Common Ailments Healed at Home: Sore Throat

Sore throats happen to everyone. But what are some natural ways to heal one? 
First, you should identify the source of the sore throat. Is it an allergy? Is it a cold? Is it overuse of your vocal cords? Is the the air?


If it's an allergy, 2 things:


1. If your throat is tight and you are having trouble swallowing you may be experiencing anaphalaxus and you may need medical attention. Seriously.
2. If it's a common allergy that you have experienced before and it is not serious, your sore throat may be from drainage from your nose into your throat while you sleep. Gross, I know. Try rinsing your nasal cavity before bed with a saline solution of warm water and about 1/4 tsp of non iodized salt in a neti-pot. This rinses away the pollen and whatever else is trapped in your nose/nasal cavity. Also give yourself a saline gargle, this may help with that.


If it's from being ill:
1. GO TO THE DOCTOR. You don't want to discover that you have strep throat and you've been treating it with tea and now have a major infection.
2. If it's really just a common cold, create a concoction of equal parts honey and vinegar. I know, you realize now how much I love vinegar, but it's really useful. This concoction tastes horrible, but so does many cough syrups. Take it like a liquid medicine. Two to three spoonfuls at a time as needed.  (DO NOT GIVE THIS TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 3 DUE TO THE HONEY!) The vinegar kills bacteria and germs and the honey is a natural antiseptic and will soothe and protect your throat while it heals.


If it's from overuse:
Relax your throat. Stop talking and don't clear it all the time. If you feel like you want to clear your throat just hum. I know that sound really strange but clearing your throat is much like rubbing your vocal cords with an SOS pad. Humming gently vibrates your cords and loosens any crap on them without injuring them. Next drink some tea with lemon and honey and keep your throat warm and disinfected. Feel free to use the vinegar/honey syrup as well.


If it's from the air: 
You may have dry air and need a humidifier. In the wintertime I have this problem and in the summer I have this problem. In the winter it's because of the dry air and I simply put a pot of water on my extremely hot radiators. You can also just use a humidifier. In the summer it's because of the air conditioner, so then I just plug in the good old humidifier. Make sure you check the filters on your A/C often and keep them clean.

Raspberry Leaves (fresh)

Here are a couple of treatments:

Make a "tea" with about 2 teaspoons of raspberry leaves or blackberry leaves with 1 cup of boiling water. Let it steep anywhere from 8-10 minutes, strain and allow to cool. Use it as a gargle. DO NOT DRINK IT. Feel free to add some Elder flowers if you have some. (You can buy raspberry leaf tea also)

Sage 

You can also make one from sage. Sage is great for sore throats. Take about a teaspoon's worth and steep in hot water. Add some honey and vinegar and use it as a gargle as well. Like before, DO NOT DRINK IT.

You can add tumeric to hot milk, though dairy is not good for your throat if you are experiencing some phlegm, I would suggest putting it in some tea, about 1/2 tsp. to 8 oz of tea.

You can take horseradish (1 tbsp.), ground cloves (1 tsp.), and some honey (1 tsp.) and add it to warm water and drink it. 

You can also try steaming yourself over a bowl of hot water with a tower over your head. Eucalyptus oil, Rosemary oil and Sage oil are all good additions to sooth a sore throat.


Upon some research I found a weird one from the Amish, is take a peeled garlic clove, slice it in half and suck on it like a cough drop, occasionally bruising it with your teeth.

Here is a great link to a recipe for an herbal throat lozenge that you can make at home.


or even some pastilles in this link.





Sources:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-sore-throat.htm
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/herbal-remedies-for-sore-throat.htm
http://www.learningherbs.com/sore_throat_remedies.html
http://www.organicauthority.com/health/health/sore-throat-secrets.html

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. I, the blogger  do not take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.