NATURAL REMEDY FOR SORE THROAT

You must have heard of sore throat maybe once or twice or more and you may
have experienced it a couple of times. But some of us do not know that we may not
need to see the doctor all the time because of sore throat, you know why? Because
there are quick homemade or natural remedies for sore throat.

Before we talk about these remedies, let’s talk about sore throat.

WHAT IS SORE THROAT?

Sore throat is a condition characterized by painful and irritating sensation in the

throat. This sensation is caused by inflammation due to micro-organism (infection)
or cold. This sensation might worsen when swallowing or talking.

COMMON CAUSES OF SORE THROAT

They include;

1. Injury to the throat – this may be as a result of blows, cuts to the neck or
ingestion of hot food through the mouth. Also swallowing hard objects can cause
sore throat.

2. Allergens – When allergens like pollen grains, grass, powder or dust can
cause the immune system to react and then chemicals would be released which
would cause some symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion or blockage and sore
throat.

3. Inhalation of smoke, chemicals or other gaseous irritants – Air pollution,

chemicals (cleaning agents, insecticides, pesticides and others), cigarette, tobacco
smoke and smoke from burning substances of bushes can cause irritation of the
throat. When these substances are inhaled, it can lead to inflammation of the nasal
passage and the throat.

4. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) - This is a medical condition

where stomach acid flows back up into the oesophagus and burns the oesophagus
and throat and this can lead to sore throat.

5. Micro-Organisms – Micro-Organisms like bacteria and virus can infect

throat and cause irritation and painful sensation in the throat.
Those micro-organisms include;

- Chicken pox
- Mumps virus
- Measles
- Streptococcus bacteria
- Influenza bacteria
- Influenza
- Common cold, etc

TYPES OF SORE THROAT

The types of sore throat depends on the part of the throat that is affected.

- Pharyngitis – This type of sore throat or inflammation occurs at the back of

the mouth (Pharynx).
- Tonsillitis – This occurs in the tonsils (soft tissue located at the back of the
mouth). The tonsil becomes swollen, reddish and painful.
- Laryngitis – This occurs in the larynx also known as voice box.

SYMPTOMS OF SORE THROAT

The symptoms depend on the cause;

- Itchy sensation
- Tenderness
- Painful sensation
- Irritation
- Burning sensation

Alongside sore throat symptoms, you might feel

- Running nose
- Nasal blockage
- Sneezing
 - Cough
- Fever
- Swelling in the rock region
- Headaches
- Loss of appetites
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty talking

Now there are some things we can find in the house or our environment that
can serve as relieve or remedies to soothe the pain and irritation, They
include;

- Honey- a teaspoon of pure honey or mixed with tea can go a long way in
relieving sore throat.
- Salt and warm water- Dissolve salt in warm water, put it in your mouth
and gargle (hold it back to your throat) for a minute and spit out. This will
help relieve sore throat and also break down secretions. The salt water can
also help kill microbes in the throat; the gargling will reduce the swelling.
- Roots of marshmallow- Put some direct root of marshmallows into a cup of
boiling water, let it boil a little then sip it gently at least twice or thrice a
day. The roots of the marshmallow have substances that are like mucus that
helps relieve sore throat.
- Baking soda, salt and water- Get warm water, add salt and then baking
soda, stir properly and gargle for at least 1-2mins. It would soothe sore
throat, kill bacteria and inhibit the growth of yeast and fungi.
- Apple Cider Vinegar- Dilute 1-2 table spoons of apple cider vinegar in a
cup of water and gargle with it. You can also take little sips. Do this hourly
and also take plenty of water especially after each gargling.
- Garlic- Naturally garlic has antibacterial properties. It has allicin that helps
to ward off infection. Chewing garlic regularly when you have sore throat is
one of the fastest ways of getting rid of sore throat.
- Ginger- Ginger is also similar to garlic, it has antimicrobial properties and
works better and faster in relieving sore throat when chewed.
These natural remedies mentioned above are for quick relief, but if sore throat is
persistent for up to 4 -7 days please see a doctor.