The weather is turning colder, meaning the season for colds and sore throats is upon us.
Medications that clear out mucus are helpful, but can also strip your throat, leaving them rawer than before.
Here are some home remedies you can use to coat your throat and end all irritation.
1. The Lemon Water Gargle
If you’re suffering from a cold, your throat will feel pretty stripped when you wake up.
Mix one teaspoon of lemon juice in with a cup of warm (or cold) water before eating breakfast.
The astringent juice will reduce the swelling, and the acidity of the lemons will kill off bacteria as well as help you fight off any virus you might have.
2. The Ginger, Honey & Lemon Water Gargle
This is the best tea you can make for a sore throat.
Mix one teaspoon of powdered ginger and one teaspoon of melted honey into a cup. Then, squeeze half a lemon over it.
Pour hot water over the ginger, honey and lemon juice and let it all melt together. Gargle it, then drink it completely.
It will coat your throat while providing it with antibacterial properties.
This next remedy is risky, but miraculous!
3. Cayenne Pepper Tea
Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin–a natural agent that blocks pain receptors.
Mixing cayenne with hot water and honey is a natural way for you to reduce your pain. You might feel burning at first. This is common.
Warning: only use a light sprinkle and if you have any open sores in your mouth, try a different remedy.
4. The Salt Water Gargle
This remedy is known as “grandma’s remedy.” Most of us grew up on it, and we’ll pass it down to the next generation because it works!
Mix 1/4 teaspoon in a cup of hot water. If you have it, add one tablespoon of Listerine. This mixture will kill off germs and neutralize the acids in your throat, bringing instant relief.
Ever thought about sage? You’ll be amazed…
5. The Sage Water Gargle
Sage is great for soothing your swollen nasal passages and throat.
Mix one teaspoon of sage, 1/2 teaspoon of alum, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 3/8 cup of vinegar and 1/8 cup of hot water.
This home tea mixture will open up your passages, helping you to breathe easier and with less pain.
6. The Turmeric Water Gargle
Scientists have run studies on turmeric and believe it has serious power in improving critical conditions and fighting disease. The spice is an antioxidant and protects your cells. It makes you stronger and healthier.
Mix 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon of salt into a cup of hot water. Gargle. Do not drink. Let it settle deep into your throat.
Let’s move on to juice…
7. Wheatgrass Juice
Wheatgrass is full of chlorophyll and stops bacteria from growing. It also acts as a natural painkiller. The taste isn’t so bad either!
Wheatgrass juice should be held in your throat for five minutes for best results. If difficult, spit it out and take some more until you reach the allotted time.
8. The Go-To Teas: Clove, Peppermint & Chamomile
Clove tea: acts as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Add 1-3 teaspoons of powder to hot water and gargle.
Peppermint tea: contains menthol that thins mucus. Peppermint tea is also an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral.
Chamomile tea: the favorite when sick. It is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and has astringent properties.
This next remedy might not seem pleasant, but your throat will thank you…
9. The Baking Soda Gargle
Gargling baking soda has the same benefits as gargling salt water, plus more.
Baking soda kills off yeast and fungi growth and also bacteria.
Take 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon of salt and mix it into a cup of hot water.
Doctors recommend repeating this every three hours for maximized relief.
10. Green Tea
Green tea is a pleasant surprise on the list of remedies, because most of us already love it.
It’s known to fight off infections by killing harmful bacteria.
Go buy your favorite. After you’re done brewing it, let it settle into your throat before swallowing.
Note: when sick, it’s better to drink green tea in the morning for your caffeine boost, than coffee.
Here’s another favorite…
11. The Echinacea Water Gargle
Echinacea is famous for being the natural virus killer. Your doctor will usually recommend it along with vitamin C if you feel yourself developing a cold.
Add two teaspoons tincture of echinacea (meaning, the alcoholic extract of the plant) into a cup of hot water. Gargle this three times each day.
Echinacea will give your immune system the boost it needs to recover.
12. Apple Cider Vinegar & Salt
Apple cider vinegar will provide a coat to your throat that germs will not survive in. If your throat is raw and in pain, gargle 1=one tablespoon of it with 1=one teaspoon of salt in a cup of hot water.
If the taste is too potent, combine 1/4 cup of apple cider and 1/4 cup of melted honey and take a tablespoon of it every hour. Make sure you swallow it all the way down.
This next remedy is the dessert of throat remedies…..
13. Raspberry Tea
Raspberry tea has powerful healing properties and is used to treat symptoms of a common cold, the flu, and even open wounds.
Pour one cup of boiling water over two teaspoons of dried raspberry tea leaves, let it steep for 10 minutes and gargle. You’ll have instant relief.
And of course, you can drink the tea.
14. The Licorice Water Gargle
This is one of those unlikely remedies that you discover to be magical.
Licorice root has a special function. It gets rid of the phlegm we develop during a cold that becomes the reason for so much of our coughing.
Gargling one teaspoon of licorice syrup (or powder) with eight ounces of hot water will clear your passages and bring you comfort.
There’s yet one last remedy…
15. The Myrrh Water Gargle
Myrrh? Yes, myrrh.
A few drops of tincture of myrrh in a cup of hot water will speed up your healing process immediately.
Myrrh is a deadly combatant against inflammation and an antiseptic too.
Gargle it six times a day and get out of bed sooner!
If you have to venture out, cover up that throat with a scarf. Feel better!
