What is a Sore Throat?
Does your scratchy throat and dry cough make it difficult to eat, drink or talk? Is something stuck in your throat and it is making your life miserable? Well, this is the feeling that many with sore throat experience. In a sore throat, irritation or pain can become unbearable. Apart from pain, difficulty in swallowing, and talking, hoarse or muffled voice, persistent cough, and sleepless nights in the throat are other symptoms associated with sore throat.
Sore throat is either the inflammation of the throat or inflammation of the tonsils. The most common cause of a sore throat is a viral and bacterial infection, such as a cold, cough or the flu. The inflammation in the lining of the throat or chest by a viral or bacterial infection gives rise to pain and irritation in the throat and often results in a dry cough. A sore throat is directly linked to the inability of the immune system to fight back viruses and bacteria. Sore throat and dry cough problems are triggered by common cold and flu infections, allergens, atmospheric pollutants, smoking, or acid reflux conditions irritating the oral tissues.
There are a few natural ways that not only relieve raw throat but also help promote the immune system as a whole so it can work to naturally heal the body. If you are dealing with a raw throat, then consider trying the following relief-providing and immune-boosting ways.
5 Effective Ways to Get Rid of a Sore Throat
1. Gargle with Warm Water Mixed with Salt
You must gargle for sore throat with a salt water solution will help draw out excess fluid in an inflamed throat, decrease the inflammation and ease the pain. You should gargle for cough with lukewarm salt water to soothe the throat inflammation and ease the irritation causing dry coughing.
2. Honey
Pure honey helps in soothing the sore throat. It also possesses antimicrobial properties that help accelerate the healing process. It helps provide relief for sore throat. So Lick a spoonful of honey to speed up healing.
3. Garlic
Garlic is a natural remedy against the soreness that has developed in the throat. Garlic has a compound present in it called allicin. It helps in killing the bacteria and also eliminates the germs that cause pain and irritation in the throat.
4. Licorice Root
Drinking licorice root tea can naturally heal and get you relief from the painful soreness in the throat. Licorice root has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing the swelling. It also helps in decreasing the irritation caused in the throat due to soreness. Add a few whole cloves and cinnamon chips to make the drink taste better.
5. Kitchen Spices
Try the kitchen spices like garlic, ginger, black pepper, turmeric, clove or licorice to heal your strep throat. Powders of these spices can be mixed with honey and licked. These spices are known expectorant that loosens and expels excess phlegm, and mucus as well as relieve inflammation. They enhance the body’s defense mechanism to fight against infections, both viral and bacterial.
A mix of herbs like Tulsi, Shunthi, Pudina, Yashtimadhu and Bhibitaki put together is a great combination in healing the soreness in the throat as Gargle for sore throat. KOFOL gargle formulated by Charak Pharma is an herbal combination that provides fast and complete relief from sore throat mainly by exerting anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and biofilm inhibition activity. This gargle for cough reduces the intense cough reflex by controlling irritation due to a raw throat. Shunthi in KOFOL gargle exerts analgesic action. It soothes the throat, aids in loosening up the thick mucus and clears it out. Menthol has antitussive action.
A sore throat can be a nuisance, but with these handy remedies in mind, you can go back to eating and drinking comfortably in a few days.