The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Paprika
Posted by Alison (Hull, UK) on 03/17/2007
★★★★★
Sore Throat Remedy: I only had Paprika in my cupboard so I used more - it's working as I type! Mixed it with honey, lemon, ginger, cinnamon and hot water and drank it as soon as I could. Bring it on!!
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Patty (Pine City, MN) on 03/01/2007
I use cayenne pepper too for sore throats, but have found that mixing it in glycerine makes it much easier to take. Take about 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper (I use red pepper from my spice cabinet) and mix with 1 ounce of glycerine. Let sit together (I let sit for 2 days) then strain, using a coffee filter, into a bottle with a dropper. This method makes the concoction taste almost sweet and works great. Just drip onto sore areas of throat.
Cayenne Tips
Posted by I Like Green (Ann Arbor, Mi Usa) on 02/19/2012
I thought that glycerine is bad to suck!
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Ellen (Rochester, Mn) on 04/09/2012
They put glycerine on pacifiers in the hospital to get newborns to take them.
Whiskey
Posted by Fred (MB, South Carolina) on 02/14/2007
★★★★★
I first tried the hot water with Cayenne Pepper,and to no avail it did not work as expected it did however excite other sensory cells in which resulted in desensitizing the sore throat,I then moved to Cayenne Pepper in Apple Cider Vinegar,in which again failed. So I thought I would try the lemon in which did seem to help a small amount,I tried the Pineapple Juice in which seemed to have subsided the pain much better. I also tried using salt in hot water for several days,in which resulted little to no change. There are two types of sore throats one that is Bacterial,and the other is Viral,while Bacterial can often bee cured by antibiotics,Viral sore throats cannot be,and often require a running of its course,it is important to note that Viral sore throats are caused by the bodies immune system during its war, your anti bodies essentially destroy the cold virus via chemical acid,by spraying acid onto the cold virus it also destroys healthy cells in its process,burning the lining in the throat,that is why vitamin c is important in fighting a cold,because the acidity level needs to be high to fight off the cold virus. however a sudden change in your acid levels in your throat can actually irritate the sore throat and make it worse,such as a sudden use of a Zinc supplement. While some success has been met using salt in a hot water mixture,this success is due to the fact that the sensory cells in the throat has already been damaged to a point whereas the salt water actually cures the lining the same process that is used to cure meats,on the other hand a sore throat in which has not been damaged much may get worse using salt,or eating foods such as a salty soup,and crackers. Now comes another fact if the sore throat is Bacterial certain foods should be avoided such as sweets,and high fructose corn syrups,as the bacteria will thrive on such simple sugars. Cough drops should be avoided,as well as certain mouth washes such as plaque controls,or other washes that contain sugars. The best remedy for a sore throat is a good white whiskey,stay away from the dark. Gargle with the whiskey a few times a day until the sore throat subsides,then have you a shot once or twice a week to help stay off any future occurrences.
Whiskey
Posted by Fiona (Fife, Scotland) on 01/08/2007
★★★★★
I have a few sore throat remedies to share.
Firstly: Fresh fruit ice lollies (popsicles to Americans?) are excellent soothers, especially for children. Sucking on any ice is helpful to the pain, but the added vitamin C from fresh fruit helps the healing process. If you can't find fresh fruit lollies in the shops (Tesco's Finest do fresh orange ones for UK residents) then just squeeze an orange or lemon into your ice tray and suck on them. Combine them with your favourite pain killer, and the world seems a better place.
Secondly: Gargle with neat whisky. No, this isn't a joke - it's absolutely, one hundred percent my favourite sore throat remedy. (Then again - I am a Scot!). I recommend NOT swallowing every time, unless you're in a party mood, so don't use your best single malt. But gargling with potent alcohol, the stronger the better, not only numbs your throat so you feel no pain, but disinfects it, too. I had a sore throat recently that lasted one single, solitary day. I reckon the whisky killed it stone dead.
Whiskey
Posted by Jeff (Shorthills, NJ) on 01/04/2007
★★★★★
Sip some brandy or whiskey very slowly so that it coats the throat. Be careful it might cause some gagging. Do this very slowly with small amounts of whiskey. Perhaps the alcohol in whiskey kills the germs. But proceed with caution.
Ted's Remedy Feedback
Posted by Daniella (NY) on 12/10/2006
★★★★★
I have another feedback for the sore throat. I am on antibiotics at the moment (I had to take them, my family insisted) but I developed a couple of days ago a sore throat. I was worried it was antibiotic resistant strep, since I have been having strep other times this year. I followed Ted advise: I gargled with potassium bicarbonate (my brother got it in Italy) and the sore throat disappeared magically in half a day! That's impressive! Thanks to Ted! He is the best!
