A sore throat commonly surfaces before having a bout with the common cold or flu. It’s also something that may show up during allergies, when exposed to dry indoor air or irritants, as well as after straining the throat muscles because of incessant talking or singing, or yelling at a live sporting event. No matter the case, feeling like you have broken glass or sandpaper in your throat can be painful and annoying.
If that sore throat is keeping you from talking, eating and drinking comfortably, worry not. There are a few very simple home remedies that can alleviate the pain and even shorten the usual duration of the condition.
One of the simplest solutions around is gargling with warm salt water. All you have to do is place a tablespoon of rock salt in a glass of warm water, stir very well and gargle. It’s a good idea to do this 3 to 5 times a day for instant relief.
You may also take orange or lemon juice with cayenne pepper to strengthen the immune system as well as to ease that unwelcome sensation in your throat. To create this soothing and healing concoction, simply place 1/4 of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a glass of orange or lemon juice. Mix very well and slowly consume everything with a straw.
Cayenne pepper is proven to have potent antibacterial and antiviral properties. On the other hand, orange or lemon juice is packed with vitamin C, an antioxidant that bolsters the immune system and helps deal with infections. Especially if your sore throat is caused by a virus, taking this powerful elixir may help put an end to that nagging throat pain and inflammation.
The reason why it’s recommended for this concoction to be taken with a straw is to direct it straight to your throat. Also, this helps minimize the contact between your mouth and cayenne pepper — one of the hottest spices on the planet.
Another soothing drink that you may take during a bout with sore throat is green tea with honey. Simply make a hot cup of your favorite green tea and add a tablespoon of honey. Stir very well and slowly consume to enjoy instant remedy. In case green tea is not available, squeeze half a lemon in a cup of hot water and add a tablespoon of honey in the mix.
The consumption of slippery elm or marshmallow root tea coats the throat, thus giving you a momentary relief from the problem. Place a teaspoon of powdered bark of slippery elm or a few dried marshmallow roots in a cup. Carefully add boiling water and stir. Take this homemade remedy 2 to 3 times daily.
Pair any of these sore throat remedies with drinking plenty of water and having lots of bed rest. Doing so may save you from the need to step foot inside the doctor’s office.
