If you're like most people, you don't want to go to the doctor every time you have a sore throat. These 7 home remedies can help you soothe a throat infection and get you on the road to recovery
.No one escapes a sore throat. Once in a while, everyone gets a feeling of a throat infection. Your throat may burn, and feels scratchy and painful.
A sore throat is not only painful but also discomfort in daily important activities like eating and drinking. At times people are unable to even talk. You may lose your voice temporarily completely.
Throat infections can be viral, bacterial, or fungal. Even allergic reactions to environmental pollution and smoking can cause a sore throat. Sometimes excessive acid reflux or dry air can cause a sore throat.
Most throat infections can be managed with natural home remedies and lifestyle adjustments. Depending on the causes you may not require any medical help. However, some infections may require a doctor's attention.
Home Remedies for Throat Infection
Following are 7 home remedies for throat infections.
1. Hot Liquids
Drinking hot liquids (non-caffeinated) helps to soothe the sore throat.
Drinking tea, particularly Chamomile tea is very effective for sore throat.
- Add 1-2 dried chamomile blossoms to a glass of boiling water.
- Steep and drink a cup every couple of hours.
You can use Thyme tea which works equally well.
Another good tea is Ginger Tea to treat throat infections.
- Cut the ginger into slices (3-4 mm thick) and crush them.
- Add 2 crushed slices to 300 ml of water.
- Let the water becomes brownish.
- Cool it to an acceptable level and sip the tea.
- You can add honey to add taste.
You can also get an additional benefit of ginger by adding in the chamomile or thyme tea to heal your sore throat fast.
2. Garlic
Garlic contains Allicin- a compound that has antibacterial and antiseptic properties to help treat or prevent sore throats.
Though garlic smell is strong and can be embarrassing in any social setting, garlic's benefits outweigh it. You can add garlic to cooked food but the best effects will come from eating raw garlic.
- Take a garlic clove and peel the outer skin
- Split the clove vertically into two equal pieces
- Keep a piece inside each cheek and suck it
- Occasionally chew a little bit to release allicin
The whole process of sucking and eating garlic this way should take about 10-15 minutes. Allicin will kill bacteria and give you instant throat pain relief.
3. Take Steam
Inhaling steam is almost a sure-shot way to get rid of most of the milder versions of throat infections. Steam moisturizes the throat and the upper respiratory tract. This helps in the release of mucus which removes the bacteria and irritants that are causing throat irritation. It also reduces pain and discomfort.
- Take about 500ml of water and steam it.
- Switch off the burner and remove the pot from the heater
- Put the pot on a table and sit on a chair
- Keep your face about 6 inches directly above the pot so that you can inhale the steam
- Cover your head with a towel in such a way that the pot is also covered and steam can’t escape from the sides.
- Alternatively, inhale from the nostrils and mouth.
- Do it for about five minutes. Your face will be wet with the condensed steam
- Remove the towel, wash your face and pat it dry.
Inhaling steam 3-4 times a day will completely remove your viral throat infection in a couple of days.
4. Gargling With Salt Water
Gargling with salt water is age old tried and tested natural cure for strep throat pain relieving. It gives temporary relief. Gargle after every couple of hours with a teaspoon of salt added to a glass of water (200-250ml).
Ensure that the water is warm enough but not hot to burn your tongue.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is a potent healer for many conditions. You can take Apple Cider Vinegar in two different ways to reduce pain and cure throat infection
- Take 50 ml of Apple Cider Vinegar in a cup
- Add half a teaspoon of honey and mix it well
- Add the mixture to a cup of warm water
- Drink it slowly
Both honey and Apple Cider Vinegar work on the infection to provide pain relief. Do it 3-4 times a day.
If you don’t like to drink apple cider vinegar then you can use it to gargle. Add 50 ml of Apple Cider Vinegar to a glass of warm water and gargle. If you have strep throat, then gargle with the mixture every two hours. It will give you tremendous relief from the infection of the throat.
6. Get Sufficient Rest
Our fast lifestyle has made most of us rest deprived. Lack of rest creates fatigue and reduces immunity. Any infection in its early stages can be easily fought with sufficient rest. But, most of us don’t take a rest, so infection spreads.
It is very true for throat infections. If you take sufficient rest particularly when you are getting the first signals of mild irritation in the throat, then you will save yourself from a lot of trouble. You won’t get a full-blown throat infection.
Make a regular habit of taking sufficient rest. Sleep well at night for 7-8 hours.
7. Drink More Fluids
Like not getting enough rest, most of us don’t drink enough fluids during the day. This keeps us dehydrated impacting our immunity.
A fully hydrated body fights any sort of infection vigorously, and in most cases, you will win. In certain cases, you will still get the throat infection but it will heal fast if you are fully hydrated.
Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. You can eat fruits and drink juices to increase fluid intake. Carbonated drinks and alcohol do not help in throat infection as these drinks dehydrate your throat.
Bottomline
In conclusion, home remedies can be a successful way to treat throat infections. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, it is important to see a doctor. untreated throat infections can lead to serious complications.