9 Home sore throat remedies
Causes of sore throat:
1- Viral infection: Consider the main cause of sore throat such as: Influenza and Corona viruses.
2- Bacterial infection: Streptococcus bacteria is the main bacterial cause of sore throat especially in children.
3- Allergy: Some allergic responses can appear as sore throats.
4- Gastroesophageal reflux: The reflux of the stomach acids can cause Burning sensation in the esophagus and throat.
5- Environmental states: Dry air can cause throat in many cases.
Treatment of throat:
It depends on the cause, but 90% of the cases are caused by viral infection which is treated on its own within 2 weeks but there are some home remedies which can accelerate recovery.
Natural remedies of throat:
1- Honey: You can take one tablespoon of honey once a day or add it to your cup of tea, honey helps in the treatment of cold and flu, calms the cough and decreases the feel of pain that results from throat.
2- Saline Solution: Rinsing the mouth with saline solution helps in killing mouth germs and dissolving pus.
3- Apple vinegar: You can add 2 tablespoons of apple vinegar to a cup of water and rinse your mouth with it as it has antibacterial properties.
4- Garlic: It has antibacterial properties, you can add garlic to your daily food or swallow a garlic clove.
5- Licorice: Put it in water for a whole night and use its water as a mouthwash (cannot be used for pregnant and breastfeeds).
6- Fenugreek: Drinking fenugreek is one of the best natural ways to treat sore throats, and it helps relieve pain and has many antibacterial properties.
7- Peppermint: Peppermint is known for its refreshing benefits for the mouth and breath and has anti-bacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties, which speeds up the healing process. Peppermint also contains menthol that works to dissolve mucus and soothe sore throats and coughs.
8- Ginger Tea
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe throat. Make ginger tea by steeping fresh ginger slices in hot water. Add honey and lemon for added flavor and relief.
9- Rest and Hydration
Rest is crucial for a speedy recovery. Make sure you get plenty of sleep, and stay well-hydrated by drinking water and soothing herbal teas.
Treating sore throats for children without antidotes:
It is not preferable to use antibiotics continuously with throat, because antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections only while 90% of throats have a viral cause and heal without treatment within a week or 10 days, but what are the factors that help In the treatment of sore throats for children without an antidote.
- If you live in a very dry area, you can put a humidifier in the child’s room. This will help moisten the air and reduce sore throats.
- Pay attention to the child consuming a lot of fluids and drinking water constantly, while avoiding juices, especially the canned.
- Eating a spoon of honey daily helps treat a sore throat (avoid using honey for children less than one year old).
- Use a mixture of coffee and lemon (consisting of a tablespoon of coffee and the juice of one lemon), mixing them well, rub the mixture into the child’s mouth and his tongue near the throat and then make him spit out again. You will find that a large part of the pus on the throat comes down (Use with children over three years of age until you are sure that they understand the instructions and will not swallow the mixture).
Treatment of severe sore throats:
If the sore throat is severe, it is preferable to visit the doctor to diagnose the disease and find the cause.
Sore throat diagnosis:
When you go to the doctor, he will ask you about the symptoms and examine the throat using a small flashlight to detect sore throat, redness, or white spots. If there are white spots in the throat, there is a possibility that the patient has a streptococcal bacterial infection, then the doctor will ask for an analysis by making a throat swab and then sending it to laboratory to make a culture and obtain the results of the analysis include the appropriate antibiotic to treat these bacterial infections.
Some of the medications used to relieve sore throat pain:
- Acetaminophen (Tlone).
- Aspirin (it is strictly forbidden to give aspirin to children under 12 years old).
- Ibuprofen.
Some medications that work directly on the pain of a sore throat can be used, such as:
- Throat sprays that contain disinfectants such as: phenol or refreshing substances such as: menthol.
- Emulsifiers that contain pain relievers and oral disinfectants to eliminate bacteria and microbes.