Sore Throat Remedies

Well I have a sore throat...again. I am thankful to say that this time, it is not strep! I am extra-prone to getting strep throat for some reason I do not understand. So I am very grateful that I do not have strep. Still though, sore throats are just icky. No one likes them, and especially with me, they seem to take forever to go away! I am going to share my best sore throat remedies with you!

While it is tempting to go to extremes with either hot teas and soups, or ice cold drinks and popsicles, that can actually irritate your throat more. So stick to warm-ish teas and soups, or cooler drinks. 

Lets pretend you have a sore throat, so the first thing you do when you wake up should be to gargle warm salt water. After you eat some breakfast (a bowl of cereal, grits, or oatmeal for some ideas), swallow a teaspoon of honey. This will coat your throat for a little while, giving you some relief. If you want even more relief, take one or two ibuprophen. ONLY if you can't rest that day. For example, if you go to work with a sore throat, you might take ibuprophen. But if you can rest up at home, wait a few days because your body does its best fighting of infections without other medicines intervening. I always try to avoid taking ibuprophen, but, sore throats are caused by inflammation. The last time I went to the doctor for my throat (which almost ended up being mono, aren't I special??) he told me this, and said to take ibuprophen because it will help with the inflammation. This ended up being a "duh" moment for me, realizing that "duh" sore throats are obviously your throat swelling up so of course an anti-inflammitory medicine would help "DUH!!" So, I recommend taking this if you have a sore throat. It actually is better than taking cough medicines in my opinion. 

So now it is lunchtime, make yourself a cup of chamomile tea, but use honey, not sugar. Honey will give you more relief than sugar, and it won't interfere with your immune system the way sugar will. Have some chicken soup, homemade if you can, but if not go for Ramen or chicken noodle soup. I try to always have at least one container of homemade soup in my freezer at all times. When I get sick, I just pull this out, and heat it up. 

Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, and other clear liquids (like apple juice). If you have strep, DO NOT drink citrus juices like lemon and orange. They are acidic, and if you can stand the pain of swallowing orange or lemon juice, it will hurt your throat more than it will help. Believe me, I know. If you just have a regular sore throat, the lemon will help, and orange juice has vitamin C that will give your immune system a boost. 

As it gets later in the day, make yourself a cup of lemon, honey and cinnamon tea. Use a half a teaspoon of lemon juice, just a sprinkle or two of cinnamon and a teaspoon of honey. Drink this to soothe your throat, and the cinnamon has natural antibiotics to help kill the infection in your throat (note to self, this also kills E. coli!)

As you are getting ready for bed, gargle again with salt water or you can use mouthwash to gargle. Take another teaspoon of honey, and pop half a cough drop in your mouth to soothe your throat as you sleep. You can set a bowl of steamy water in your room while you sleep too. Sometimes sore throats can be caused by dry air. Especially in the winter. During the winter, I have a bowl of water in my room every night. If you don't think you will be able to fall asleep or sleep well, take another ibuprophen or two. Make sure you don't take too many though!

My advice, avoid sore throats at all costs!! But if you have one, rest up, get extra sleep, and drink plenty of clear liquids, especially water!!