A sore throat is like an itch (literally) that you can’t scratch. Hey, it could be worse. You could have strep throat – so there’s some consolation! We’ve discovered a few homemade sore throat remedies. All the elixirs you will find here are simple to make, quick to use, and cheap!
Here are a few natural remedies for a sore throat:
These easy-to-make home remedies are helpful. However, you should only rely on them for short-term, acute conditions like a cold or allergies. If a sore throat persists, seek aid from your doctor–extended inflammation of the throat may point to another condition.
1. Salt and Water
It doesn’t get much more basic than this recipe.
- Mix ¼ teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of warm water. (Use the hottest possible water temperature that you can comfortably tolerate.)
- Gargle for sixty seconds.
If you have it, add one tablespoon of Listerine. Listerine will moisturize your throat’s mucus membranes, eliminate acids, and relieve the burning sensation. In addition, the product will enhance the solution’s germ-killing properties.
Ensure to make a new mix for every ‘gargle session.’ Don’t store the solution, as it can become contaminated. Also, cold-rinsing doesn’t work.
2. Water, ginger, honey, and lemon
You’ll need:
- ½ cup hot water
- Half a lemon
- One teaspoon of powdered sugar
- One teaspoon of honey
Squeeze the lemon and gather the juice. Pour the water over the ginger. Add the honey and lemon juice to the solution. Gargle for sixty seconds. Honey not only serves as an excellent natural sweetener, but also coats the throat and contains mild anti-bacterial properties.
3. Hot sauce and water
You’ll need the following:
- Five shakes of ground cayenne pepper or hot sauce (the former is a better option.)
- A cup of hot water
Hot pepper contains capsicum, a flowering plant with both pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. Of course, this remedy isn’t for the sensitive mouth or throat. It’ll burn for a bit, but it may do the trick! Gargle for thirty seconds every fifteen minutes to see if you feel better. If not, discontinue and try something else.
4. Sage and water for a sore throat
You’ll need these things:
- One teaspoon of sage
- ½ teaspoon of alum (crystallized potassium sulfate)
- ¼ of brown sugar
- ½ cup of vinegar
- 1/8 cup of water
Mix all of the ingredients and gargle for sixty seconds. Sage contains properties that can ease a sore throat and painful or swollen nasal passages.
5. Turmeric and water
You’ll need these ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon of turmeric
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- One cup of hot water
Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. (As a side note, curcumin is such a powerful ingredient that scientists are currently studying its effectiveness in eliminating brain tumors and certain cancers!)
6. Wheatgrass juice
Wheatgrass juice contains a high concentration of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is considered a superfood because of it’s active antioxidant and anticancer elements!
Wheatgrass may also carry the added benefits of strengthening gums and relieving toothaches.
Try holding a ¼ cup of wheatgrass juice in your mouth for about five minutes and then gargling for about sixty seconds.
7. Tomato juice
- You’ll need the following:
- A half cup of tomato juice
- Half a cup of hot water
- Ten drops of hot pepper sauce
Mix all of the ingredients and gargle for sixty seconds. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a phytochemical and carotenoid pigment. Lycopene is an active antioxidant that can help relieve your sore throat quicker. (Lycopene is also in other red fruits & vegetables, including red carrots, watermelons, gac, and papayas)
8. Green tea for a sore throat
Aside from drinking the soothing beverage, consider using it as a gargle! While the liquid is still relatively hot (but tolerable), gargle with it for sixty seconds to kill throat bacteria. Green tea is renowned for its myriad health benefits, including positive cognitive and brain effects, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and weight loss!
9. Apple cider vinegar and salt
You’ll need the following:
- One tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
- One teaspoon of salt
- A glass of warm water
Mix all the contents and use a few times throughout the day until your sore throat clears. Apple cider vinegar neutralizes (kills) bacteria that line your throat.
Add apple cider vinegar and honey equal to a quarter of a cup. This is a bit more gentle on the mouth and stomach. Store and take a tablespoon every four hours.
10. Licorice water
You’ll need the following:
- One teaspoon of licorice powder or syrup
- Eight ounces of water
Mix all of the ingredients and gargle for sixty seconds. Licorice root provides two potential benefits for a sore throat. First, the root can lower inflammation and ease the pain. Second, licorice root can eliminate the phlegm that triggers coughing episodes.
Final Thoughts on Natural Sore Throat Gargles
These ten sore throat gargles can offer immediate relief from the pain, redness, and scratchiness caused by inflammation. So give them a try for soothing relief–it may offer the short-term relief you need while your body heals. Call your doctor for guidance if the pain continues for over two or three days.
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