Every human being has experienced at least one episode of sore throat in their entire lifetime. The person’s daily life gets disrupted when there is excessive swelling and pain in the throat.
These eventually cure within a week. Meanwhile, here we discuss some home remedies to try that are actually effective in curing sore throat.
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What are the causes of a sore throat?
It is extremely crucial to know the underlying factor responsible for soreness in the throat. This way, the doctor recommends the appropriate treatment to cure the problem.
Generally, the following 8 factors are responsible for throat pain.
- Viral infections such as flu or common cold
- Bacterial infections such as strep throat
- Breathing in dry air
- Triggering of an allergy
- Exposing yourself to smoke, chemicals, and other irritants
- An episode of acid reflux
- A sudden blow or injury to the throat
- Development of tumor in the throat, tongue or voice box
The obvious question that pops in mind is, “What to do to cure a sore throat?”. Here are some sore throat remedies that can help in treating the infection and eventually, curbing the pain in the throat.
15 Home Remedies That Can Cure Soreness in The Throat
1. Take a hot shower
In normal circumstances, the throat produces mucus that keeps it moist and prevents the throat from drying. Hence, the steam from the hot shower moist the throat linings.
Also, the humid air has a soothing effect on the throat and doesn’t make the voice scratchy.
2. Gargle with saltwater
Gargling the most effective of curing a sore throat. The reason being that it can reduce the inflammation as well as cure infections.
When there is a sore throat, gargling with salt water clears the irritants or infectious agents responsible for any throat infection.
However, it is recommended to not use apple cider vinegar nor any essential oils while gargling. The mixture of the saltwater can be easily prepared at home.
3. Get enough rest
While the person is asleep, the body works to kill the harmful germs responsible for the throat infection.
It preps up the body to prevent the body from getting infected again. Once the infection is cured, the sore throat also subsides.
4. Take a teaspoon of honey
Honey is a major component of medicines and teas. Honey is loaded with antibacterial properties. Taking a teaspoon of honey coats the throat and prevents further irritation.
Also, it fights off the infectious germs. In a glass of warm water, add a tablespoon of honey and drink it a couple of times in a day.
5. Take throat lozenges
Throat lozenges that contain menthol that has a cooling effect on the throat. The cooling effect causes numbness in the throat and provides temporary relief from pain and burning sensation.
In addition to this, cough drops encourage saliva production and lubricate the throat.
6. Treat allergies
Inhaling allergens such as pollen, dust or mold can cause irritation and inflammation of the throat.
Allergies lead to post-nasal drip that results in throat pain. To neutralize the symptoms of allergies, take over-the-counter allergy medicine to curb the allergic reaction.
7. Eat soft foods
To prevent further irritation of the throat, avoid eating crunchy or hard foods. Instead, eat soft foods such as scrambled eggs, noodles, mashed potatoes, etc that doesn’t hurt the throat.
8. Suck an ice popsicle
The coldness of the ice popsicle reduces the inflammation in the throat and soothes out the pain on a temporary basis.
9. Drink cold liquids
The coolness from the cold liquids can reduce swelling as well as inflammation in the throat. Initially, the cold can be uncomfortable but eventually, the numbness can provide some temporary relief.
Even ENT doctors recommend drinking icy liquids to cure throat pain.
10. Drink herbal teas
Herbal teas increase the body’s infection-fighting capabilities. Drinking herbal teas such as ginger tea with honey, turmeric tea has a positive effect on the body.
Hence, sip on herbal teas throughout the recovery period to boost up the immunity. Some of the herbs to add in the tea include ginger, turmeric, Echinacea, honey, etc.
11. Avoid acidic foods
In case the cause of sore throat is an episode of acid reflux, avoid eating any acidic foods until the pain alleviates.
Eating acidic foods can increase the likelihood of repeated episodes of acid reflux and ultimately, prolonging the soreness. Some acidic foods to avoid are soda, fried foods, oranges, lemons, etc.
12. Rest your voice
In order to reduce the straining of the vocal cords, rest your voice. Sometimes due to sudden yelling or shouting, there can be throat pain.
In such cases, it is important to give some rest to the voice. Try to speak at a lower volume till the soreness subsides.
13. Take pain killers
Painkillers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen can reduce pain in the throat. These medicines stop the coughing as well as clears the throat.
However, it is recommended to take these pain medications only after proper consultation with the doctor.
14. Breathe in moist air
Dryness in the throat can irritate the throat further. This remedy works similar to taking a hot shower.
The air from a humidifier keeps the mucus membranes moist and prevents the soreness from worsening. Also, the dried mucus can also moisten and thin out from the body.
15. Sleep with head elevated
Lying flat on the back creates pressure on the neck that can worsen the soreness. Hence, elevate the head while sleeping to lower the pressure in the throat and thereby, cure the sore throat.
Also, in case the problem is due to acid reflux, sleeping with the elevated head can prevent the stomach acid from moving up.
When To See The Doctor?
The American Academy of Otolaryngology suggests that an adult suffering from sore throat along with any one of the following symptoms should consult with an ENT specialist without any further delay-
