Almost everyone gets a sore throat at one time or another. Children, especially, get it more often than adults. Sore throat is most commonly caused by a virus, and to a lesser extent by bacteria which then can develop into a serious disease. But how would you know whether it is a viral infection or a bacterial one? If your lasts more than a few days or if it is accompanied by fever,nauseau or abdominal pain, see a doctor. In other cases, sore throat heals soon enough without complications and can be easily treated with ingredients from your kitchen.

What is Sore Throat?
A Sore Throat is a painful feeling in the throat aggravated by swallowing. Bacteria or virus causes sore throat, medically known as Pharyngitis. Most often it will be a symptom of an underlying illness like cold, flu, mumps, tonsillitis etc. Sore throat is named, depending on the area where the pain is, like:

 • Pharyngitis

• Epiglottitis

• Laryngitis

• Tonsillitis

Common Causes of Sore Throat

• Viral infection

• Bacterial infection

• Fungal infection

• Smoking

• Shouting

• Allergies

Home Remedies for Sore Throat

For quick relief from sore throat, you can try the following home remedies:

1. Drink ginger tea. You can prepare ginger tea by adding a one-inch long crushed piece of ginger in the water and boiling it for two to three minutes, and then preparing the tea as you normally would.

2. Warm chamomile tea also relieves throat pain as it fights inflammation. Steep two tea bags in one cup boiling water and sip the tea. You can add honey if you want it sweet.

3. Inhale fragrances of essential oils. Use any essential oils you have at home. It could be lavender, thyme, sandalwood, eucalyptus, etc.

4. Gargle with a mixture of water, salt, and turmeric. This is a very effective home remedy for relieving pain, plus, the ingredients are available 24×7 in all kitchens. Add one tea-spoon of salt and a pinch of turmeric to 8 ounce of warm water. The mixture should not be hot or you might scald your throat.

5. Boil tulsi/basil leaves in water and drink that water. Alternatively, gargle with that water while it’s warm.

6. Sip a decoction of Indian spices. It’s not as weird as it sounds. Just grind a teaspoon each of fennel seeds, black pepper corn, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and dry ginger (sauth), mix them and simmer the powder in 2 cups of boiling water for 5 to 6 minutes. Strain and drink the soultion while it’s still hot / warm.

7. Sip a cup of warm water containing a tablespoon each of honey and lemon juice. It’s a great remedy for sore throats. 

8. Suck on hard candy. It can soothe your throat by keeping it moist. It can be a choking hazard for young children, so avoid giving lozenges to kids below age four.

9. Hot and sour chicken soup will not only soothe the pain but will also ensure that you’re getting the nutrients to fight inflammation.

10. An age-old remedy for sore throat is steam inhaling. Heat a pot of water, lean over the pot. Place a towel over your head so as to tent the steam and keep the steam in. Breathe in the steam with your mouth too. Take adequate precautions to protect yourself from the pot and the water. 

11. Suck on Garlic. Yup, it sounds repulsive, and you probably don’t want to go on a dinner date right afterwards, but garlic is a natural remedy that can kick a sore throat right in it’s painfully swollen tush. The reason lies in the garlic’s allicin, a compound that can kill the bacteria that causes strep and fight the germs causing pain and irritation.

12. Kick It With Cayenne. Drinking warm water with cayenne can actually make you feel better. This is another one of those really funky sounding home remedies, but again, a lot of people swear by it. Dumping something involving hot peppers in any way, shape, or form down your already searing throat seems counterintuitive to helping it, but there’s a method to the madness. Cayenne (and other hot peppers) have a chemical compound called capsaicin that temporarily relieves pain, much like Advil or aspirin does. It accomplishes this by hindering something called substance P, which is what transmits pain signals to your brain. Thus, the discomfort from your sore throat is diluted when coming in contact with the Cayenne-and quickly to boot.

You will need…
-1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
-1 cup of boiling water
-1 teaspoon of honey

Directions
Add 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper to 1 cup of boiling water. Stir in the honey, and wait until the mixture is warm-but not hot-before drinking throughout the day as needed. Make sure to stir it frequently, as the Cayenne tends to settle. If you’re sensitive to spice, reduce the pepper to as little as 1/8 of a teaspoon.

13. Chomp Those Cloves. Cloves have been used for centuries, particularly in Traditional Chinese Medicine, but they aren’t used nearly as much nowadays. Still, cloves were often used to help ease pain in the mouth (such as toothaches) and throat. At one time dentists even commonly used it as an anesthetic, and some still do today. The reason they can be successful as a pain killer is because of the substance eugenol they contain. Eugenol can be a natural pain killer, and can act as an anti-bacterial as well. Chewing on whole cloves will slowly release that eugenol, and hopefully numb the pain in your throat.

Rest a lot and drink plenty of fluids. It will keep your throat moist and soothe your throat. Moreover, fluids can wash away any bacteria lingering in your throat. And, very importantly, DON’T smoke or use tobacco products.

Take care of yourself!