Hot Tea
Posted by Michelle (Colorado Springs, CO) on 12/03/2006
★☆☆☆☆
I have had a very bad sore throat going on 10 days now!! I'm 11 weeks pregnant so I unfortunately can't take a lot of medicines. So almost every website I went to said to drink hot tea with lemon and honey. I have been drinking this for 3 days, even trying to change the amount of lemon and honey I put in it and the level of hot I can stand. My throat is still just as sore and wasn't even relieved for a couple minutes. I'm sure it works great for some people but I have not had good luck with it.
Hot Tea
Posted by Ch In Iah (Houston, Tx) on 12/10/2009
To Michelle from Co. Springs: if your sore throat has lasted for 10 days, it is probably more than just a sore throat. You might need a traditional remedy which your doctor can assign or prescribe even while you are pregnant.
Hot Tea
Posted by Saida (Nyc, Ny) on 07/29/2011
are you sure? my mom usually put vicks but I can tell that hot tee is good 4 u because the hot steem will heal him.
Eucalyptus Oil
Posted by Marie (New Providence, NJ) on 11/27/2006
★★★★★
I used to get a sinus infection with every cold I got. then I would take an antibiotic and it would go away. for the last 3 years, I have taken 2 drops of essential oil of eucalyptus directly on my tongue at the first sign of a cold. As a result, I have not had the sore throat and stuffy nose that usually came with my colds AND they have not turned into an infection. I haven't had any antibiotics in 3 years. I recommended this to my sister in law who suffered from the same ailments and she swears by it too.
Turmeric
Posted by Anj (UK) on 10/06/2006
★★★★★
Mum always used this when the cough/cold would not go away. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 1 teaspoon of turmeric and couple of drops of water to make this into paste. Wrap cotton wool around your finger or toothbrush and put the paste on the cotton wool and try and paint the inside of your throat as deep down the throat as possible.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sarah (Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK) on 09/12/2006
★★★★★
I think that bacteria/viruses in my throat need sugar and peace and quiet to multiply. I stop supplying sugar by ceasing to eat sugary food/drink. This means no cough sweets! I physically remove the bacteria/viruses from my throat by frequently eating non-sugary food. They are then being taken down to my stomach where they cause no trouble! I focus on drinking water, not abrasive teas or coffees. I find eating apples very helpful too, especially when I get woken up in the night with a tickly cough! Take an apple to bed and just reach out for it each time you wake. Now I just get a sore throat/cold and then it heals under a week, no more hacking coughs for weeks afterwards. Best wishes.
Ephedra
Posted by Robert (Ramona, CA) on 06/29/2006
★★★★★
I used to get sinus infections every year in the same month in the spring time. I started taking ephedra supplements and I did not have any more sinus infections. I stopped taking ephedra after the ban and I just came down with another sinus infection.
Ephedra
Posted by Tammy (San Antonio, Texas) on 10/21/2008
I took Ephedra in the whole herb form for about three years to prevent my sinus infections. During that time I never once came down with a sinus infection. After the ban on ephedra I've been battling sinus problems ever since.
Ephedra
Posted by Teresa (Kenedy, Texas) on 10/22/2008
Tammy: Primatene tablets, that contain ephedra, can be purchased through the pharmacy, you will need to sign for these, as they keep a record of how much and how often you are buying it.
Water
Posted by Anonymous (USA) on 04/20/2006
★★★★★
Water! It helps keep your throat moist. Keep water at your bedside for when you wake up and whenever your throat is feeling dry, drink water.
Epsom Salt
Posted by Crystal (North Chicago) on 04/18/2006
★★★★★
I poured Epsom Salts into a nice hot bath to soak the aches away. Soaked a hand towel in the tub with me, then laid back with it laid over my face and neck, with another one behind my neck. When I got out of the tub, not only did my achy muscles feel better, but my throat was no longer hurting at all.
Echinacea
Posted by Shelley (UK) on 03/07/2006
★★★★★
After suffering from tonsillitis 4 to 5 times a year I decided to start taking echinacea. I heard that it is what a lot of celebrity singers use whilst on tour to boost their immune system and stop them from getting a sore throat! I love the stuff it has lots of benefits for the immune system and this along with cold showers has kept me fit and healthy and feeling in top form!
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Jammie (Wilmington, OH) on 03/03/2006
★★★★★
I was reading some of the things people posted and when i saw the tea tree oil I saw my bottle sitting on my computer table as if saying here I am - I thought doesn't hurt to try so far it has helped some I can swallow my own saliva without having the think about it and cringe when I finally do- thanks for the advice!
