Tips and Tricks to Ease a Sore Throat

A sore throat is a nuisance. Nobody wants to feel a scratchiness when they swallow or feel as if something is not right with their throat. And no one wants that telltale feeling that a bigger issue might be around the corner.

There are things you may do to reduce the pain in hopes that a viral infection isn’t on its way. The solution involves more than just filling your medicine cupboard with over-the-counter painkillers. People of all ages can cure a sore throat utilizing other simple, inexpensive at-home remedies that involve substances you probably already have in your cupboard.

Ways to Ease Your Sore Throat For Adults

Soup broth: Traditional soups might be hard on a sore throat, but a warm (not hot) broth can soothe the throat and make it easier to swallow.

Lozenges or cough drops for the throat: These help the body make more saliva, which coats the throat and keeps it moist. This relieves the pain of a sore throat on contact.

Ibuprofen or acetaminophen: Both of these can be bought without a prescription and can help relieve throat pain. If you have high blood pressure or any kind of heart problem, talk to your doctor first about these medicines.

Licorice root: When licorice root is mixed with water to make a gargle solution, it has been shown to soothe throats and cut down on coughing. Try making licorice root tea.

Sage and Echinacea: One study found that an Echinacea/sage spray was just as good at soothing a sore throat as traditional throat sprays you can buy over the counter. Even though echinacea is more of a preventative supplement, it can still help your cough from the inside out. It can help break up mucus in coughs, soothe sore throats, and even stop a runny nose.

Ways to Ease a Child’s Sore Throat

Depending on how old your child is, they might not be old enough to eat lozenges or hard candies. Also, they might not be ready for some of the well-known remedies for adults that can help soothe their throats that we listed above. If so, try one of the following:

Popsicles: The coldness of a popsicle may make the throat feel better for a short time.

Honey: Honey has been known to ease a sore throat, stop a cough at night, and speed up the healing process. In fact, a study from the Mayo Clinic found that honey is just as good at treating cough as dextromethorphan, which is common over-the-counter cough medicine.

Humidifier: Keeping a sore throat moist is the best way to ease the pain. With a humidifier, the air won’t get too dry, and your throat and mucous membranes will stay moist.

Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in children’s acetaminophen. It is often used to treat sore throats. In medicine for children, it is given in safe amounts.

Summary

Keep some of these tips and tricks in mind the next time you feel that familiar tingle in the back of your throat. With any luck, you can kick whatever is headed your way before it gets too bad.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19748859/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/cough/expert-answers/honey/faq-20058031

https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Fulltext/2009/12000/The_Next_Generation_of_Colloids__Ready_for__Prime.1.aspx