5 Home Remedies for an Irritating Sore Throat

Fall to spring brings on a higher amount of colds for most people. Sore throats go hand in hand with colds and the flu. Any increase in mucus or development of a cough can lead to a sore throat. Sore throats are rarely a major issue, although you should watch to make sure you don’t develop strep throat. Otherwise, a sore throat is a painful annoyance that leads to discomfort and hoarseness. None of those things are enjoyable.

Luckily, there are dozens of home remedies that you can try to use to soothe your inflamed throat. It may take trying a few different remedies to see what works best for you. Some remedies are more popular and well-known, so let’s take a look at the five best home remedies for a sore throat. Your sore throat will be leaving soon enough!

5 Home Remedies for an Irritating Sore Throat

Gargling Salt Water

One of my favorite tricks for a sore throat is to gargle salt water. Yes, salt water isn’t the most delicious thing you might taste today, but it helps to calm the pain. Gargling warm salt water has been used for decades as a treatment because it decreases the swelling of the mucous membranes.

The purpose is to pull out fluids from your throat that is leading to the inflammation of your larynx. Every time that you gargle, you pull more and more fluids from your throat. Soon, you’ll notice a decrease in pain and that it is becoming easier to swallow.

Gargling salt water also happens to be one of the easiest home remedies. All you need to do is add a half of a teaspoon to a full teaspoon of salt in your glass of warm water. Mix it to dissolve the salt completely then gargle. You can do this whenever you feel it is needed, but at least three times a day to make a noticeable difference! Try not to do it too often, so you don’t dry out your throat.

Honey

Incorporating honey into your day is a traditional way to soothe a sore throat. All honey works for treatment, but raw and manuka honey tends to be the ideal choices. Why is honey so loved for sore throats? Honey contains antiviral and antibacterial properties that can cure the cause of the inflammation. Also, honey is a natural wound healer, usable on all parts of your body!
To use honey to soothe your sore throat, there are several methods. You can eat tablespoons of plain honey when your throat is aching. That method is great for coating your throat, but some people don’t like the texture.

Another choice is to add honey to a cup of herbal tea (chamomile is great for sore throats). If you have children, you can try making your honey lozenges or lollipops to help soothe their throats. No matter what method you pick, you can use honey as often as you like! However, if you do have kids, make sure they are at least a year old before consuming honey.

Visit page 2 to see 3 more home remedies for an irritating sore throat