cool, and sip this beverage slowly. Drinking three cups of this tea each day will help to both alleviate sore throat symptoms and speed the healing process.
Garlic Clove Chew
One of the oldest sore throat remedies in the book is the use of garlic. For hundreds of years, garlic has been used consistently as a treatment for a variety of illnesses. Garlic is chock full of allicin, which is an antifungal and antiviral substance. This active ingredient penetrates the lining of the viral cell and integrates with the nucleic acids inside the cell center. The mutations that occur from this integration prevent the virus from multiplying and alter its ability to negatively affect the body. When the virus stops multiplying, white blood cells can more easily seek out and destroy the remaining viral cells.
Many consumers wonder how to get rid of a sore throat with garlic in the most effective way. While you can add garlic to foods and beverages and achieve the same effects, a severe sore throat can make eating uncomfortable. Sucking on a peeled garlic clove or chewing a raw clove can deliver the powerful components of garlic in a less painful way. Although garlic is one of the most powerful natural remedies, it also has one of the most powerful flavors when consumed raw, and so it is not recommended for individuals with an aversion to the taste of garlic.
Slippery Elm or Marshmallow Lozenges
While many conventional throat lozenges contain artificial ingredients or medications which can be potentially harmful, there are some lozenges that rely on all-natural remedies that have been used for hundreds of years. The bark of the slippery elm tree is one of several powerful sore throat remedies. When the bark from the inside of the Slippery Elm tree is scraped out, it turns into a gel-like substance which can be incorporated into lozenges for powerful sore throat relief. This substance reduces inflammation and eases pain. Slippery Elm bark also contains a substance that soothes the mucus membranes of the throat. Marshmallow root is another effective treatment. Marshmallow, not to be confused with the puffy white confection with the same name, is actually an herb native to North America. This herb can be dried and brewed into a tea for the same health effects as Slippery Elm bark. These lozenges can generally be found in the cold and flu section of your local health food store.
Self-Care and Treatment
Many natural or homeopathic sore throat remedies have less to do with ingesting a particular substance and more to do with how to behave and what to do while you are experiencing a sore throat. Your environment can have a powerful effect on the duration of your sore throat, just as much as any tea, gargle or chew that you use to alleviate your symptoms. Some individuals place great emphasis on natural ways to relieve a sore throat, but fail to provide the body with the rest that is required for adequate healing. It doesn’t matter how much garlic you chew or how much saltwater you gargle, if you aren’t properly taking care of your body, your sore throat may persist for longer than necessary.
Avoid Dry Air Environments
One of the best sore throat remedy is simply to avoid dry environments. The body produces mucus to combat dryness and to eliminate impurities from the nose and throat. When you have a virus, the throat can be forced to produce excess mucus, which can cause pain. Over time, the white blood cells in your body will fight and destroy this virus. In the meantime, you can compound the problem if you continue to expose your throat to dry air environments. If the air is dry, the body may be triggered to release even more mucus. Dry environments also irritate the throat and make breathing and swallowing incredibly painful. You can use a cold air humidifier to infuse the air in your home with a greater moisture content. This will help to soothe and lubricate your throat.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
As with almost any illness, drinking plenty of fluids is very important when you are experiencing a sore throat. Although physicians recommend adequate fluid intake to remain hydrated during an illness, fluid consumption for a sore throat is important for another reason. Many sore throat remedies call for liquids because the fluids can soothe the throat and restore the pH of the body. When the throat is moist and lubricated, mucus can lose some of its stickiness and slide out of the throat. Although teas and soups are common ways to ingest liquids during illness, plain water can do wonders in eliminating some of the acidity of the human body. For treating a sore throat naturally, you will find that the constant consumption of liquids is one of the most important solutions.
Rest and Relax
Sore throat remedies of all kinds will be rendered ineffective if you don’t take the time to slow down and rest. When your body is at rest, it can begin to repair itself. If, however, you are using all of your energy to go to work, go to school, or complete a variety of other tasks, that energy will not be able to feed your immune system. Resting as much as possible throughout the duration of your sore throat will speed up healing time dramatically.
