A sore throat, which is inflammation of the fauces and pharynx, can accompany many illnesses and is a common symptom that something is wrong; it can be caused by many things including a virus or a bacteria. It can be the beginning of a ‘common’ cold, normally caused by one of 100 plus viruses; viral infections that may cause a sore throat include mononucleosis, measles, chicken pox and croup. Bacterial infections that cause a sore throat include streptococcal sore throat (commonly called strep throat), streptococcal pharyngitis or streptococcal tonsillitis. Other bacterial illnesses that could bring on a sore throat include whooping cough and diphtheria.
Throat Infection / Strep Throat Symptoms
One of the most common forms of throat infection is strep throat. This type of sore throat is more severe and usually lasts longer than with a cold. Symptoms of strep throat are:
- Sudden and severe sore throat with coughing, sneezing or any cold symptoms
- Severe pain when swallowing
- A fever of 101 degrees or higher
- Swollen, red tonsils, possibly with white patches or streaks of pus in them
- Headache
- Tiny red spots on the palate
- Headache
- Nausea / vomiting
- Swollen lymph nodes in neck
- Achy body
- Possible rash
If you suspect you have strep throat, you should consult a doctor and have a swab test done. Strep throat is contagious and can be dangerous if left untreated. See a health professional for adequate strep throat treatment.
Throat Irritation
A sore throat could also be from cheering too long and loud
at the game last night; it may be allergies, smoking, air pollution, low
humidity or breathing through your mouth while sleeping.
Sore Throat From a Cold
If you have a sore throat from a cold, the actual sore throat should clear up by itself in a day or two; the cold should be completely gone in ten days. If it is a cold, you will probably have:
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Possible headache
- Possible body ache
- Possible fever (usually not above 102 degrees)
- Maybe painful muscles and joints
Apparently the ‘zinc as a cold remedy’ studies are flawed,
with the highest level of randomized trials usually showing that zinc has no
benefit in this arena! The FDA has issued a warning against certain nasal cold
remedies containing zinc since they have been associated with a loss of smell.
Currently, there is no cure for a viral cold; antibiotics are
beneficial only against bacteria. There are, however, numerous home remedies
that may bring comfort for any type of sore throat:
Sore Throat Home Remedies:
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| Warm Mist Humidifier |
- If you are yelling too much or singing too loudly, give your throat a break. We can hear you!
- If you do not smoke but must be around other smokers or where there are ground fires or other air pollution, wear a mask to limit your exposure to pollutants
- To help prevent ending up with a sore throat from sleeping with your mouth open there are way to help stop mouth breathing, particularly at bedtime: you can wear a nasal strip from the drugstore; wear a chin strap; use a nasal spray and/or elevate your head for sleeping
- Get a humidifier if the air is too dry; keep it cleaned regularly and change water daily. Unclean humidifiers are notorious for adding mold, fungi and bacteria to the air
- If you have allergies keep a diary and try to pinpoint and avoid the cause
- Drink plenty of fluids; hot tea with honey in it (do not give honey to infants); clear broth, warm water with lemon; and yes! Chicken soup! According to the Mayo Clinic, the liquids help to loosen the congestion and also prevent your body from dehydrating; chicken soup acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of the immune system cells (neutrophils), which take part in the body’s inflammatory response. Chicken soup also speeds up the movement of mucus, probably aiding in congestion relief and limiting the amount of time that the viruses are in contact with the lining of your nose.
- Eat a nutritious, balanced diet to boost your immune system
- Use throat lozenges
- Over the counter (OTC) throat sprays
- Cough syrups
- Gargle with a few drops of clove oil added to warm water. The clove oil will have a numbing effect on your throat.
- Szechuan Buttons (AKA Toothache Plant) - this plant has numbing properties and is beneficial for toothache and high blood pressure. Eat pieces of it, or make a tea with it and drink or gargle with the tea.
