A sore throat often interferes with activities because of the discomfort it causes. To overcome this, there are several kinds of natural sore throat remedies that you can make yourself at home.
Sore throat can be caused by various things, one of which is inflammation in the throat. You can treat a sore throat with a number of natural remedies. In fact, some types of treatment to cure a sore throat you may have known for a long time.
Here are some natural sore throat remedies that you can try at home:
1. Salt water
One of the natural remedies for sore throats that is very easy to make is salt water. You simply mix a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water, and stir until evenly mixed. Gargle with your head up and then vomit the salt water.
A study revealed that gargling with salt water can prevent upper respiratory infections and fever. Gargling with salt water can also help clear the throat of phlegm. Keep in mind, don’t use too much salt and don’t swallow it.
2. Honey
Honey has long been believed to be able to relieve sore throats, whether mixed with tea or drunk directly. A study conducted on children with upper respiratory tract infections (ARI) confirmed that honey is also effective in relieving coughs.
The effectiveness of honey is also supported by other studies which say that honey is an effective wound healer. Therefore, honey is believed to speed up the recovery of a sore throat.
3. Garlic
One of the natural ingredients that can be used to help relieve a sore throat is garlic. Garlic has antibacterial properties. To get the benefits of garlic as an optimal natural sore throat remedy, you are encouraged to chew it.
When crushed, garlic will release the compound allicin which has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Another way that can be used is to suck it for 15 minutes.
If you can’t afford to eat it raw, try mixing it with other ingredients, such as honey, olive oil, or making juice. However, allicin is more effective when chewed raw.
4. Hot soup
Never assume that good food cannot be used as medicine. In fact, warm soup with chicken or meat broth can be used as a natural sore throat remedy, because this warm food can help reduce irritation and dry throat.
Soup when sick is quite easy and delicious, considering this food is easy to swallow even though the throat is sore. By eating easy-to-consume foods such as soups, the nutrients the body needs to fight infection can be met, while getting additional fluids to prevent dehydration.
5. Hot tea
Hot tea can also be used as a natural remedy for sore throat. Drinking hot tea of any kind, whether herbal or non-herbal, can help relieve a sore throat.
One reason is that tea contains antioxidants that are predicted to strengthen the immune system and help ward off infections. For optimal effect, add a teaspoon of honey to a cup of tea.
6. Licorice
This natural remedy for sore throat is also known as liquorice. Licorice works by reducing inflammation and helping to loosen mucus, thereby relaxing the airways. You can consume it by mixing liquorice into warm tea.
But keep in mind, pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised not to use licorice as a natural remedy for sore throat because it is feared that it can have an impact on the baby.
In addition to using various natural sore throat remedies mentioned above, one thing that should not be forgotten is adopting a healthy lifestyle. One of them is to stop smoking, because smoking can cause a dry, irritated, and inflamed throat so that a sore throat is more difficult to heal.
Adequate rest can also be done to help heal a sore throat. This is because the immune system will be more effective against viruses or bacteria that cause disease while you are sleeping.
You should consult a doctor if your sore throat does not go away. The doctor will conduct an examination to determine the cause and provide treatment, including prescribing the appropriate sore throat medication.