PharmEasy Blog

7 Effective Natural Remedies For Sore Throat!

When you think of a quick shot remedy to a niggling sore throat – gargling immediately comes to mind! While gargling with salted lukewarm water is generally recommended, you can also replace the salt with ginger, lemon and honey and then gargle. Alternatively, along with salt, you can also add half a teaspoon of turmeric powder to lukewarm water and gargle. This yellow spice is an effective antioxidant that can immediately soothe the irritation in the throat.

Before we get into other recommended and highly effective home remedies, let’s first understand some commonly observed symptoms of throat infection which eventually leads to a sore throat. They are:

  1. Throat pain and inflammation.
  2. Swelling of lymph nodes in the neck area.
  3. Swelling of tonsils.
  4. Pain in the ears.
  5. Watery eyes, running nose, fatigue and headache, to name a few.

Turmeric Milk

Grandma’s hidden remedy – Hot turmeric milk is an age-old tradition that is followed by generations in our country. Along with sore throat, it even helps in treating a persistent cold, thanks to its natural antibiotic properties. Also, read the 10 health benefits of turmeric.

Breathing through your mouth because of chronic nasal congestion may be a cause of sore throat dryness, itching in the throat. Getting yourself treated for chronic nasal congestion will go a long way to prevent recurrent episodes of sore throat.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Fenugreek

Fenugreek is a natural remedy for sore throats and is known to offer numerous health benefits.   You can either consume these in the seed format or use the oil form or plain and simple, sip into a nice hot piping cup of fenugreek tea. Blessed with antifungal properties, it kills bacteria that cause irritation.

Liquorice Root

For centuries, the sweet Licorice root has been used in the treatment of sore throat. One of the most recommended ways to use this root is to mix it with water and gargle with that water.

Peppermint

Peppermint not only freshens our breath but also relieves throat pain. Menthol which is its essential ingredient aids in soothing the soreness and thins the mucus. Peppermint also is high in anti-bacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties and thus augments the healing process.

There is increasing evidence that a single dose of honey might reduce mucus secretion and reduce sore throat . honey showed good demulcent effect and antioxidant properties, and it increased cytokine release, which might have antimicrobial effects

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)

Herbal Tea

There is nothing better than a hot cup of Herbal tea to soothe an aching throat! Just add a few shreds of ginger, a few leaves of Tulsi (Holy basil), some black peppercorns to a cup full of water and boil for 3-5 minutes. Add a spoonful of sugar or even better, add honey and consume it hot. Honey helps to moisten the throat and helps in keeping the irritation at bay.

Read More: 11 Health  Benefits of Tulsi

Lemon Water

Lemon water is not only a refreshing beverage but a delicious one too. Since it is loaded with Vitamin C and antioxidants it can comfort the soreness of the throat and help in its healing. Squeeze a lemon in warm water; add a dash of honey or a pinch of salt to get instant relief from irritating throat pain.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is another fragrant and delicious spice that can aid in treating a sore throat. Used in Chinese medicine, cinnamon is a traditional remedy that is known to ease throat pain. You can either consume it in the form of herbal tea or add a few sticks of cinnamon or grounded cinnamon powder to your black or herbal tea and consume to keep throat infections under control.

It is a common myth that cold causes sore throat. Sore throat is commonly caused by viruses which thrive easily in cold conditions. In fact, it is easier to get a sore throat from someone who suffers from viral sore throat sneezes indoors, than getting exposed to the cold weather.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Honey

Honey is known for its medicinal properties and amongst its many uses, it is known to be an effective home remedy for a sore throat. It is commonly found in most households and has traditionally been used to treat ailments in Indian households. It can either be consumed on its own, warm honey has shown to be more effective in some cases or mixed in with your regular cup of tea. Either way, this magical ingredient does wonders for your sore throat and will provide some much needed relief from coughing.

Also Read: The Duration Dilemma: How Long Does Strep Throat Last?

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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5 Common Winter Illnesses And Tips To Prevent Them

Common Winter Ailments

With a cool nip in the air, we can confirm that winter is finally here! It is the time of the year to indulge in rich foods, festivities and even vacations. While we look forward to being dolled up in our winter finery, we cannot ignore the fact that this winter season has an ugly side to it too. The winter ugliness rears its head in the form of diseases and health ailments!

A sudden drop in temperature brings with it health issues such as arthritis and heart ailments etc. However, the winter season is the time to look out for skin-related diseases and respiratory infections as well.

How To Prevent Common Winter Ailments

1. Common Cold

The common cold is way too common and often we ignore it as something that is a part of changing season. Symptoms of a common cold include a sore throat, chest congestion, headache, sneezing, runny nose etc. Affecting adults and children alike, the common cold is expected to subside in a couple of days and doesn’t call for any serious medical intervention.

How To Prevent:

2. Flu

While the flu is not a serious health ailment like the common cold, it should not be ignored. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus that goes by the name ‘influenza’. It can be mild or severe as well. Similar to the cold, a flu patient experiences body ache, sore throat, fever, headaches etc. and these are enough to ruin the season.

How To Prevent:

Vaccination against influenza is another important thing. For most people who need only one dose of flu vaccine for the season, September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against flu.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

3. Strep Throat

A sore throat is very annoying and uncomfortable. But strep throat is worse! A strep throat is a severe version of a sore throat, with fever caused by an infection. It is caused by a bacterial infection and is very common among children. Symptoms of strep throat include difficulty and pain while swallowing food or water, headache, swollen lymph nodes, fever etc.

How To Prevent:

4. Bronchitis

Children or toddlers below the age of 2 years often fall prey to Bronchitis. Bronchitis is a respiratory infection caused by RSV or the respiratory syncytial virus. Typical symptoms include breathing difficulty due to the inflammation of airway passage in the lungs as they get clogged. Patients with bronchitis experience mild fever, congestion of the nasal passage, wheezing and coughing.

How To Prevent:

5. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is another lung infection which common in the winter season. A disease caused by bacteria can be mild or severe in nature which ans if it is mild, it can be treated at home but if it gets severe, hospitalization is possible too.

People who have weaker immunity or health issues like asthma, heart issues or even cancer are prone to suffer from pneumonia. Unfortunately, this disease is difficult to detect in the initial stages. However, if the patient experiences a constant cold or high fever, it is best to seek a doctor.

How To Prevent:

Winter Skin Ailments

Along with respiratory issues, winter brings a host of skin troubles; itching, flaring of eczema, psoriasis etc. The most basic skincare requirement for this season is to keep the skin moisturized.

The most common skin ailments in winter are flaky, itchy skin, dehydrated skin and UV damage & chapped lips. Unbeknownst to many, you must continue to wear your sunscreen before you step out.

Respiratory infections are very common in winter months, if you experience any symptoms of flu accompanied by shortness of breath, increased mucus production and severe muscle pain, you should visit a physician to diagnose the underlying problem.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D

How To Prevent Winter Skin Problems

But Ever Wonder Why We Fall Ill In The Winter Season?

The reasons are many and moreover, we tend to let go of ourselves as the cold weather takes over. Plus, the season is not conducive for hard work – people tend to oversleep and overeat. They have to be really motivated to even take a walk. The gym stops as does the swimming or jogging. Also, the winter season is a season of festivity and weddings. Therefore, following a healthy diet becomes difficult and with no chance of burning the calories, they just pile up.

Lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle creates a lack of circulation and therefore, an increase in fat accumulation in the body. Fat cells can also cause inflammation and weaken the immune system.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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