It can be miserable coping with a sore throat when you have to work or are trying to get some much-needed rest at night. Whether the pain is from a viral or bacterial infection, the pain can be the most difficult part of a sore throat to deal with while you’re healing. Home remedies for sore throats from around the world can help soothe the pain quickly.
There are several different gargles that will sooth a sore throat, most of them using honey along with other ingredients found in the kitchen. One of the simplest home remedies for sore throats is a gargle made by boiling basil leaves in water, then gargling the liquid, allowing a portion of it to trickle down the back of the throat each time.
For the more daring, try gargling with 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a cup of warm water. Be sure to breathe through your nose and not your mouth while the cayenne solution is in your mouth to keep the spiciness of the pepper from stinging your tongue.
If you enjoy fruit juices, try sipping warm grapefruit juice with a teaspoon or two of honey. It’s one of the tastier home remedies for a sore throat you can drink. If you aren’t a fan of grapefruit juice, you can add some honey to some warm orange juice.
A more complex home remedies for sore throats, which you can with and then swallow to jump-start the pain relief, is a form of sage tea. Simply steep a teaspoon of sage, strain the liquid and add teaspoon each of apple cider vinegar and honey. The warmth will soothe the inflammation in the throat while the honey will help coat it slightly to ease irritation.
If you would prefer to swallow a remedy rather than gargle, try combining a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, the juice of ¼ lemon, a teaspoon of honey and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Take a teaspoonful two or three times a day for long-lasting relief.
Onions, which are excellent for soothing pain and killing germs, are great for a sore throat. Cut a medium-sized onion in half and put in a small container, then cover with honey. Let the onion soak, covered, for at least an hour, then swallow a spoonful of the honey every two to four hours. In most cases, you’ll be free of the sore throat by the next day.
Turmeric is a versatile natural sore throat remedy that alleviates pain. You can combine ½ teaspoon of turmeric with ½ teaspoon salt in warm water for a simple gargle that can be used two to three times a day. If you don’t like to gargle, take an alternate approach by adding ½ teaspoon of turmeric to a cup of hot milk. This is especially good to sip just before bed. The turmeric will soothe your sore throat and the warm milk will help you fall asleep. Getting plenty of rest is one of the simplest and best home remedies for a sore throat; the more rested you are, the more quickly your body’s immune system can fight off illness.
An old world home remedy for sore throats can be made from horseradish. Grate one tablespoon of horseradish into a glass of warm water, then add a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of ground cloves. Sip the mixture slowly to allow the warmth and spices to do their work.
Using any of these old-fashioned home remedies for a sore throat will bring you relief so that you can get on with your day or get the good night’s sleep you need.