No matter how healthy we try to keep ourselves, there’s no escaping the occasional sore throat. A sore throat occurs when your body attempts to fight off bacteria that has invaded your body. Your immune system automatically produces an inflammatory response, which results in a painful sore throat. You don’t always have to resort to medicated gargles when you’re battling a sore throat. If you want natural, effective remedies to beat a sore throat, look no further than these eight ingredients.
1. Chamomile Tea
Full disclosure: there are going to be a lot of teas on this list. Chamomile tea is made from the delicate chamomile flowers that have for long been renowned for their medicinal properties. Chamomile tea is believed to be able to fight infection and reduce inflammatory pain in your throat. It can also help you sleep better, giving your body’s immune system a chance to fight off the infection.
2. Cinnamon-Almond Milk
This warm cinnamon drink won’t just leave your home smelling wonderful, it will also cure you of your sore throat. Cinnamon has powerful antimicrobial qualities and also acts as an antioxidant. To make this drink, add ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder and less than a quarter teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of warm almond milk. Stir in some honey to improve the taste and sip on it slowly.
3. Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is a great option to soothe a sore throat. It has anti-inflammatory properties and the mild spiciness can also clear up your airways. To make a cup of hot ginger tea, grate an inch of fresh ginger into a saucepan of hot boiled water. Let this steep for a while and then drink it. You can also add some honey for additional immunity boosting power and to improve the taste.
4. Hot Lemon Water
Lemon water contains high levels of vitamin C which can boost your immunity levels and fight off infections. Lemon also stimulates your mucus glands, which keep your throat moist, reducing the pain of a sore throat. Drink a glass of hot lemon water with some honey to make a soothing drink.
5. Peppermint Tea
When you’re down with a sore throat, zingy peppermint tea might be just what you need. Peppermint tea instantly alleviates the pain of a sore throat and contains anti-inflammatory compounds to soothe it. If you want to make your own peppermint tea instead of using teabags, simply steep a few peppermint leaves in hot water for a few minutes. Let the water imbibe all the flavor of the peppermint leaves and then strain them out.
6. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil reduces the pain of a sore throat because it moistens the insides of your throat. Coconut oil also has strong anti-microbial qualities which can fight off the infection. If you don’t want to eat a spoon of it out of the jar, you can mix it with your cocoa or add a spoon of it into hot chicken soup.
7. Honey
Have you noticed how many commercial lozenges contain honey? It’s not just for the flavor either. Honey is a powerful natural treatment for sore throats. It kills microbial infection and instantly soothes painful sore throats. Mix warm water with a spoonful of honey for a delicious yet effective sore throat remedy.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
Taken in small quantities, apple cider vinegar can kill bacteria growth and help you recover quickly from a sore throat. Mix one tablespoon of it in a large glass of warm water and sip it slowly to cure your sore throat. Make sure you don’t add too much though as this could burn your throat, making you feel worse.
