Sore throats are among the most common cold and flu symptoms, and as such, most people will experience a sore throat at least once in their life, probably many times. When a sore throat strikes, simple tasks like talking and eating can become painful and laborious. There are over-the-counter medications that can help alleviate the symptoms of a sore throat, but in most cases, this kind of treatment really isn’t necessary. In this article, you’ll learn all about different home remedies for sore throat.
There are tons of effective home remedies that can help soothe and relieve the pain caused by a sore throat. In this article, we will go over fifteen of the very best ones.
15 Home Remedies for Sore Throat
1. Chamomile Tea
Tea, in general, is one of the best natural home remedies for a sore throat. That said, some teas are definitely better than others when it comes to treating the symptoms associated with a sore throat, and chamomile is certainly one of the best. Chamomile has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, plus many people will agree that it’s delicious. Try to avoid adding cream or milk to the tea; instead, add a little bit of honey or lemon, both of which are also effective home remedies for a sore throat.
2. Honey
As mentioned, honey is an excellent remedy for a sore throat. Honey doesn’t have to be mixed into a tea to soothe your throat, though. Simply taking a spoonful of honey can provide immediate relief as the honey coats your sore throat. Also, honey is particularly good at suppressing coughs, especially nighttime coughs, which are another very common symptom of a cold or flu that usually accompanies a sore throat.
3. Salt Water
Gargling with salt water is one of the oldest and best methods of treating a sore throat at home. Saltwater also kills bacteria which can help your throat heal much faster than it would otherwise. To make a saltwater solution, simply dilute a half-teaspoon or a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and stir it; once the salt has been mixed in the rinse your mouth and throat with the solution, but e sure to spit the saltwater out again, as this isn’t something you’ll want to drink. Can’t do salt water? Consider a peroxide gargle.
4. Ice Cubes
Ice cubes might just be the simplest home remedy for a sore throat, but they are surprisingly effective. By sucking on an ice cube, you can get immediate relief for your sore throat. Remember, any time your throat becomes inflamed, ice cubes can help, so before you rush out to purchase another medication or the ingredients to prepare a home remedy, try an ice cube first and see if that helps; oftentimes, it will be all you need.
5. Peppermint
Peppermint isn’t just a great way to freshen your breath; it’s also an excellent remedy for treating a sore throat at home. Once they’ve been diluted, peppermint oil sprays can also help relieve the symptoms caused by a sore throat. The reason peppermint is so effective is because it contains menthol, which can help reduce mucus and reduce coughing. Also, peppermint has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, which can promote rapid healing.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can be used to treat a ton of different bacterial issues, including a sore throat caused by vocal strain or a cold. Apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties that can fight infections, soothe sore throats, and even promote healing. ACV is also very effective at breaking down mucus, which can help you get over your cold much quicker than you otherwise might.
To use this remedy, dilute one or two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water and gargle with it. After you rinse and spit out the ACV solution, take a few sips and swallow it. Repeat this process every few hours, and you should notice your sore throat improving rapidly.
7. Lemon
Lemons are another wonder food that can help break down mucus and relieve the pain and discomfort caused by a sore throat. You can add a slice of lemon to your favorite tea or mix a teaspoon of lemon juice into a glass of warm water; both methods work really well. Also, lemons contain a high amount of vitamin C, which is one of the very best things you can take to boost your immune system and fight off the symptoms of a cold or flu.
8. Hot Sauce
At first glance, it might sound crazy, but hot sauce is actually a very good home remedy for treating a sore throat. The reason hot sauce works as a home remedy for a sore throat is that most hot sauces contain cayenne pepper, which has a high amount of capsaicin. Capsaicin has properties that naturally block the pain receptors in your throat, which can alleviate the symptoms of a sore throat almost immediately, at least in the short term.
The trick here is to add a little bit of hot sauce to some warm water and gargle with it. It is common to feel a slight burning sensation at first, but this will diminish very quickly, and you should notice a considerable improvement in the symptoms you’re experiencing.
9. Garlic
Garlic is one of the best things for you, and it’s also one of the most common ingredients used in many home remedies for all sorts of things, including treating a sore throat. Using garlic supplements regularly can help prevent common colds. Plus, adding garlic to your diet is a great way to benefit from its antimicrobial properties. The idea with this remedy is simply to suck on a clove of garlic, which probably won’t taste great, and certainly won’t do your breath any favors, but it will provide immediate relief for your sore throat. Just remember to brush your teeth afterward, as garlic can stay on your breath for hours.
