Sore Throat

Sore throat is an inflammation or swelling in the pharynx i.e. at the back of the throat. Often caused by a viral infection, sore throat is the result of cold, cough or flu. Other causes of sore throat include tonsillitis, mumps, sinusitis, measles, diphtheria, leukemia, excessive smoking, talking loudly and shouting. Some of the most common symptoms of sore throat are irritation of throat, chills and fever, pain, swollen and tender lymph glands and difficulty in swallowing. Though sore throat is generally harmless, it can cause serious problems if prolonged. Still, sore throats can be effectively treated at home,

• Pain in the throat
• Chills and fever
• Inflammation in the throat
• Swelling of lymph glands
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Irritation in the throat
• Headache
• Pain in the ears
• Swelling of tonsils
• Vomiting
• Problem in breathing
• Inability to swallow food
• Difficulty opening the mouth
• Joint pain
• Rash
• High fever
• Blood in saliva or phlegm
• Lump in neck
• Hoarse voice

• Too much smoking
• Fungal infection
• Allergy
• Common cold and influenza
• Measles
• Breathing polluted air
• Excessive intake of alcohol
• Hay fever
• Sinusitis
• Viruses
• Mononucleosis (mono)
• Chickenpox
• Croup
• Strep throat
• Tonsillitis
• Diphtheria    
• Pollution and other irritants
• Muscle strain in the throat
• Acid gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• HIV infection
• Certain medical treatments
• Breathing through the mouth
• Tumors

• The most effective way to cure sore throat would be to mix 4 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp of honey and 1/8 tsp of cayenne. Have 1 tsp of this mixture, everyday, during sore throat. Make sure to chew it well, before swallowing.
• In a cup of water, put some Holy Basil leaves. Boil this concoction, allow it to cool and strain well. You can either drink it or use it for gargling.
• A simple remedy for treating sore throat would be to gargle with lukewarm water. Add some salt to it, before gargling. This would surely provide relief.
• In a pint of boiling water, add 1 or 2 tsp dried chamomile blossoms. Let them steep well and then strain the water. Have a cup of this decoction, every few hours, during sore throat.
• Another effective home remedy for sore throat would be to mix a tsp each of apple cider vinegar and honey, along with a pinch of cayenne pepper and extracted juice of 1/4th lemon, in a cup of hot water. Stir well before drinking. Have this mixture 4 times in a day.
• Boil a glass of water. In it, add a pinch of powdered cloves, a pinch of pepper powder and 1 tsp honey. Drink this concoction once in a day, preferably early morning. This is an effective way to cure sore throat.
• Fenugreek seeds are beneficial in treating sore throat. In a glass of lukewarm water, add some fenugreek seeds and let them steep for sometime. Strain the water and gargle with it, to cure sore throat.
• In a pint of boiling water, add 2 sprigs of coarsely chopped parsley, 3 whole spice cloves, 1 tsp of powdered myrrh and 1/4 tsp of powdered goldenseal. Let the water simmer for sometime, cool it and then strain the decoction. Use it for gargling.
• Take a cup with a lid and put some honey in it. Now, cut an onion slice and soak it in the honey. Put on the lid and keep aside for an hour. Have a tsp of this honey every few hours.
• Another beneficial method to get relief from sore throat would be to drink a glass of warm water, with lemon juice and some honey added to it.
• Take a lemon and cut it into two halves. In one of the pieces, sprinkle some salt and black pepper. Press it with a knife so that the pepper and salt penetrates in. Now, warm this lime piece and lick it. Have this twice or thrice a day, to get immediate relief from sore throat.
• Barberry Tincture is effective in curing sore throat. Take 1/4th cup water and add 15 to 20 drops of the tincture to it. Have this water thrice daily, for 10 days.
• In 600 ml of water, add 25 grams fresh sage water and 1/4th tsp cayenne. Give it a boil and allow it to cool. Now, strain this decoction and drink once in a day.
• Make tea by putting a tsp of dried red sage in one cup of boiling water. Cover it with a lid and leave for 10 minutes. Now, strain this mixture and add a few drops of vinegar to it. You can either drink it as tea or use it for gargling.