14 Effective Ways To Treat A Sore Throat

Sore Throat is also known as pharyngitis which takes place as a result of a common cold or flu. A sore throat may take up to a week to be completely healed.

But, you can also make use of several methods and foods which help in reducing the amount of pain. However, if the pain is severe and you suffer from difficulty in breathing, it is important that you visit your doctor. Listed below are several tips that are helpful in treating a sore throat.

Having Garlic

There are antibiotic and antiviral properties which are present in Garlic. It helps in treating sore throats because it contains a compound called allicin which is effective in destroying the viruses that cause it. It is also known to boost your immune system which helps in stopping the sore throats from occurring again and again.

Consuming Ginger

The anti-inflammatory properties in ginger make it a powerful substance that is used to treat a sore throat. You can make a drink of ginger with honey and some water. This can be prepared by taking a piece of ginger, shave it and boil it in water adding some honey to it. This is very effective in soothing a sore throat.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is required by the body to repair the tissues and restore the cells. Having Vitamin E rich foods will help to accelerate the repair process of a sore throat. It also helps to prevent damage to the tissues inside the throat. The foods which are rich in Vitamin E are olive oil, flax seeds, whole grains and hazelnuts etc.

Having Soothing foods

To ease your soar throat, have food that is less spicy as well as nutrient dense. Having foods that are spicy will only worsen your condition, therefore, choose your foods wisely. Foods that are soothing to the throat are potatoes, oatmeal, broths, cooked eggs or soups. Chicken soup has been known to be most effective in treating a sore throat. You can also add garlic for added taste.

Lemon and Honey

The pain caused by a sore throat can be reduced greatly by consuming a mixture made up of lemon and honey. The lemon helps in the cutting of the mucus present in the throat and the cough is reduced by the honey present in the mixture. To prepare the mixture, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice , mixing it a tablespoon of honey with hot water. Don’t drink the mixture too hot as it can cause burns in your mouth.

Gargling

To sooth your throat , you can add half a teaspoon of both turmeric and salt to a cup of hot water and gargle using the mixture  two times a day . If you don’t want to gargle, you can also mix half teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of hot milk.

Another alternative to turmeric is salt water. Salt water is used as a common household remedy for a sore throat. Take half a teaspoon of salt and add it to a glass of slightly warm water and gargle it every 3 hours.

Having Broth

If your throat is very sore and eating is also difficult, a chicken or vegetable broth will provide you with the essential nutrients required by the body. Chicken broth contains proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals which helps your body to recover. The broth will help to soothe your throat.

Cider Vinegar

Cider vinegar is very effective in treating a sore throat. To prepare a mixture, take around 8 ounces of warm water, a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. To gargle using this mixture, add a teaspoon of salt to the solution and gargle it. You can use this mixture to gargle even after every 15 minutes for as many times as you want. However, it is important to note that giving a mixture containing honey to children below two years of age can result in a kind of food poisoning.

Drink enough liquids

When you suffer from a soar throat, it is important to consume enough liquids in the form of water, soups, warm tea with honey, milk and orange juice. It is best to consume foods that are either too cold or hot which will help in thinning out the mucus, keeping your throat clear.

Having Lozenges

Lozenges help in lubricating the throat and are effective irrespective of whether medicated or unmediated. They are known to reduce the dryness in the throat by increasing the production of saliva. A lot of lozenges are available at medical stores which help in reducing the itchiness in the throat which leads to coughing. Lozenges which contain menthol are helpful in opening up the sinuses, draining out the mucus and reducing the congestion.

Peppermint Tea

Sore throat can be treated with peppermint tea by taking a few leaves and placing them in a cup of hot water. The Peppermint tea can also be gargled when cooled. It can also be inhaled which relieves a sore throat and congestion.

Using Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is known to be effective in soothing the throat and reducing congestion. Eucalyptus is the main ingredient in many products such as lozenges, cough syrups, and oils. Make a tea with the leaves of eucalyptus; it is helpful in soothing your throat. You can also perform steam inhalation with eucalyptus oil mixed in the water. This is helpful in opening up the congested nostrils.

Having Basil

Basil leaves are effective in treating a sore throat by gargling a decoction made of basil leaves which are added to boiling water. This decoction must be covered and kept in a pot. You can also add some honey and fresh lemon juice to the decoction which will help to increase the benefits.

Eating Carrots

Carrots are excellent for good health. However, when feeling unwell it is hard to consume them. Taking the carrots and boiling them, making it soft enough to eat will help you to recover faster because of the many nutrients present in it. Carrots are loaded with Vitamin A, C, K, potassium and fibre making it an effective immune booster.

Using these effective methods would help you to recover from your sore throat very quickly.