10. Bone Broth
Similar to chicken soup, bone broth, also known as bone stock, can help treat your sore throat and is an effective way to treat other common symptoms of a cold as well. Bone broth is absolutely jam-packed with nutrients that can help bolster your immune system; this, in turn, can help you heal faster. Many bone broths contain a variety of amino acids as well, which also help support immune function. You can drink bone broth in a glass like a tea, or east it similar to how you would eat a soup; all that matters is that you get it into your system.
11. Marshmallow Root
Marshmallow root is another great home remedy for treating a sore throat. Marshmallow root contains a mucus-like substance that can quickly coat and soothe a sore throat. All you have to do for this remedy is mix some of the marshmallow root into a cup of black or green tea. Drinking a marshmallow root-infused tea two or three times daily should help eliminate your sore throat within a few days.
However, if you have diabetes, then you shouldn’t use this remedy as marshmallow root can cause a decrease in blood sugar levels which could have negative consequences.
12. Cinnamon
Not only is cinnamon delicious, but it also contains a number of different antibacterial properties making it an excellent candidate as a home remedy for treating the symptoms of a sore throat. In Chinese medicine, cinnamon is often prescribed to help treat the common cold and also the flu. There are a few different ways you can use cinnamon to help treat a sore throat at home.
By mixing cinnamon into a tea, ideally with some honey and lemon also, you can concoct a super remedy that contains four separate sore throat remedies in one powerful knockout punch. That said, if you don’t have the other ingredients, you can simply add a pinch or two of cinnamon to some warm water and gargle with it. Try doing these two or three times a day for a few days, and you should notice your sore throat improving rapidly.
13. Chicken Soup
Homemade chicken soup, or canned chicken soup, is perhaps the most famous home remedy for treating cold and flu symptoms, including a sore throat. If you ask just about anyone what the best home remedy for a cold is, they will almost certainly tell you to have some chicken soup; it just works. This isn’t just because chicken soup is comfort food; most chicken soups contain large quantities of garlic, which we’ve already seen is an excellent home remedy for treating sore throats due to its powerful antimicrobial properties.
14. Ginger Root Tea
Ginger root is a very effective home remedy for treating a sore throat. The best way to prepare ginger root is again in tea. What you need to do is peel the ginger root and then add it to a mixture of hot water and let it steep for 8-10 minutes. Next, add some lemon, honey, or sweetener to taste. You should notice a reduction in inflammation and coughing almost immediately after drinking the concoction. The tea can be reheated later, or you can drink it cold, so be sure to prepare a large batch. Drink two or three times per day for the best results.
15. Baking Soda
Just as gargling with salt water can provide immediate and lasting relief for a sore throat, so too can doing the same thing with baking soda. Simply mix a teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of warm water, stir well, and then gargle and spit out the solution. To make this even more effective, why not double down and add some salt as well. Try mixing a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda in a large cup of warm water and then gargle with the solution for a minute or two before spitting it out. Again, this is not something you’ll want to swallow. Repeat two or three times daily for the best results.
When home remedies for sore throat aren’t enough
Although many of the home remedies we’ve been looking at do an excellent job at providing immediate and lasting relief for a sore throat, and some of them even strengthen your immune system and help fight off other common cold and flu symptoms, there are nevertheless times when it’s necessary to seek out medical attention. The home remedies listed above are ideal when your sore throat is caused by a cold or vocal strain, but there are certainly many other potential causes of a sore throat, and some of them are much more serious than a cold.
If you have strep throat, an injury to your throat, cancer of the throat, or if any other issue is at work, then you should definitely consult your doctor and proceed with their treatment plan, which may include antibiotics, prescription anti-inflammatories, traditional cough syrup medicines, or possibly even surgery. Some of these conditions can be life-threatening, and so time is of the essence. If your doctor tells you that you have a normal cold or the flu, then, by all means, try one or several of the remedies outlined above, but make sure that there is nothing more serious going on before you rely on naturopathic remedies such as the ones we’ve been looking at.
Home Remedies for Sore Throat
Sore throats are a nuisance that affect millions of people every year. In addition to causing you a lot of pain, a sore throat can make it difficult to talk or eat, and worst of all, a sore throat that’s left untreated can last for weeks, making your life miserable. There are many different medications available at your local pharmacy, such as cough drops, lozenges, or traditional cold medicines, but often these treatments aren’t necessary because there are tons of home remedies you can use to treat a sore throat. However, to be on the safe side, you should always consult your doctor before treating your sore throat at home, as there could be a more serious issue going on that’s causing your sore throat.
