It starts as a tickle, turns into a tingle, then becomes scratchy and raw. Yep, you’ve got a sore throat. What should you do?
Sore throats happen for a number of reasons, from talking, laughing and shouting too much to postnasal drip, allergies or even stomach acid reflux. Of course, the more serious kind is caused by a bacterial infection or virus—and you should have it checked out by your healthcare provider.
If you’re dealing with a minor sore throat, there are some natural solutions you can try to relieve pain and supportyour body’s natural defenses:
Gargling with water and salt. Mix 1 cup of warm water with ½ teaspoon of sea salt and let the salt dissolve. Gargle for 30 seconds, then spit out the water. Repeat until all of the salt water has been used. This not only has soothing effects, but it also helps loosen thick mucus, which can help flush irritants and contaminants from your system.
Ginger-honey tea. Boil 2 cups of water, add 2 tablespoons of chopped ginger, simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, strain and cool to a drinkable temperature. Add 1 teaspoon of honey per cup of tea, gargle for 30 seconds, and drink. Alternatively, you can simply sip the mixture over a period of 30 to 60 minutes. Make the tea in bulk by tripling the recipe, and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Herbal throat spray. I take Gaia Herbs Echinacea Goldenseal Propolis Throat Spray with me when I travel and use it as one of my first lines of defense against a sore throat on planes. It contains herbs that help support your immune system, and the mixture is also soothing because it contains propolis and licorice. You can spray the product directly into your throat, or spray it into a cup of warm water and drink it.*
Throat-soothing tea. Traditional Medicials makes a lovely Organic Throat Coat tea that is easy to take anywhere, and it provides a nice mixture of herbs to soothe a dry or sore throat. It’s also a great choice if you do a lot of speaking (and laughing!) and need to lubricate your throat. You can drink it cold, but it’s most effective as a warm tea. There is also a blend of Throat Coat Tea that includes lemon and echinacea, as well as a version just for kids. In addition, a syrup is available for those who prefer it in a more concentrated form.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.