Make a Simple Remedy for Sore Throat

Everyone gets a sore throat (pharyngitis) from time to time. Often, it can be the first sign of a cold and can be the result of the drainage of mucus from the nose. It can also be due to a viral or bacterial infection, overuse, environmental factors, allergies, or tonsillitis. These different causes may need different treatments. There are simple and effective home remedies you can used to immediately ease the discomfort of a sore throat. This can make it easier for you to rest and let your body fight off the underlying cause.

Steps

Using a Steam Treatment

1. Heat some water on the stove. Inhaling steam, especially when combined with herbs, is a great way to soothe your throat. To start , put about two inches (about 5 cm) of water in a pot. Put the pot on the stove and turn on the heat.
2. Add some herbs. Add 1 teaspoon each of thyme and oregano. Then add just a small pinch of cayenne pepper.
   • Both thyme and oregano have antibiotic properties. Cayenne pepper has antibacterial properties as well, and helps thin the mucus and to stimulate drainage.
   • Leave out the cayenne if using this treatment on very young children.
   • Ginger, chamomile, licorice root, and marshmallow root can also be used for steam treatments.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil. Let the mixture come to vigorous boil. Then, remove the pot from the heat.
4. Breathe in the steam. Drape a towel over your head and the pot. This will help keep the steam from escaping. Then, start taking deep breaths, breathing in the steam through both your nose and mouth.
   • Keep inhaling the steam for two to four minutes.
   • You can repeat this four to five times each day.
   • You can reuse the same liquid several times if you wish. Boiling will destroy any bacteria that might get into the pot.

Making a Poultice

1. Brew some herbal tea. A poultice is a moist substance used for treating inflammation. In this case, your poultice will be a cloth soaked in herbal tea. Brew a large pot of tea. You will need three to four cups. Any of the following work well:
   • Ginger
   • Marshmallow root
   • Licorice root
   • Chamomile
2. Soak a towel in the tea. Fold a long towel width-wise and soak it in the hot tea as soon as it is cool enough to touch. When fully saturated, remove from the pot. Wring out excess liquid.
   • Be aware that some of the teas can stain your towels permanently.
3. Wrap the towel around your neck. Wrap the warm towel around your neck and leave it there until it cools.
4. Reheat the towel and repeat as needed. Heat the tea up again and repeat the process to keep the towel warm. You can repeat this as many times as you want during the day.

Making Lozenges

1. Gather your ingredients. To make your own all-natural throat lozenges, you'll need to gather the following ingredients:
   • ½ teaspoon marshmallow root powder
   • ½ cup slippery elm bark powder
   • ¼ cup filtered water
   • Two tablespoons of honey (medicinal honey is best, but any honey will work)
2. Heat some water on the stove. In a small saucepan, heat the water on your stove.
3. Add marshmallow root. Dissolve the marshmallow root powder into the hot water. Stir if necessary.
4. Mix the marshmallow water with honey. Pour the honey into a glass measuring cup. Then, add the hot marshmallow water until you've got a total of a ¼ cup of liquid in the measuring cup.
   • Discard any remaining marshmallow water.
5. Mix in the slippery elm bark. Pour the slippery elm bark powder into a mixing bowl and hollow out a small well in the pile of powder. Then, pour the honey/marshmallow mixture into the this well.
   • Mix the ingredients together with your hands. Make sure to wash your hands first.
6. Form the mixture into lozenges. Using your fingers, create small, oblong lozenges with the mixture. They should be about the size of a grape.
   • Then, roll the lozenges in some extra slippery elm bark powder. This will make them less sticky.
   • Set them out on a plate to dry for at least 24 hours.
7. Wrap up the lozenges. When dry, wrap each lozenge in a small piece of waxed paper or parchment paper.
   • Store the lozenges in a cool, dry, and dark place. They should stay good for about 6 months.
   • Take orally as needed. To use, just unwrap and allow the lozenge to slowly dissolve in your mouth.

