A sore throat is a very common illness which typically indicates an underlying disease such as a cold, flu, tonsillitis, and mononucleosis among others. It can be easily healed with natural home remedies such as turmeric, lemon & coconut oil.
A sore throat is typically caused by:- Bacterial or viral infection
- Irritation of the mucous membrane of the throat by dust, smoke, tooth or gum infections or extremely hot foods
- Loud talking for long periods
Following are some natural healing tips for a sore throat:
Gargle with turmeric and salt water
Mix 1/4 teaspoon turmeric and 1/2 a teaspoon of salt in 1 glass of warm water.
Gargle with this water 3 times a day. Make sure that the water is warm and not hot. Turmeric is a natural antioxidant, antiseptic and antibiotic herb (1). It heals inflammation and boosts the immune system.
Drink lemonade without sugar
Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice (about half a lemon) in 1 glass (8 oz) of warm water. Do not add any kind of sugar to it. Drink it 2-3 times a day on an empty stomach (30 to 60 minutes before meals).
It brings rapid relief for throat pain and irritation. It cleanses the stomach and soothes the bowels. Lemon is rich in Vitamin C and many alkalizing minerals. Contrary to the common belief, lemonade does not cause acidity. It actually cures it. When it reaches the stomach, it has an alkaline effect which relieves the acidity. Lemonade gives best results when taken on an empty stomach. Do not drink it after a meal; otherwise it will increase the acidity in the stomach.
Apply coconut oil on the body
Coconut oil is an excellent natural antimicrobial medicine (2). When consumed in your diet or massaged on to the skin, it kills all types of pathogenic organisms in the body. Warm 2 to 3 tablespoons of coconut oil, preferably of virgin or extra virgin quality, and massage it on the body once or twice a day. It can also be used as cooking oil. Coconut oil also provides a quick boost of energy to the body.
Avoid sugar and all processed food
Sugar weakens the immune system and aggravates the illness (3). Therefore, it must be avoided. Similarly, processed foods contain refined carbohydrates, trans fats and artificial ingredients which are harmful to health. So, it is better to avoid processed foods as well.
Fast with lemonade or vegetable juice
Our body spends considerable amounts of energy in digesting the food. Therefore, if you avoid heavy foods and consume soups, vegetable juice or lemonade without sugar; your body will be able to conserve precious energy and use it to fight the illness. This type of fasting diet brings a rapid recovery.
Wishing you Health, Wealth, Love and Happiness,
Pankaj Kotak
REFERENCES
1. Ungphaiboon S., et al. Study on antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of turmeric clear liquid soap for wound treatment of HIV patients. Songklanakarin Journal of Science & Technology. 2005; 27(Suppl. 2):569-578.
2. Kabara JJ., et al. Fatty Acids and Derivatives as Antimicrobial Agents. Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy. July 1972;2(1):23-28.
3. Sanchez, A., et al. Role of Sugars in Human Neutrophilic Phagocytosis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Nov 1973;261:1180-1184.
