Home Remedies for Sore Throat

A sore throat is a common and minor condition in which the back of the throat becomes irritated in most cases (90% of them) is cause by a virus, such as the one that causes colds and flu or the bacteria that cause strep infection. In cases of bacterial or viral infections most antibiotics are ineffective.

Sore throats can be caused by many things. Viruses may lead to a sore throat. Bacteria can also cause a sore throat, as can smoking, breathing polluted air, drinking alcohol, and hay fever and other allergies.

Catching a cold is the most prevalent cause for sore throats, but they may also be the manifestation of other diseases.

Breathing through the mouth, allergies and/or pollen in the air are other possibilities.

Home Remedies for Sore Throat

Prepare marshmallow root tea by adding 1 tablespoon of the dried root to a cup. Add a cup (8 ounces) of boiling water, steep it covered for at least 10 minutes then strain. Drink up to 3 cups a day.

Make fenugreek tea and gargle with it. In 6 cups of water, add 2 tbsp fenugreek leaves. Gargle with it 3-4 times in a day.

Mix:
•    1 cup of salvia.
•    2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar.
•    1-2 tea spoons of sea water.

Gurgle the mixture every 30 minutes to treat a painful throat or streptococcus bacteria. The liquid is not tasty but very helpful

The belleric myrobalan, commonly known as behera in Ayurvedic parlance, is a popular Indian household remedy for coughs. The pulp of its fruit is taken. This pulp is mixed with salt, long pepper and honey. This is given for allaying the problems of sore throat. Instead of this preparation, its fried fruit can also be covered with wheat flour and then roasted on a low flame.

Add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to 1 cup of boiling water; stir well and gargle while mixture is very warm. This brings more circulation to the area and helps draw away the infection. To this formula you can add 4 parts echinacea, 1 part garlic bulb, and 2 parts peppermint leaves to 1 part cayenne.

Warm 1/2 cup of kosher (coarse) salt in a frying pan. Then pour the warm salt in a large, clean, white handkerchief and fold it over and over so that none of the salt can ooze out. Wrap the salted hanky around your neck and wear it that way for an hour.

Mango bark is highly beneficial in treating sore throat. Its fluid can be applied locally or it can be used as a throat gargle.Mix 100 milliliters of the fluid extract with 125 milliliters of water before using.

One remedy for sore throats that has been around for centuries is marshmallow (Althaea officinalis). A tea can be made from the dried root of this herb. One tablespoon of the dried root should be boiled in a mug of water for at least ten minutes. The tea is then strained and can be drunk around three times a day.