All Natural Sore Throat Remedies That Actually Works
How to Get Rid of a Sore Throat
A sore throat can be one of the most painful symptoms associated with a cold, flu or seasonal allergies. Sometimes, a sore throat can be so severe that it can make speech impossible, swallowing difficult and painful, and eating an almost unendurable obstacle. There are several sore throat remedies that can be used to both ease the pain and help speed the healing process. Before you begin a course of self-care at home, it is important for you to understand the distinction between two possible causes of a sore throat. Sore throats are sometimes caused by serious bacterial infections such as the Streptococcus bacteria. This bacterial condition, referred to as Strep throat, should be immediately treated with antibiotics in order to prevent further complications and serious health issues. However, antiobiotics will serve no purpose if the cause of the sore throat is a virus or allergies. If you are not sure what the underlying cause is, a visit to your doctor may be in order. Your doctor can perform a simple throat swab which will test for the presence of Streptococcus bacteria. Even if the bacteria is present and you are started on a course of antibiotics, you can still safely use any of the following methods to help ease any pain and discomfort. For centuries, people have uncovered a variety of healthy, natural ways on how to get rid of a sore throat rather than overloading the body with artificially produced medications.
Sea Salt Throat Gargle
Gargling with a mixture of sea salt and fresh lemon juice may not do much for your taste buds, but it can do wonders for alleviating a sore throat. Sea salt is a common ingredient in many natural sore throat remedies because it improves circulation and increases blood flow to the vessels in the throat. When the vessels are opened, the mucus in the throat rises to the surface and can be washed away by the salty gargle. The presence of mucus on the lining of the throat is often the cause of the pain, and this mucus usually houses the virus that is causing you discomfort. Once the mucus has been cleared away, much of the pain will disappear, and the cleared throat membranes are open to receive the antibodies that will fight off the infection.
Wondering how to get rid of a sore throat with salt and lemon? Begin by dissolving roughly two teaspoons of sea salt in a cup of boiling water. Slice a lemon in half and squeeze the fresh juice into the salty liquid. Mix well. After the liquid has cooled completely, fill your mouth with the lemon-saltwater and gargle for thirty seconds. Never swallow the saltwater; always spit it out. Repeat three times. This gargle can be performed as often as needed throughout the day until the symptoms subside.
Cayenne Pepper and Apple Cider Vinegar Tea
Some individuals are especially sensitive to bitter flavors and can’t handle the sea salt and lemon mixture. If you are looking for a sore throat remedy that does not include these two ingredients, you might want to try brewing a unique tea made with cayenne pepper and apple cider vinegar. The taste will not be much better, however, it is a spicy mix that is not at all bitter. The cayenne pepper stimulates the vessels of the throat much the same way that the lemon and saltwater liquid does. When the blood vessels expand and the mucus is released, the tea can wash mucus and toxins out of the throat. Cayenne pepper is also a vitamin rich spice. This pepper is filled with vitamins A and C and is an excellent source of vitamin B as well. Vitamin B is a superb antioxidant that can remove impurities from the human body. Apple cider vinegar is commonly touted as a catch-all, miracle liquid with a variety of healthful properties. One benefit of apple cider vinegar is its ability to alter the pH levels of the body. Because viruses grow rapidly in acidic environments, the apple cider vinegar’s alkaline effects can make your body a difficult place for viruses to live. Some people also add raw organic honey to this tea in order to make it easier to drink. In addition to offering a touch of sweetness, organic honey is a powerful cocktail of vitamins, amino acids and enzymes which can boost the immune system.
Here’s how to get rid of a sore throat with this specially brewed tea. Pour a cup of boiling water into a mug and add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, the fresh juice from a large lemon slice, and a couple of teaspoons of honey, if desired. Stir until the honey dissolves, cool, and sip this beverage slowly. Drinking three cups of this tea each day will help to both alleviate sore throat symptoms and speed the healing process.
