Natural Sore Throat Remedies

It’s pretty much inevitable that you’ll wind up with a sore throat at least once now that Winter us upon us. Rather than waste time and money on over-the-counter medicine (which really do nothing other than numb your throat,) why not try some good old fashioned, natural home remedies to stop the pain?

photo of mixed herbal tea with licorice root

fresh and dried herbs are the best medicine

Cayenne Pepper

This is a remedy that you’re grandmother probably knew about. Mix a small amount of cayenne pepper (red pepper) in a glass of warm/hot water. (You can add salt also if you desire.) Gargle the mixture for about 10 seconds, spit and repeat. Continue to gargle about every 15-20 minutes.

The cayenne pepper helps loosen the mucus in your throat so you can cough it up easily. It also has been known to clear up stuffed sinuses. Cayenne pepper does burn a bit, especially if you use large amounts and get it on your lips. To protect your lips, use some lip balm before gargling. There are a variation of methods to using cayenne pepper to heal your sore throat.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another folk remedy used to heal a sore throat. Apple cider vinegar has many known health benefits on it’s own, and is an old home remedy used for treating sore throats. One of the most popular and effective methods of treating a sore throat with apple cider vinegar is making a tea out of it, using about 1 tablespoon ACV, lemon juice, honey, and hot water. A small amount of cayenne pepper can also be added to this mixture to really give it a kick.

Salt Water

Salt water is another old method used to help alleviate the pain associated with a sore throat. Simply add salt to a warm glass of water, gargle and spit. This can be repeated as often as needed.

Licorice Root

Perhaps not the most common kitchen herb, licorice root has been used to treat sore throats throughout history, as well as ulcers, allergies, canker sores and an assortment of viral infections. Gargling a licorice root solution can make a sore throat disappear quickly. Licorice root is used for it’s anti-inflammatory properties, which is one of the reasons it’s so ideal for treating sore throats.

These are a few old folk remedies used for treating sore throats, but there are many other “home remedies” out there for you to try if this one doesn’t work. Next time you feel a sore throat coming on, don’t hide out- open your life and invite in some of these home remedies.

image credit: Archangeli on Flickr