A sore throat, or pharyngitis, is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection that infects and inflames the mucous membranes of the throat. According to the Mayo Clinic, sore throats are one of the most common reasons for people visiting a doctor. Visit your doctor if your sore throat is severe, if it lasts longer than a week, if you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, if you have a high fever, if you have white patches at the back of your throat, or if there's blood in your saliva or phlegm. Otherwise, use home remedies to ease your symptoms and quicken your recovery.
Diet
Dr. Geovanni Espinosa, naturopathy expert for "1000 Cures for 200 Ailments," recommends eating one or two fresh cloves of garlic every day at the first sign of a sore throat. Garlic contains several potent compounds that are beneficial to your health, and garlic is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. If it's painful to swallow solid foods, use garlic, ginger and onion in a nourishing chicken soup. This will also help you increase your fluid intake, which the Mayo Clinic advises. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit to boost your immune system. Dr. Espinosa suggests making fruit juice ice pops for the nutrients and to temporarily soothe your throat.
Supplements
In "Bottom Line's Prescription for Natural Cures," Dr. James Balch and Dr. Mark Stengler suggest taking 1,000 mg of vitamin C four times a day. Vitamin C can be depleted during times of illness, and replacing it is essential for proper immune system functioning. If it upsets your stomach, use buffered vitamin C. They also suggest taking a 15- to 25-mg zinc lozenge every two hours during the day for four days. If you start as soon as you notice symptoms, it can decrease the time you have a sore throat by several days.
Herbs
In "1000 Cures for 200 Ailments," herbalism expert Dr. David Kiefer suggests making a tea of yerba mansa by boiling 1 tsp. of the root in 1 cup of water and drinking this three to four times a day. Yerba mansa will soothe irritated tissues. He also suggests taking 30 drops of myrrh two to four times a day to stimulate the immune system. In "Solve It With Supplements," Dr. Robert Schulman recommends bilberry fruit, which is Commission E-approved for use in treating mild inflammation of the mouth and throat. (Commission E was a German government-established committee of herbal medicine experts that published one of the first authoritative works on herbal medicines.) Eat 20 to 60 g of bilberry fruit daily, or take a supplement as instructed on the label. Dr. Schulman also recommends calendula, also known as pot marigold, which is also Commission E-approved for treating inflammation of the mouth and pharynx. Calendula has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and wound-healing effects that can both soothe and heal your sore throat. The "PDR for Herbal Medicines" advises making a tea by steeping one to two tsp. of marigold flower in 150 ml of hot water.
Gargles
The Mayo Clinic recommends gargling with warm salt water, and then spitting it out. "1000 Cures for 200 Ailments" suggests making a gargle of sage, cider vinegar and honey. Steep 1 tsp. of sage in hot water for one minute, then strain. Add 1 tsp. of cider vinegar and 1 tsp. of honey. Cool the liquid and gargle with it twice daily. The Mayo Clinic also recommends a gargle made of a combination of herbs, as multiple herbs can have a stronger medicinal effect than a single herb. Make a dry herbal mix of peppermint, calendula, barberry, burdock and licorice in equal parts. Whenever you have a sore throat, make a tea using two tsp. of the mixed herbs per cup of water. Gargle for 30 seconds, then swallow.
References
- The Mayo Clinic: Sore Throat
- "1000 Cures for 200 Ailments"; Dr. Victor Sierpina, ed.; 2007
- "Bottom Line's Prescription for Natural Cures"; James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.; 2004
- "Solve It With Supplements"; Robert A. Schulman, M.D.; 2007
- "PDR for Herbal Medicines, 4th ed."; Thomson Healthcare; 2007
