Posted on 25th Oct 2019
Sore throat is either the inflammation of the throat (pharyngitis) or inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis) and is usually caused by viral infections, such as a cold or the flu. Other causes include bacterial infections, allergies, stomach acid reflux, etc.
And with the high pollution levels and the changing weather, the chances of respiratory tract infection increases. It is quite possible that you feel an annoying scratchiness and irritation in your throat. This could be an early symptom of a sore throat, which is often followed by a cold.
Having a sore throat can make you feel irritated and out of focus; it is difficult to swallow any food or liquids, and the pain leaves you with sleepless nights. In some cases sore throat may be accompanied by a cold, cough or fever based on the infection.
It is prudent to pay attention to the early signs of a sore throat and start acting immediately. Luckily enough, everything you need to take care of a sore throat is readily available in your kitchen or at a nearby chemist.
Add a pinch of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and use it to gargle 3-4 times a day. Saline water gargling melts the mucus in your throat and also increases blood flow to the pharyngeal region. If you’ve never gargled before, there’s nothing to worry about. Sip a small amount of water and tilt your head back a little. Start gargling while keeping your throat closed. Try not to swallow the water any further. In case you do end up swallowing it, there’s nothing to worry about because it’s just water and salt.
Drink warm beverages like green tea, herb teas (like ginger, chamomile, etc), warm soups, turmeric milk, etc. Avoid caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee. While they might feel good when you consume them, they cause dehydration, thus causing more harm than good in the long run.
Garlic is a natural remedy against the sore throat. It has an anti-bacterial compound called allicin which eliminates the germs that cause irritation in the throat. All you need to do is suck on a garlic and feel the sore throat vanishing.
The thick honey syrup helps in soothing the sore throat. It also possesses antimicrobial properties that helps provide relief in sore throat.
Raw apple cider vinegar provides electrolytes that hydrate and is anti-bacterial in nature. Add apple cider vinegar to warm water and drink to get relief from sore throat.
Boil a few fresh leaves of tulsi in some water and add some honey to it. Have it when this preparation becomes luke warm and see the magic! Given this is a 100% natural solution, you can even give this to kids!
And while you are on the go and have no access to the home remedies, don’t forget to carry Cofsils which provides quick relief* from sore throat so that you can carry on with life without any irritations from sore throat.
While one might need professional medical advice for many ailments, getting a sore throat is not one of them. Start with whichever remedy from the above list is convenient for you and see immediate results! However, in case the symptoms fail to cease, do visit your general practitioner.
*BMC Fam Pract 2011 Feb 18; 12:6