Home Remedies and Herbs for Sore Throat

Your throat is the tube that carries food to your esophagus and air down your windpipe. ¹ When your throat becomes sore it can be the result of several different conditions. Children and adults can both develop sore throats and it is a common condition associated with infections. In many cases, a sore throat can go away on its own without the use of medications or by taking sore throat home remedies.

What Causes Sore Throat?

Typically a sore throat indicates that there is an infection in the body. In at least 85% of cases, when adults develop a sore throat it is due to a virus of some kind. Infections can either be viral or bacterial. ²Some of the possible viral infections may include:³

• Common cold
• Influenza
• Mononucleosis
• Measles
• Chicken pox
• Croup (children and infants)

Streptococcus is a bacterial infection that can cause strep throat symptoms as well. Other causes of a sore throat may include:

• Allergies
• Dry environment
• Environmental irritants likecigarette smoke, pollution or toxi ns
• Soreness caused by yelling or talking loudly for long periods of time
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• HIV
• Throat, tongue or mouth tumors

Sore Throat Symptoms

The most common symptoms experienced with a sore throat include:³

• Painful sensation in the throat
• Itchiness in the back of the throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty talking
• Pain that worsens when swallowing or talking
• Tonsils are inflamed or have white patches forming on them

If the sore throat is the result of an infection then it may be accompanied by other symptoms like:^3,4

• Coughing
• Runny nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Fever
• Chills
• Nausea and vomiting

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Sore Throat

There are some very effective sore throat remedies that are safe for adults and children to take. Here are some of the top sore throat herbal treatments to try at home:

• Cayenne Pepper - With natural anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, cayenne pepper can be used as a sore throat natural cure. Cayenne pepper also helps to boost immune system function which can help fight off the infection causing the sore throat.
• Honey - To soothe a sore throat, eat honey in order to coat the throat and ease the pain. Honey can also help to defend the body from infection with its natural antibacterial health benefits.
• Ginger - Ginger is one of the best sore throat herbs to take because it of it’s natural detoxifying health benefits which can help flush out toxins. Ginger can also help reduce inflammation.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - Apple cider vinegar has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe sore throats and help to fight infection in order to help health the condition.
• Honey and Cinnamon - By combining honey and cinnamon together you can create an effective sore throat herbal treatment that reduces inflammation and soothes symptoms of sore throat.

References

1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/basics/symptoms/con-20037892
2. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/12/21/cough-sore-throat-natural-remedies.aspx
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sore-throat/symptoms-causes/dxc-20201942
4. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/pharyngitis