- Gargle with hydrogen peroxide (follow the instructions on the bottle)
- Add honey to tea -- honey has antibiotic properties and is soothing to a sore throat
- Dark chocolate may benefit a sore throat. As well as having no milk and not a lot of sugar, dark chocolate stimulates the release of endorphins hormones in your brain--a natural painkiller.
- Sap from the marshmallow plant has been used for centuries, usually in tea form, to treat sore throats. The plant bears little relation to what we call marshmallows, however, our campfire treat is said to ease sore throat pain, possibly because the gelatin coats and soothes.
- Most sore throats are caused by viruses; keep your body rested so that the immune system can fight off the infection
- Make a tea of Slippery Elm and drink it to soothe your throat
- Use Vitamin C and antioxidants to boost your immune system
- Use OTC cough medications and pain relievers for older children and adults (Be aware that acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage or failure if taken in doses higher than recommended; if you are taking Tylenol for pain, remember that some flu medications also contain acetaminophen. Read labels and calculate carefully)
- A salt water gargle may give some relief to any sore throat; it also washes away the germs. Use ¾ of a teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of the purest water available, preferably warm. A sore throat is the result of swollen, inflamed mucus membranes and too much mucus; gargling with salt water can help to alleviate both symptoms. The main purpose of a salt gargle is to help decrease swelling. Salt is known for drawing out moisture, and gargling with salt water absorbs excess fluid from swollen tissues, temporarily reducing their size and making them less painful. It also helps to dry out bacteria in the throat. Gargle at least twice a day; if you have post-nasal drip gargle more often to prevent irritation of the throat
- If your baby has a cold or is stuffed up, possibly also with a sore throat, try sitting in a steamy bathroom with him/her for a few minutes before a nap, particularly at bedtime
- There are potassium broth recipes online that may be of benefit
- Always remember to wash your hands when you are ill, handling a patient, after using the bathroom, etc. Good personal hygiene is critical in the prevention of spreading germs, disease and illness. Wet your hands with clean, running water
- Lather your hands with soap; take care to get the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds
- Rinse well under clean, running water
- Dry on a clean towel or air dry
Homeopathic Remedies for a Sore Throat:
There are numerous homeopathic remedies for sore throat; many of them available in a health food store or online. Read the labels carefully and discuss their uses with a homoeopathist. Some of the common remedies include:
- Aconitum
- Apis
- Arsenicum
- Belladonna
- Ferrum phos
- Ignatia
- Lachesis
- Lycopodium
- Mercurius
- Phytolacca
- Rhus Tox
- Sambucol gives quick relief for a sore throat; it is available in health food stores, drugstores and many grocery stores. It is a food supplement made from Black Elderberries that have naturally occurring flavonoids; twice the natural antioxidant capability of blueberries and in excess of 50% that of cranberries. It dissolves quickly in your mouth without a drink; tastes good; safe for the whole family; non-drowsy; non-habit forming; no known side effects or drug interactions.
- Sulphur
- Wyethia
Respiratory Conditions / Colds and Flu
Home Remedies for a Cough Related to Asthma or ColdsHome Remedies For Flu
Home Remedies For Sinus Infections
Cardiovascular / Gastric Conditions
Home Remedies for High Blood PressureHome Remedy For Heartburn
Home Remedies For Bloating
Sore Throat Remedies
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You've probably heard throughout your life that Vick's VapoRub (or a similar herbal concoction) stops coughs when applied to your chest, or used in the dispenser area of a humidifier, but did you know that applying it to the soles of your feet and wearing socks over it can help coughs too? I like this approach because sometimes I really don't want Vick's around my face or on my chest or back, and it's a nice alternative to that. Simply slather the Vick's on the soles of your feet and put on some socks (make sure you don't care if the socks get grease stains) right before going to bed. This treatment is best for a cough due to a cold, as asthma attacks can sometimes be triggered by the smell of Vick's.
