Does your throat feel itchy and irritated? Is it a little harder than usual to swallow foods and drinks? When you look at your throat in the mirror, do your tonsils look inflamed? This is often one of the first signs of a viral infection, such as the common cold or the flu, though on occasion it can represent a more serious bacterial infection such as strep throat. Regardless of the root cause, sore throats can be annoying and painful, and you will probably want to know how to get rid of a sore throat so that you can get some sort of relief before you’ve gone to see your doctor.
You can find over-the-counter remedies for sore throats, but they often have side-effects, or they taste funny, or they simply don’t work—not to mention that they can be expensive. You may be wondering then how to get rid of a sore throat. Well, there’s no real reason to reach for over-the-counter drugs when there’s a nearly free method that you can implement at home that can safely mitigate your sore throat symptoms: At the first sign of a sore throat, you should consider gargling. Gargling saline or any number of the mixtures specified below can help clear your throat of germs or at the very least help break up the phlegm that is causing irritation. It can help soothe your throat of the pain and discomfort in a very natural, safe way. Gargling can even prevent the possibility of infections in the throat and airways.
How to gargle
Take a sip of water into your mouth, tilt your head back, and without swallowing, gargle in the back of your throat for 15 to 20 seconds and spit it out. Repeat until the water runs out.
How to Get Rid of a Sore Throat with Natural Gargles
Lemon water with honey: Honey soothes the throat and has antibacterial properties. Lemon contains Vitamin C that has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Vitamin C also reduces histamine and therefore throat swelling.
Mix the lemon juice with a cup of warm water and add a tablespoon of honey. Gargle three times a day.
Salt water gargles: Has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. Can reduce swelling in the throat and can help loosen the mucus from the lining of the throat. Gargling warm salt water three times a day not only helps to relieve a sore throat can even prevent to get sick during the cold season.
Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a full glass of water and gargle three times a day
Apple Cider Vinegar Gargle: It will dissolve the mucus as well as reduce the inflammation.
Vinegar helps kill viruses and bacteria because germs can’t survive in an acid environment.
Gargle with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar dissolved in a glass of warm water. Use 3-4 times a day until symptoms disappear.
Licorice Root Tea (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Is a powerful demulcent rich in mucilage which provides a soothing coating for the mucous membranes and helps loosen mucus and clear the sinuses. It can also reduce inflammation that may be irritating your throat. Helps soothe racking coughs and sore throats. Also has antibacterial properties.
Gargle 3-4 times a day infused Licorice root. Use 1 tablespoon of dried root per 1 cup of water.
Clove tea (Syzygium aromaticum): Is a natural analgesic that relieves pain and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to soothe and heal a sore throat.
Add a teaspoon of clove buds in a cup of hot water. Let it cool and strain. Gargle 3-4 times a day.
Or dilute 4 drops of clove oil in a cup of warm water.
Baking soda water: Is an antibacterial agent that can reduce the number of bacteria causing sore throat.. can help ease your sore throat because it neutralizes the acidity reducing the pain. Is a powerful healer too.
Use 1 teaspoon of baking soda per cup of warm water. Stir well and gargle 3 times a day.