Drinking Herbal Tea

1. Buy some tea. Many herbal teas help soothe a sore throat. Some also have properties that may help your body combat the cause of the problem. These can be found in many grocery stores and any natural food store. In particular, the following teas are recommended:
   • Ginger tea can be very soothing but should not be given to children under two years old.
   • Chamomile is always a favorite because of its mild flavor. This is the best tea choice for children.
   • Licorice root is also helpful, but make sure you've got the real thing, not flavored candy.
   • Marshmallow root is great for a sore throat. This is not the type of marshmallow you would roast over a campfire. This root is from a plant used for over two thousand years for healing all sorts of wounds. Don’t use marshmallow tea if you take lithium as a medication. Also, marshmallow may decrease blood sugar. If you take anti-diabetes drugs, be careful.
   • Sage leaf is an effective antiviral, while rosemary is an effective antibacterial agent.
   • Echinacea is another favorite, though the taste of echinacea may take some getting used to. If you are taking any medications, however, talk to a knowledgeable healthcare professional before using echinacea. It can interact with some prescription medications.
   • Peppermint tea contains menthol which works as a decongestant.
2. Make it from scratch. If you can't find prepared teas containing these ingredients, you can also make them from loose or powdered herbs.
   • Use about one level teaspoon per cup of tea.
3. Add honey to your tea. Honey helps coat and soothe the throat. It also has antibacterial and vulnerary (wound healing) properties.
   • Honey can also improve the flavor of your tea and make drinking it more pleasurable.
4. Add lemon to your herbal tea. The acidic properties of lemon help break up the mucus that is irritating your throat.
   • Like honey, the flavor of lemon also goes well with many of these herbs.

Taking Other Liquid Remedies

1. Drink plenty of fluids. Drinking plenty of water will help soothe your throat. Staying hydrated is also important for helping your body fight off whatever is causing the sore throat.
   • Staying hydrated is crucial to a healthy immune system.
   • When you have a sore throat, you often don't produce enough saliva to keep your throat properly lubricated. Drinking plenty of water will help ease the discomfort.
2. Try a frozen remedy. Some people find cold is more soothing to their throats than heat. Try something frozen like a fruit juice bar, or try freezing your herbal tea in an ice-cube tray.
   • Children often find this a more appealing way to take herbal teas.
3. Gargle with salt water. Take ½ - 1 teaspoon of sea salt (or table salt) and add to 8 ounces of very warm water. Stir to dissolve and gargle for about 10-20 seconds with the solution. Then, spit it out.
   • You can repeat this as often as every hour.

Tips

• Stay warm. Keeping your body at a comfortable temperature will help it do what it needs to to get better.
• Get as much rest as you can. For most sore throats, your body is doing what it needs to do to fight it off. Your job is to give your immune system as much energy as possible. The best way to do this is to rest.
• Keep the air around you humidified. If you don’t have a humidifier, leave a bowl of water near a heat source. If you want, add some herbs to the water as well.
• Cold foods like frozen yogurt can temporarily soothe your throat
• Make sure you are eating lighter foods that won’t irritate your sore throat. This means you should avoid highly spiced foods and very sour or bitter foods. Chew your food well to make sure you aren’t swallowing large pieces of food and take a drink of water with every swallow. Avoid fatty and dry foods.
• Drink something warm with every bite of food you take. Cold or room temperature drinks will not soothe your sore throat.

Warnings

• Don’t give lozenges to very young children, as they may be a choking hazard.
• If your sore throat lasts longer than five days, see a doctor. If your voice is hoarse for over two weeks, you should also seek medical attention.
• If a sore throat is accompanied by difficulty breathing, swallowing, or opening the mouth, see a physician promptly. Other symptoms that suggest a need for medical help include joint pain, earache, rash, a fever over 101°, a lump in the neck, or blood in the saliva phlegm. If your sore throat recurs often, this is another sign you should get checked by a professional.
• If a child has a sore throat for longer than two to three days, has difficulty swallowing, has a rash, earache, or has a fever call the child’s physician.

Related Articles

• Cope Before Having Your Tonsils Taken Out
• Stop a Sneeze
• Be a Courteous Smoker
• Get over Strep Throat Quickly

Sources and Citations

See also

• Soothe Irritated Eyes with Potato Slices
• Make an Elderberry Jelly Sore Throat Soother
• Use Alcohol to Treat a Cold
• Treat Laryngitis
• Get Rid of a Sore Throat Quickly
• Clear the Throat of Mucus
• Cure a Fever at Home
• Make Homemade Cough Drops
• Numb a Sore Throat
• Make Lips Look Smaller

Read more ...

What links here

• Get Rid of a Sore Throat
• Soothe an Itchy Throat
• Get over Strep Throat Quickly
• Soothe a Sore Throat Quickly
• Make an Elderberry Jelly Sore Throat Soother