Five home remedies suggested for sore throat and pain while swallowing
Salt-water gargles, honey, warm fluids, steam and clove-honey tea are suggested for throat pain as the weather changes.
The throat is the first to be affected when the weather shifts between cold and hot. Sometimes there is a scratchy throat, sometimes the tonsils swell, and sometimes the pain grows so severe that even swallowing saliva is difficult. Viral infection, cold and cough, dust, allergies or simply a change in weather are cited as causes of a sore throat. When the throat hurts, food is hard to swallow, speaking becomes difficult and irritation lasts all day.
The advice is to try a few simple home remedies first instead of rushing to a chemist for tablets. These are described as time-tested remedies from grandmothers' days that bring relief. Five remedies are listed.
The first is gargling with salt water. Add half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of lukewarm water. The water should not be too hot. Gargling two to three times a day is advised. It is said to reduce throat swelling quickly and to kill bacteria. The remedy can also be used for small children, it is said.
The second is honey, which is said to have antibacterial properties. For a sore throat, take a spoonful of honey as it is and let it slowly go down the throat. Honey is said to form a thin coating on the throat, easing the burning sensation. If plain honey is not preferred, a spoonful can be mixed into lukewarm water or ginger tea. It is also a reminder that honey should never be added to hot water, only lukewarm water. It is described as beneficial for small children too.
The third is drinking more lukewarm water, soup and ginger tea. Swallowing is painful when the throat hurts, so many people avoid drinking water. But drinking too little makes the throat drier and the pain worse. Sipping lukewarm water through the day is advised, and cold water should be avoided entirely. Ginger tea, tulsi tea and hot soup soothe the throat and keep the body hydrated. Hot soup is also said to clear sticky mucus that collects in the throat.
The fourth is steam inhalation. It is described as useful for the throat and not only for colds. Inhale steam from hot water in a vessel. Inhaling for 5 to 10 minutes once or twice a day keeps the throat moist. Steam reduces throat irritation and loosens phlegm if it is stuck. A towel should be draped over the head while inhaling so that the steam does not escape.
The fifth is clove and honey tea. Cloves are said to have pain-relieving properties. Boil two to three cloves well in a cup of water. Switch off the gas when the water has reduced to half. Let it cool slightly, then mix in a spoonful of honey. The tea is to be drunk twice a day. It is said to ease both the scratchiness and the pain.
Finally, a doctor should be consulted at once if there is no relief in two to three days, if fever develops or if there is blood from the throat. The home remedies are meant for early discomfort. Cold water, ice cream, and oily and fried foods should be avoided during a sore throat. Most important, avoid straining the voice and speak less.
