If you have been struck with a case of the common cold, your throat may feel sore or you may have a cough. Congestion in the throat may be caused by a viral infection, like the common cold. In most cases, a sore throat due to the common cold will get better on its own within a week.
Tea with Honey
Internist Penelope Shar, M.D., of Bangor, Maine, recommends sipping herbal tea with honey. Honey may help naturally suppress a cough, particularly during the night, says the Mayo Clinic. To help soothe your cough and coat your sore throat, boil 1 cup of warm water, add honey and black tea. Sip slowly while inhaling the steam from the cup to help loosen congestion in the chest and move mucus in the back of the throat. Drink as needed throughout the day to help suppress your cough and soothe your throat.
Humidifier
When the air in your home is dry, mucus can collect in the back of your throat and make your chest feel tight. Your cough may be unproductive, and the back of your throat may feel thick and sore. Add moisture to the air by running a humidifier at night. When you fill a humidifier with water and turn it on, it releases water vapor into the air. As you breathe the water vapor, it will loosen the mucus in your lungs, sinuses and the back of your throat. Clean your humidifier once every three days to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, recommends the Mayo Clinic.
Saltwater
If you are coughing due to throat congestion, constant coughing can make your throat feel raw and even more irritated. To break the cycle, the Mayo Clinic recommends gargling with saltwater. A salt-water gargle can help reduce swelling and soothe in the throat. Place 1 tsp. salt in a glass of water and mix thoroughly. Take one sip of water at a time, gargle, then spit out. Continue sipping and gargling the water until you have gone through the entire glass.
