Home Remedies: chocolate

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:

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

Links for Other Conditions:

Approximately 43 million Americans suffer with the pain of some form of arthritis. Merriam-Webster defines arthritis as: “a disease that causes the joints of the body to become swollen and painful.” Symptoms may vary depending on the type of arthritis; pain and stiffness of joints is common; swelling, redness and a decreased range of motion are also possible. An article I read online claims that there are more than 100 different types of arthritis with the two most often seen being:

Osteoarthritis (most common), a condition often seen as people age or have a joint injury, and
Rheumatoid arthritis that occurs when your body’s immune system goes amiss and misreads signals, then attacks the body.

Gout, another form of a potentially crippling type of arthritis occurs when there is too much uric acid in the system; it is an extremely painful form of arthritis commonly occurring in the big toe first. Gout can initiate stiff joints, pain, heat, swelling and redness of the affected part. As well as the large toe, it can affect your ankles, insteps, heels, wrists, fingers and elbows. These attacks can occur from having alcohol, drugs, an illness or sometimes stress. The first few attacks can improve within 3-10 days, possibly without treatment and you may not have any more attacks for possibly even years. Psoriatic arthritis is a joint problem that often occurs with a skin condition called psoriasis. Lupus is an extremely cruel form of arthritis with inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, lungs, blood, skin, heart and kidneys

Arthritis Pain relief During Cold Weather

If you have any form of arthritis, dress warmly when the weather is cold—hat, gloves leg warmers, warm pants—whatever it takes to maintain a comfortable body temperature.

Exercise indoors
Swim in a heated pool
Take warm baths
Use Vitamin D as a supplement
Wear solid, supportive shoes if you live where it freezes
Try a glucosamine-chondroitin supplement (if you are allergic to shellfish, be cautious as many of these supplements are made from shellfish. Glucosamine by itself is safer if you have these allergies.)
Add Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil
Have a massage
Take NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) such as aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, etc.
Try acupuncture for pain

Home Remedies to Help Ease the Pain of Arthritis:

While there are currently no known cures for arthritis, there are some simple things you can do to ease the pain of many types of arthritis:

Cayenne Pepper has been found to have pain-relieving properties when eaten or used in a lotion or ointment and applied to sore muscles or joints. If you mix it into a lotion or ointment and apply it to a painful area of your body, be sure to use it sparingly. There are commercial products with Capsaicin (the pain-relieving ingredient in Cayenne Pepper) in them that I have tried, and when I put the cream on too thickly it burned my skin. Try it, but be cautious. Cayenne pepper can also be beneficial in treating high blood pressure and a cough.
Raw, unprocessed Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) can add essential nutrients to your diet such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. These nutrients can help relieve joint pain. The potassium in the ACV helps prevent calcium from building up in the joints; a condition associated with arthritis. Take 1 TBSP of ACV mixed in 8 Oz of water and sweetened with honey (if desired) before meals to aid digestion and relieve arthritis pain. It may also be used topically. Mix 2 TBSP of ACV with 1 TBSP of Coconut Oil or Olive Oil for a soothing joint rub.
Curcumin, found in turmeric, and resveratrol, found in grapes, wine, berries, peanuts, and chocolate are nutritional supplements that seem to benefit people with osteoarthritis of the knee. They have been used in traditional Hindu medicine for at least a thousand years for various health problems, including joint disorders and arthritis.
Omega-3 fatty acids also appear to be beneficial for cardio-protective effectiveness.
Leeks, scallions, shallots, garlic, onions and other members of the allium family help to prevent joint pain.
Dr. F. Batmanghelidjf, in his book, “You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty!”, says that dehydration is a major trigger for rheumatoid arthritis—drink LOTS of water!
Women who eat a lot of vegetables from the cabbage family (cruciferous vegetables) have a lower risk for early arthritis.
Exercise is important, but begin gently at first and keep communication lines open with your doctor concerning the type of exercise and how much to do.
Keeping your weight at a desirable limit is important; too much weight stresses the knee joint.
A warm shower may ease pain.
Keep up on current information regarding your condition. There are various websites that may give you information on arthritis; if you do not have a doctor and don’t know where to start, try contacting the Website: http://www.arthritis.org. The Mayo Clinic distributes a newsletter with tips to help you manage your arthritis symptoms