How to cure a sore throat: Nine tried and tested remedies to help SOOTHE the pain
SORE THROATS are very common, but while they’re usually nothing to worry about, they make fulfilling your day-to-day duties very difficult.
Health hack: 10 ways to cure a sore throat
There are a host of remedies available to soothe the pain - but where do you begin?
YouTube blogger Jennifer Chiu, from Vancouver, USA, has tried and tested nine remedies she always relies on.
Oregano oil
As the name implies, it’s oil from the oregano herb, which is extracted by steam distillation, and is available online and at many health retailers in the UK.
Jennifer suggests putting two drops under the tongue, then to sip some water and gargle the mixture.
Try these nine remedies to cure a sore throat
She says take it once or twice a day for about five or six days to notice a difference.
Honey, lemon, hot water and ginger
A tried and tested remedy which has been around for decades.
The honey is said to help coat your throat and suppress coughs, the lemon helps break up mucus, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and the hot water relaxes the throat muscles.
Apple cider vinegar
Add a tablespoon to a little cup of water, according to Jennifer. The antibacterial properties of vinegar can help neutralise infections in the throat that cause pain.
Sore throat remedies: Oregano oil can help soothe the pain
Put your head over a bowl of hot water with two drops of eucalyptus oil
Make sure to cover your head with a towel and inhale the vapours. The technique can help unblock the sinuses.
Gargle salt water
Salt has antiseptic properties, so add a little bit to some water and then gargle to help reduce soreness.
Sinus rinse
A nasal rinse kit bought from a health retailer might just do the trick. If the sinuses are completely blocked, this could help clear the passages.
Liquorice root and hot water
Instead of salt water try liquorice root boiled in some water – wait for it to cool down, then gargle.
Sore throat remedies: Try gargling salty water
Echinacea spray
While Jennifer recommends echinacea and sage spray, just echinacea will do just fine.
A herbal remedy, the spray can help to alleviate symptoms of a sore throat.
Change your toothbrush
Toothbrushes can carry lots of bacteria, and if you’ve recently been ill, using the same toothbrush could mean reinfecting yourself.