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Last Updated: May 11, 2023
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Home remedies for throat infection

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Dr. Amit NampalliwarAyurvedic Doctor • 19 Years Exp.Ph.D. - Ayurveda, PDCR, MD - Ayurveda, DNYS, Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
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This condition of sore throat refers to the condition of throat pain, irritation or itchiness and the throat pain is considered as the primary symptoms of sore throat. The pain which is experienced begins to get worse and makes it difficult for you to swallow and consume any kind of food or liquid. Although this condition of sore throat is not considered as a serious problem to consider visiting a doctor for treatment or consultation but it is very painful and it may also keep you away from getting a proper good night's sleep and to get rid of this problem you can opt for so many home remedies to get past this problem very easily and get relieved of the pain and irritation caused by it.

When talking about this condition in general, the home remedies that you will follow will be helpful and effective in the treatment of mild or typical type of sore throat but when you have a condition of sore throat which is very severe or when the condition of your problem gets worse or it has lasted for so many days then, in this case you will be required to make an appointment with your doctor and discuss your symptoms and the possible treatment options that can help you to get past this problem very easily.

Home remedies for sore throat

There are so many home remedies that are available for the treatment of mild an typical type of sore throat and will provide very nice effect and result and given below are some of the most effective treatment options: 

  • Honey: When this substance is mixed along with tea or is taken on its own, it acts as a common home remedy for relieving a person of the symptoms of this condition of sore throat. Honey is considered equally effective to dextromethorphan which is a cough suppressant and helps in curbing this problem of cough in case of children and dextromethorphan is considered as an active ingredient in various products like Delsym and Robitussin. The effect of honey on the acute upper respiratory tract infections was found to be way more effective in relieving the person of the symptoms than the majority of the traditional remedies and treatments which includes antihistamines like diphenhydramine and antibiotics.
  • Gargle using saltwater: When you gargle using salt water which is warm can help you a lot to get yourself relieved of the sore throat and it also leads to breaking down of the secretions and it is also helpful in the killing of any kind of bacteria in the throat. You can make yourself a salt water solution by adding half a teaspoon of salt to a glass which is completely filled with warm water, then gargle with prepared solution and this will help you to clear your throat completely. It is also suggested that people who are suffering from this condition of sore throat should be gargling at least once every hour.
  • Gargling with baking soda: People are usually doing this procedure of gargling with salt water only but you can help yourself to get relieved of this problem of sore throat by gargling with a solution made from baking soda and salt water. This is an oral solution which will help you to kill and get rid of the bacteria and it also helps in the prevention of growth of any kind of fungi. When you are suffering from a condition of sore mouth you are suggested or recommended to gargle very gently and swish around in your with a combination of the following: 
  • A cup of warm water
  • One eighth teaspoon of salt
  • One fourth teaspoon of baking soda
  • It is usually recommended to a person that he should rinse his mouth two or three times in a day by using simple and plain water.
  • Chamomile tea: This chamomile tea is found to be a natural soothing agent and has been known for its medicinal purposes which includes the treatment of sore throat, this tea also has some other properties associated with it  such as astringent, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. The steam coming out of this chamomile when inhaled can help you to get rid of the symptoms and signs of a cold which also includes this problem of sore throat. When you drink this chamomile tea you may get some other benefits which are associated with it as well and those benefits are that it can help in the stimulation of the immune system which in turn will help your body to act and fight against any kind of of infection which has caused this problem of sore throat in the first place.
  • Marshmallow root: This is a type of herb which is known to contain a mucus-like substance that is known for the coating and soothing of the problem of sore throat and this substance is mucilage. Any kind of irritation occurring in the respiratory tract (which includes this condition of sore throat as well) can be relieved with the application of this root of marshmallow. This root of marshmallow is available in various forms which are: 
  • Dried and in the form of capsule
  • In the form of a herbal tea
  • In the form of a tincture 
  • The marshmallow that is typically used in our desserts does not really contain any amount of marshmallow root in it.

Conclusion

Majority of the doctors recommend you to visit a doctor only in the situation when your problem of sore throat is really very severe and this condition typically consists of problems or situations in which the problem of sore throat is usually accompanied with problems like rash or fever (also when you are going through this problem of swollen tonsils that lead to the blockage of the throat). To get rid of this condition you can try some of the basic home remedies which are found to be very helpful in providing relief to you from the problem and making you feel better which will also help you to avoid a trip to the doctor's clinic or office. To get yourself to feel better you should make sure that you are drinking a lot fluids (which means drink an adequate amount of water) and get yourself a sufficient amount of rest on a regular basis and do not forget to visit you health provider when the condition of sore throat of yours does not get any better or it has started to get worsen even after using the home remedies properly and regularly (this also includes the application of over the counter OTC remedies).

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