Effective Home Remedies for an Aching Throat

The throat itches, is swollen and burning, and even the simple act of swallowing becomes a scary prospect? You're not alone! Throat aches are some of the most common phenomenon as we move into the winter season.

Here are 10 ways you can calm that aching throat down without having to go see a doctor:
 

1. Keep your nasal passageways open

 

Doctors agree that two of the most common causes of throat pain are the buildup of snot and dryness, that occur mostly from breathing too much through the mouth when the nasal passageways are closed. 

There are materials that fight nose congestion, especially those containing Pseudofrin (no need to doctor's note) which will help open the nasal passageways.

Using nose sprays (with a salt water solution) may also help keep those passageways open and breathing easier.

2.  Home remedies to gargle with:

Salt Water: This is the old favorite, and you can create it by mixing 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water (the warmer the better, within your tolerance levels, don't let it get cold or loses effectiveness). If you have it at home, this is a good time to add 1 tablespoon of Listerine for its germ killing benefits. This you gargle several times a day, and will help you to rinse and neutralize acids in your throat. You will notice that the burning sensation is going down and the area will usually start to heal. Don't let up on the gargling.  

 

Raspberry Tea: Pour a glass of boiling water on 2 tea spoons of raspberry dried leaves, soak for 10 minutes and then filter. You can add 1 tea spoon of apple vinegar and/or honey, and then gargle 4 times a day.

Sage Leaves: Mix 1 spoon of sage leaves with 1 cup of boiling water, soak for 10 minutes and then filter.  You can add 1 tea spoon of apple vinegar and/or honey, and then gargle 4 times a day.

Turmeric: For a burning sensation in your throat, mix 1 cup of boiling water with 1/2 a spoon of turmeric (anti inflammation) and 1/2 a spoon of salt. Gargle twice a day. If you hate gargling, you can also mix 1/2 a spoon of turmeric with 1 glass of hot milk, and slowly sip it.

 

Hot sauce and water: Hot peppers containt a material called capsicum which alleviates pain and reduce inflammation. You can prepare this by grinding a cayenne pepper and adding 5 shakes of the ground material to a cup of hot water. Warning: it WILL burn, buy try to gargle this every 15-30 minutes and see if it does the trick. 

When the body is aching and weak, logic dictates that you rest. Same goes for throat ache. It's very important to save up your energy, to allow the body to fight the infection. If the throat pain doesn't require medical attention, resting will help cut down the healing time.

3. Rest

 

What does resting have to do with a sore throat? A lot. While you rest, your body has more energy to fight the infection in your throat. If you've taken some of our home remedies, be sure to rest between to give your body a fighting chance.

4. Vinegar

A useful home remedy based on apple vinegar: Take 1 cup of hot water and mix 1 table spoon of honey and 1 table spoon of apple vinegar.  Sip slowly without letting the liquid cool down. Drink as often as possible.

For gargling: Mix 1 spoon of salt, 1/2 a cup of vinegar and 1 cup of hot water. Drink every 15 minutes as needed. 

* Be sure to melt the salt in the vinegar before adding the water.

5.  Horseradish Cocktail

 

A traditional Russian remedy: Mix 1 cup of hot water with 1 table spoon of pure horseradish (or a horseradish root) with 1 table spoon of honey and 1 table spoon of cloves. Sip slowly over the course of an hour.

6. Citrus Fruits

Lemon Juice: Mix 1 cup of hot water with 1 table spoon of honey and 1

table spoon of squeezed lemon juice. Sip slowly.

Lime Juice: Mix 1 table spoon of lime juice with 1 table spoon of honey in hot water, and drink as needed.

7. Steam 

An old remedy for an aching throat is a steam tent. Sit with your face over a steaming bowl of hot water and cover your head with a towel to keep the steam in. Add 1-2 drops of Eucalyptus extract for a much greater help.

8. Lozenges

Some doctors say that sugar can help reduce throat ache and accompanying cough, but even Lozenges without sugar can calm down an aching throat by keeping your mouth and throat moist, which will make you feel less pain.

9. Popsicles

An ice popsicle can calm down a burning throat. Make sure you aren't sucking on the popsicle, but cutting small pieces and letting them melt in your mouth.

10. Drink plenty of liquids

This may go without saying, but when you suffer from an aching throat, you should drink at least 8-10 cups of water a day (preferably not cold water). This will keep your throat well oiled, will prevent the dry feeling you get and even aid the fight against inflammation.

 

 THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.

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