Sore Throat Causes and Home Remedies

Causes of Sore Throat

A sore throat is mostly the consequence of an irritation in the pharynx, which is the passage that leads from the back of the mouth to the esophagus. Excessive smoking, contact with allergens and dust particles, respiratory infections like tonsillitis, ordinary cough and cold, and excessive strain on the vocal chords caused by shouting or screaming may lead to this condition. Sore throat is often accompanied with mild pain and difficulty in swallowing food.

Home Remedies For a Sore Throat

There are several simple tips that you may follow at home to treat a sore throat. The juice of basil leaves is known to be effective in curing minor throat infections and bringing quick relief from irritation in the throat. You should chew 5-6 raw basil leaves every morning. You may also crush the leaves to extract their juice and mix this with a little honey, consume this orally twice a day for quick recovery. Boiling a handful of these leaves in a cup of water and drinking this solution while it is still warm also relieves the itchy sensation inside your throat. You should also add a teaspoon of common salt to a glass of moderately hot water and gargle with this solution twice a day to destroy the germs that might be at the root of the trouble. Alternatively, you may also steep a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in hot water and use this to gargle every day. Another remedy for sore throat is to boil a teaspoon of cinnamon powder in a cup of water, add a pinch of pepper and a little honey to it and drink this infusion 3-4 times a day. You may also mix together a teaspoon each of apple cider vinegar and honey, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and a few drops of lemon juice in a cup of hot water, and drink this solution three times a day to treat a sore throat. Chewing a small piece of licorice also helps reduce the inflammation of the larynx and cures sore throat in a couple of days. Besides these particular remedies, you should also follow a few dietary rules to aid faster recovery from sore throat. Drink lots of fruit juices and water, as they help keep the throat canal well hydrated, and reduce irritation. Avoid drinking coffee and alcoholic drinks as these tend to dry up the throat and cause further irritation. Sucking on a candy often stimulates increased production of saliva, which helps wash down germs that might be responsible for the condition, and thus reduces the irritation in the throat.