We have all experienced this feeling. At first, we start feeling a little rough on the throat and after some time, it gets dry, scratchy, and painful. A sore throat is mainly caused by a viral infection, such as common cold or flu, and if not addressed early, it can make your days moody. While some people choose to visit the doctor’s office for help, there are many ways to remedy sore throat at home.

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As the cold season approaches, you need to arm yourself with different sore throat home remedies that can help alleviate this common health ailment.

Natural sore throat remedies to try at home

Honey

Honey is known as a wound healer since it contains antibacterial properties. When mixed with tea or taken on its own, honey makes a great sore throat remedy that reduces inflammation and offers immediate relief for the pain. Also, if suffering from a bad cough, honey has been found to work better than common cough suppressants.

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Salty water

Salt is a staple in every kitchen and whereas saltwater won’t provide immediate relief, it helps to kill bacteria, easing pain, and breaking down secretions. Mix ½ a teaspoon of salt with a full glass of warm water then gargle it every 3 hours.

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Lemon

Just like salt and honey, lemons are great for sore throats as they break-up secretions and provide pain relief. Additionally, as a fruit, lemon is packed with Vitamin C which boosts the power of the immune system in fighting the infection.

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Hot sauce or cayenne pepper

As they say, fight fire with fire, and hot sauce or cayenne paper has been found to work perfectly for a fiery throat. While a mixture of warm water, honey, and hot sauce will create an initial burning sensation, it eventually provides a cure for sore throat. However, cayenne should not be taken if you have open sores.

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Tea

There are many tea flavors out there and most of them are known to be naturally soothing. The best flavors for a sore throat include chamomile tea, clove, and green tea that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Other favorite remedies include raspberry and peppermint tea that numb the throat to alleviate pain.

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At home, we have access to many ingredients that can help us alleviate our pain and get rid of sore throats. Other notable natural options that work include marshmallow root, licorice root, slippery elm, apple cider vinegar, and garlic.

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Lifestyle approaches to ease sore throat symptoms

While you let the remedies work for you, there are other ways to facilitate faster healing. It is advised that when tackling sore throat, you should:

• Get plenty of rest or sleep
• Drink lots of fluid
• Eat comfort foods and beverages
• Humidify your home
• Avoid irritants like cigarette smoke.

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Regardless of the causes of your sore throat, if you are proactive at taking care of yourself, it can go away in no time.

Which of these remedies have you tried? Did they work?

This article is solely for informational purposes. Do not self-diagnose or self-medicate, and in all cases consult a certified healthcare professional before using any information presented in the article. The editorial board does not guarantee any results and does not bear any responsibility for any harm that may result from using the information provided in the article.