Garlic Clove Chew
One of the oldest sore throat remedies in the book is the use of garlic. For hundreds of years, garlic has been used consistently as a treatment for a variety of illnesses. Garlic is chock full of allicin, which is an antifungal and antiviral substance. This active ingredient penetrates the lining of the viral cell and integrates with the nucleic acids inside the cell center. The mutations that occur from this integration prevent the virus from multiplying and alter its ability to negatively affect the body. When the virus stops multiplying, white blood cells can more easily seek out and destroy the remaining viral cells.
Many consumers wonder how to get rid of a sore throat with garlic in the most effective way. While you can add garlic to foods and beverages and achieve the same effects, a severe sore throat can make eating uncomfortable. Sucking on a peeled garlic clove or chewing a raw clove can deliver the powerful components of garlic in a less painful way. Although garlic is one of the most powerful natural remedies, it also has one of the most powerful flavors when consumed raw, and so it is not recommended for individuals with an aversion to the taste of garlic.
Slippery Elm or Marshmallow Lozenges
While many conventional throat lozenges contain artificial ingredients or medications which can be potentially harmful, there are some lozenges that rely on all-natural remedies that have been used for hundreds of years. The bark of the slippery elm tree is one of several powerful sore throat remedies. When the bark from the inside of the Slippery Elm tree is scraped out, it turns into a gel-like substance which can be incorporated into lozenges for powerful sore throat relief. This substance reduces inflammation and eases pain. Slippery Elm bark also contains a substance that soothes the mucus membranes of the throat. Marshmallow root is another effective treatment. Marshmallow, not to be confused with the puffy white confection with the same name, is actually an herb native to North America. This herb can be dried and brewed into a tea for the same health effects as Slippery Elm bark. These lozenges can generally be found in the cold and flu section of your local health food store.
Self-Care and Treatment
Many natural or homeopathic sore throat remedies have less to do with ingesting a particular substance and more to do with how to behave and what to do while you are experiencing a sore throat. Your environment can have a powerful effect on the duration of your sore throat, just as much as any tea, gargle or chew that you use to alleviate your symptoms. Some individuals place great emphasis on natural ways to relieve a sore throat, but fail to provide the body with the rest that is required for adequate healing. It doesn’t matter how much garlic you chew or how much saltwater you gargle, if you aren’t properly taking care of your body, your sore throat may persist for longer than necessary.
Avoid Dry Air Environments
One of the best sore throat remedy is simply to avoid dry environments. The body produces mucus to combat dryness and to eliminate impurities from the nose and throat. When you have a virus, the throat can be forced to produce excess mucus, which can cause pain. Over time, the white blood cells in your body will fight and destroy this virus. In the meantime, you can compound the problem if you continue to expose your throat to dry air environments. If the air is dry, the body may be triggered to release even more mucus. Dry environments also irritate the throat and make breathing and swallowing incredibly painful. You can use a cold air humidifier to infuse the air in your home with a greater moisture content. This will help to soothe and lubricate your throat.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
As with almost any illness, drinking plenty of fluids is very important when you are experiencing a sore throat. Although physicians recommend adequate fluid intake to remain hydrated during an illness, fluid consumption for a sore throat is important for another reason. Many sore throat remedies call for liquids because the fluids can soothe the throat and restore the pH of the body. When the throat is moist and lubricated, mucus can lose some of its stickiness and slide out of the throat. Although teas and soups are common ways to ingest liquids during illness, plain water can do wonders in eliminating some of the acidity of the human body. For treating a sore throat naturally, you will find that the constant consumption of liquids is one of the most important solutions.
Rest and Relax
Sore throat remedies of all kinds will be rendered ineffective if you don’t take the time to slow down and rest. When your body is at rest, it can begin to repair itself. If, however, you are using all of your energy to go to work, go to school, or complete a variety of other tasks, that energy will not be able to feed your immune system. Resting as much as possible throughout the duration of your sore throat will speed up healing time dramatically.