12 Natural gargles for sore throat
Gargling is an easy and remarkably effective way to kill germs and ease the pain of a sore throat. Therefore, the next time you’re looking to relieve throat pain, try one of these trusted home gargles.
1. Lemon and water
Mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with 1 cup of hot water. The astringent juice will help to shrink swollen throat tissue and create a hostile ( acidic) environment for viruses and bacteria.
2. Salt and water
Make grandma’s effective sore throat remedy by mixing ¼ teaspoon salt in a cup of warm water. Use the hottest water that you can tolerate as cold gargles are completely ineffective. If you have some, add a tablespoon of Listerine for some germ-killing power. This briny solution helps to wash away and neutralize acids in the throat, relieving the burning sensation and promoting fast healing of irritated mucus membranes.
3. Ginger, Honey, and Lemon in Water
This sore throat remedy mixes 1 teaspoon each of powdered ginger and honey, ½ cup of hot water, and the juice of ½ a squeezed lemon. Pour the water over the ginger, then add the lemon juice and honey, and gargle. The honey coats the throat and also has mild antibacterial properties.
4. Sage and Water
Sage can help soothe a sore throat and ease painful or swollen nasal passages. The traditional home remedy calls for 1 teaspoon sage, ½ teaspoon alum, ¼ cup brown sugar, 3/8 cup of vinegar, and 1/8 cup water.
5. Hot Sauce and Water
The capsicum in hot peppers helps to alleviate pain and fights inflammation. Add five shakes of ground cayenne pepper to a cup of hot water for sore throat relief. It’ll burn for a bit, but try this gargle every 15 minutes and see if it helps.
6. Turmeric and Water
This tasty yellow spice is a powerful antioxidant. For a sore throat remedy, mix ½ teaspoon of turmeric with ½ teaspoon of salt into 1 cup of hot water and gargle.
7. Wheatgrass Juice
A quick rinse and spit with this chlorophyll-rich liquid helps prohibit bacteria growth and ease throat pain. Wheatgrass juice is said to help stop toothache and revitalize weakened gums when held in the mouth for five minutes.
8. Clove Tea
Add 1-3 teaspoons of powdered or ground cloves to water, then mix and gargle. Cloves contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe and heal a sore throat.
9. Green Tea
Green tea is well-known for its ability to naturally fight infections. Therefore, next time you have a sore throat, brew a little extra and gargle it to kill any bacteria that are hanging out in your throat.
10. Tomato Juice
For temporary relief of sore throat symptoms, gargle with a mixture of ½ cup of tomato juice, ½ cup of hot water, and 10 drops of hot pepper sauce. The antioxidant properties of lycopene will help get rid of a sore throat faster.
11. Goldenseal and Water
Gargling with the herbal germ-killer goldenseal (1 ½ teaspoons of goldenseal tincture in 8 ounces of water) kills viruses and bacteria as it soothes inflamed throat tissue.
12. Licorice Water
Licorice roots can help soothe a sore throat and eliminate cough-inducing phlegm. A study from 2009 found that post-operative patients who gargled with a licorice solution were less likely to get a sore throat post-surgery. Mix one teaspoon of licorice syrup or powder with eight ounces of water and gargle.
Note: Mix a fresh batch for every use. It’s better to waste a bit pouring it down the sink than to leave it in your glass, where it might become contaminated with bacteria. Also, don’t swallow the gargle, spit it out.