Help with a sore throat
Sore throat is one of the most common diseases that people suffer from, with a grand total of 40 million people visiting a doctor’s office every year complaining of it. But just because it’s so common, it doesn’t make it more bearable of easier to get rid of.
What we call a sore throat is, in most cases, an inflammation of the pharynx, which is the tube that connects the back of the throat to the esophagus. Not to be confused with strep throat: symptoms of strep throat are more severe. They’re usual either bacterial or viral in nature. When it’s viral, you can’t really cure the disease, but you can ease the symptoms – more on that later. If it’s bacterial, it can be cured with antibiotics. But when it’s a mild case, you might want to use some home remedies for sore throat to just get you by, or at lease ease the pain and the symptoms.
First of all, get plenty of rest. When your body is facing any sort of illness, it’s always paramount that you don’t add any stress to it and have plenty of sleep. Gargling will also help ease the pain. You can use something as simple as saltwater to help cleanse the pharynx, but you can also use raspberry tea or Listerine. Another common home remedy is Cider Vinegar. You can look for a prescription online, but remember to drink it slowly and always while it’s warm. If you find that you can’t stand the taste of it, you can try the old grandmother’s favorite: lemon or lime juice with honey. You can also try lemon/lime tea with honey, but drinking it straight instead of watered down will be more effective.
Our next home remedy sounds a little strange, but it works: eat a fruit ice cream. The cold may feel as bad as the fruity taste will taste good, but it’s a good cure for your sore throat – remember that your doctor will recommend ice-cream when you’re recovering from a tonsillectomy. Just keep in mind not to suck on the ice-cream – simply let it melt in your mouth. Finally, if all else fails take a painkiller. A common analgesic like aspirin will help ease the symptoms of the sore throat, as it will help with the inflammation and the painkilling properties of the medicine will help with the soreness. Of course many of us would rather go without taking drugs when curing something as common as a sore throat, but it’s important to know your options.
