Home Remedy for Sore Throat

Did you know that an old fashioned and most recommended home remedy for sore throat is a homemade tonic comprising of a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of honey and a glass of warm water?

If you notice the first symptoms and you don't have any honey, just mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with water and drink it about 2 to 3 times a day. You can also add the vinegar to lemon juice. Gargling apple cider vinegar and lemon juice will also help soothe the sore in the throat.

Another popular home remedy for sore throat is drinking ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper mixed with warm water. You can also add lemon to the mixture. Another way to use cayenne as a home remedy for sore throat is to gargle a mixture of water and ½ teaspoon of the powder. Cayenne pepper is available in capsules, powdered form and cayenne pepper herbal tea.

Drinking herbal tea a few times a day will also provide sore throat pain relief. The herbs and spices that you can make as tea and use as sore throat remedy are:

1. Anise - Anise is one of the herbs that is used as an ingredient in many labels of cough syrups. It acts as an expectorant and helps loosen phlegm. It also contains antimicrobial properties. If you want to make your own anise tea, crush a teaspoon of aniseed into a cup of hot water and leave it for about 20 minutes. Drain it and drink the tea a few times a day.
   
   
   
2. Borage - Borage herb also has an expectorant quality and is recommended as a home remedy for sore throat, to help clear the chest and is suggested for cough relief. Dried borage is available if you want to make your own tea but you can also get the borage herbal tea pack or borage oil.
   
   
   
3. Chamomile and lavender- One of the ways to enjoy a warm cup of chamomile tea as well as use it as a home remedy for sore throat is to add honey and lemon. Chamomile and lavender are known as natural sleep aids and may also help reduce stress.
   
   
   
4. Cloves - Cloves produce analgesic, anesthetic, anti inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Other than drinking this spice tea, you can also chew the clove buds for sore throat pain relief.
   
   
   
5. Eucalyptus -Dried eucalyptus leaves can be made into herbal tea by steeping them into hot water and adding honey and lime if you wish. Another way to soothe your sore throat is to inhale eucalyptus oil vapor. The oil contains a compound that is used in many pharmaceutical products for coughs, cold and is used as one of the ingredients in lozenges inhalants and ointments.
   
   
   
6. Fenugreek - Other than drinking fenugreek tea, you can also add a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to warm water and gargle it.
   
   
   
7. Ginger - A warm cup of fresh ginger tea added with honey is another popular home remedy for sore throat. Ginger root has analgesic, anti inflammatory, antibacterial, sedative and antipyretic properties.
   
   
   
8. Garlic - Crush a few cloves of garlic and add them into a cup of warm water. The fresh garlic tea which contains scordinin and allicin has antibacterial, anti viral and anti fungal properties.
   
   
   
9. Goldenseal - Goldenseal root is known for its therapeutic, antibacterial, antifungal, mild laxative, diuretic and antibiotic properties. The goldenseal tea will not only help relieve sore throat but also helps clear your sinus and chest congestion as well as treat the common cold and flu.
   
   
   
10. Honeysuckle flowers - Traditional Chinese medicine has been using honeysuckle flowers as a home remedy for sore throats and respiratory disorders. You can also used honeysuckle flowers added with water for gargling.
    
    
    
11. Licorice root - Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin and has shown to be effective in the treatment of sore throat, cough, bronchitis and asthma.
    
    
    
12. Marshmallow root - A few studies showed that marshmallow root when taken as herbal tea was effective in reducing sore throat and also in relieving cough and other respiratory problems. This herb acts as an expectorant and has anti bacterial and anti inflammatory properties.
    
    
    
13. Mullein - Mullein has antibacterial, antispasmodic and astringent properties. It is one most widely used herb to treat problems such as emphysema, bronchitis, whooping cough and other pulmonary problems.
    
    
    
14. Oil of oregano - This herb contains carvacrol which has anti fungal, anti bacterial, anti parasitic and anti viral properties. It produces antiseptic and healing effects. Add a few drops of the oil of oregano to any juice of your choice and drink it.
    
    
    
15. Slippery elm - Get a pack of slippery elm tea and drink a cup of the warm tea every hour. Slippery elm extract is also one of the ingredients used for some throat lozenges.

Here are several more home remedies for sore throat.

1. A very simple home remedy for sore throat is to gargle a cup of water mixed with ½ teaspoon of salt.
   
   
   
2. Take white willow bark extract instead of aspirin if you wish to use an analgesic. It is a natural pain killer. You can also add a few drop of the liquid extract to a glass of water and gargle.
   
   
   
3. Another sore throat remedy is to use steam inhalation. Add a few drops of eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint or thyme oil in a bowl of hot water. Drape a towel over your head and breathe in the vapor.

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