A sore throat is a common affliction that many children and adults face. Sore throats are normally caused by bacterial or viral infections. Most sore throats are not serious and medication is rarely required. When you have a sore throat, there is usually a painful, tender feeling in the throat, which is sometimes accompanied with headache and fever.
It is important to drink plenty of water when you have a sore throat even though it may be hard to swallow. You can become dehydrated without water, which tends to aggravate the headache and fever. Warm drinks are especially soothing. It is also a good idea to drink herbal tea and green tea. Herbal tea and green tea help soothe the throat, providing instant relief.
A gargle every couple of hours with warm water mixed with salt is said to provide a lot of relief for sore throat. A sore throat is usually inflamed with bacteria or viruses. Salt draws out the fluid in which the bacteria and viruses survive and thus is extremely effective against a sore throat.
An old remedy for sore throat is the inhalation of steam which is said to provide instant relief. This is because the steam opens up constricted air passages and allows for freer breathing. You can also add a couple of drops of eucalyptus or tea tree oil to the steam water. While eucalyptus oil acts on receptors in the nasal mucosa, which helps alleviate congestion; tea tree oil kills bacteria and is a natural antiseptic.
One easy home remedy is mixing honey with water and drinking this mixture. Honey helps relieve any irritation in the throat and stops your throat from feeling dry. You could also add turmeric powder to water and consume this. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory agent and is a natural painkiller. Eating sage is another useful method of treating a sore throat. Sage has anti-viral properties and can be used to battle the infection. Sucking on garlic is said to treat sore throats faster. Garlic contains allicin, a chemical that can kill the bacteria, again helpful in fighting the infection.
Avoiding smoking is one of the ways to reduce the chances of sore throat. Smoking irritates the throat lining and increases the susceptibility to infection. If your sore throat is a result of more serious infections such as whooping cough or pneumonia, mere symptomatic relief will not help.
