I know it has been way too long since I've posted. Life has really caught up with me and I have found myself
crazy busy.
So, it is cold & flu season. And my family has already had a nasty bought of colds this month.
Let me start by explaining that I hate sore throats. They are one of the worst pains to me because I could never control it or soothe it.
I did some research on home remedies this fall. I picked and chose what I liked from all of them and came up with a remedy that literally soothed my throat and got rid of the pain. It didn't mask the pain or coat my throat, it helped make it better in my opinion.
I should add that I have tried a lot of different remedies, from throat sprays and lozenges to gargling with salt water and vinegar (umm, can you say ew?). And nothing has ever worked like this did!!!
Recipe:
- 1 mug warm tea (I used cinnamon stick which is a type of green tea but you can use any kind you want, or skip it and just use warm water)
- 3 teaspoons raw honey
- 3 teaspoons lemon juice
- a dash of cinnamon
Now here I will explain the ingredients for those who are interested in the medical facts!
Warm tea/water: mostly as a base, but it is important not to use hot or boiling water as this can further irritate your throat, and green tea is very good for you as it is an antioxidant
Raw honey: the consistency is very soothing, and real honey has antibacterial and antifungal properties
Lemon juice: it cuts down mucus, which helps clear your throat
Cinnamon: provides relief from the pain and inflammation caused by the sore throat
Other things to try:
- sleep with a humidifier in the room
- drink lots of water (skip the ice though)
- get lots of rest
- eat lots of soup and similar foods (never underestimate the healing power of chicken noodle soul!)
- try to avoid laying flat if you have congestion, prop your head up using pillows
- take a hot shower, the steam will help clear your nose and soothe your throat (you can also sit over a cup of boiling water or your tea/soup while you wait for it to cool down)
- gargle with warm salt water
- blow your nose, don't snuff it back in
- try sucking on a mint instead of a lozenge
- drink ginger ale because the ginger is good to calming your stomach so you can avoid any stomach acid irritating your throat further
- try chewing on a clove of raw garlic, as the garlic has antiseptic properties and will keep the pain from spreading
- use a nasal saline spray for congestion (trust me, this works!)
Here are a few things to avoid to help your throat heal up a bit faster:
Milk and other dairy products - These encourage more mucus production, which can slow the healing process.
Ice or frozen treats - These might seem like a good idea because initially they are soothing but the cold works as an irritant.
Alcohol - It can also irritate your throat, so avoid drinking alcoholic drinks while recovering from a sore throat.
Too much salt - I read once that I should sprinkle salt directly on my throat, which was a terrible idea as it dried my throat out and made the pain ten times worse. A little salt water to gargle has been known to help a lot of people, but it never did anything for me personally.
Chewing gum - It causes you to swallow extra and can be extra irritating to a sore throat.
Talking too much - It might sound funny, for the same reason as the chewing gum, you should rest your throat as much as possible to allow it to heal.
For kids!!!!
I have found two things that work amazingly for kids.
If they are 6 and under, try a homeopathic treatment such as Coryzalia Cold. It contains no alcohol, sugar, colouring or preservatives. It helps cut down on congestion, runny noses and sneezing. I use this stuff and it helps knock out a cold in 48 hours or less.
For kids 2-4, try a teaspoon of honey and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder mixed. If they are 4 or older, try a tablespoon of honey and 1/4 tablespoon of cinnamon.
Disclosure: I am not a doctor or medical practitioner of any sort. I am sharing my own personal remedies to help other suffering from similar things. Please don't take anything I write over the advice of your doctor. Also if your sore throat lasts longer than three days, please see your family physician as it may be strep throat, mono or sinusitis.
