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Sore Throat - Editor's Choice

| Modified on Jun 13, 2025
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Cayenne Pepper for Sore Throat.

The use of cayenne pepper for sore throats is a popular and effective home remedy, thanks to its active ingredient, capsaicin. We are grateful to Penny from Fresno, California, who shared this natural treatment with us.

Before Penny's remedy was posted on Earth Clinic in 2004, very few people knew about using cayenne pepper for a sore throat. However, for almost twenty years, thousands of people worldwide have discovered the benefits of this inexpensive and straightforward natural treatment. It's a proven way to cure a painful sore throat, and it's worth trying if you're looking for a natural solution.

The Power of Capsaicin: How Cayenne Pepper Works to Soothe Sore Throats

Cayenne pepper's effectiveness in treating sore throats is due to its active ingredient, capsaicin. Capsaicin is a powerful compound with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. When cayenne is consumed, capsaicin works to reduce inflammation and swelling in the throat, providing immediate relief.

Moreover, capsaicin also acts as an antibacterial agent, which helps to eliminate the underlying infection that causes the sore throat. This makes cayenne pepper a potent remedy that not only reduces pain and swelling but also aids in the healing process.

Cayenne pepper is also known to stimulate blood flow, which further enhances the healing process by bringing oxygen and essential nutrients to the affected area. This can help speed up the recovery time and prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the body.

How to Use Cayenne for a Sore Throat

Gargling With Cayenne

In 2004, Penny from Fresno, California shared her experience with Earth Clinic about how gargling with cayenne pepper in water helped her get rid of sore throats.

Penny writes, "If it is too late, as in strep, it takes gargling with cayenne in water every fifteen minutes until it goes, and be patient, because it GOES. I haven't had a sore throat take hold in 15 years or more, though many have tried to start up, which also is a way for many illnesses to sprout. I generally will gargle cayenne in water at whatever strength I like and do it as much as I can until I tire of it, and then repeat every fifteen minutes, each time swallowing a tiny bit real slowly (not necessary). It only stings the tongue a little when spitting out, otherwise, no discomfort, you can get used to even the swallowing part when you see how well it works. I use the cheap Mexican stuff, but also keep on hand in refrigerator the pesticide free stuff from health store. Cayenne is a miracle cure for ulcers and so many other conditions, plus aids assimilation of nutrients and vitamins. I will keep cayenne in water in the bathroom in case I get up in the night, so I can gargle once in the night if I am very sick, but if it is in water, it will go bad quickly and needs to be put back in refridge in morning. Afterwards suck on a clove (see below). I have never seen a sore throat that won't succumb to it."

Important Tip

it's important not to stop taking cayenne pepper for a sore throat too soon. While cayenne pepper can work quickly, it doesn't always provide relief within the first hour or two. If you've had a sore throat for several days, you may need to continue gargling with cayenne pepper in water for at least one or two days to see results. Some people who have reported negative results after trying cayenne pepper only once should have continued to gargle with it every few hours.

Cayenne Pepper with Food

Sprinkle cayenne pepper on your meals to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain in the throat. Alternatively, mix 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper with 1 tablespoon of honey to create a natural throat-soothing syrup. Take 1 teaspoon of the mixture every hour as needed.

With these two simple tips, you can use cayenne pepper to help alleviate your sore throat symptoms naturally.

Precautions and Side Effects

While cayenne pepper is generally considered safe, it can cause some side effects in certain people. Some people may experience stomach irritation, sweating, or flushing after consuming cayenne. If you have a sensitive stomach or a history of stomach ulcers, you should avoid using cayenne for sore throats.

Additionally, cayenne pepper can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners and aspirin. If you're taking any medications, talk to your healthcare provider before using cayenne pepper for sore throats.

Earth Clinic Readers Share Their Experiences Using Cayenne Pepper for Sore Throats

Over 500 Earth Clinic readers have shared their feedback on using cayenne pepper as a natural remedy for sore throats. You can read their experiences and see how it worked for them. If you have tried cayenne pepper for a sore throat, you can also share your feedback with the Earth Clinic community.

Alternatively, you can watch our fun YouTube video that explains three different ways to use cayenne pepper to relieve a sore throat quickly.

Cayenne Pepper Cure for Sore Throat

Related Links:

10 Best Natural Remedies for Soothing a Sore Throat
Apple Cider Vinegar: Uses, Health Benefits and FAQ
Cayenne Pepper Health: Immune Boost, Pain Relief, and More
Find Relief from Sinus Infections Naturally
Jean's Famous Tomato Tea Remedy for Sinus Infections and Congestion
Quick Sinus Relief: Natural Remedies for Congestion

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.
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515 User Reviews

Posted by Neva (ME) on 07/12/2021
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I use Goldenseal when I have a sore throat. My grandmother used to get it in powder. She would put a tiny bit into the end of a straw and blow it down my throat.

I use it differently. I take a Golden Seal Capsule, open it up, put it into a cup of boiling water and let it steep for ten minutes. I then pour it through a coffee filter and put it into a bottle with a dropper, and then use a dropper full down my throat.

I warn you that it tastes really bad, but it has always worked for me. You can also use this solution on a bad tooth. It will get rid of the infection.

One really important warning. If you are taking other medications, Golden Seal will rid your body of them, so don't use it if you are on heart medication or other life-giving medication.

515 User Reviews

Posted by Carrie (Charleston, Sc) on 06/21/2018
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I woke up in the middle of the night itchy, hot, generally uncomfortable and unable to sleep with a sore throat/cold I caught from my twin nieces (they were real cute though). First I took a hot shower for the steam. I had tried the cayenne remedy before but completely forgot (or blocked it out) until my boyfriend reminded me. I followed the instructions in your video pretty closely and did 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper in maybe 4 oz of warm water. I gargled the whole thing in separate gulps for 10 seconds each til it was gone. The great thing about this remedy is that the effect is tri-fold:

1) the (mild) discomfort of gargling cayenne water kind of makes you forget about the sore throat in the first place;

2) it relieves the soreness once you regain feeling in your throat; and

3) it completely clears out your sinuses (had to blow my nose several times and hocked up junk from my throat).

Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Cayenne
Posted by Nateinmpls (Minneapolis, Minnesota) on 07/06/2015
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Cayenne works! My local co-op has some really hot stuff, with a much higher scoville rating than regular cayenne. At first I gargled by drinking out of a glass however my mouth was on fire! I then thought of this trick: Get a drinking straw and suck up some of the cayenne water, then use your finger to plug the end you drink from, creating a vacuum. The water stays in the straw and you can tilt your head back and bypass your tongue! It worked great and the cayenne has already helped my throat after 15 minutes. I used a little water at a time and swallowed afterward.

Cayenne
Posted by Abbadackerygirl (Alabama, US) on 02/05/2015
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

This is a true account on my part: I had been battling a particularly bad case of strep throat with antibiotics and motrin 'round the clock. I had read that cayenne can help strep, but I was skeptical so I didn't even try it.

After a week of continuing to feel miserable, I forced myself out of bed to go with my family out to eat at a restaurant, and for some reason, the vegetable soup sounded like the only thing I wanted. I had never eaten at this restaurant before, so little did I know that the soup was SPICY! I usually don't eat spicy things, but I forced myself to eat the soup...then something magical happened. With each painful bite, I could actually feel my strength returning. As I continued to eat the warm broth, my aches and pains subsided, and I felt better and better...way better than I had in a week! Why was this soup making me feel so good, I wondered? Then I remembered the suggestion to use cayenne pepper...and I wondered if the chef used it to spice up the soup. He insisted that he didn't, instead he used a hot sauce...a lot of it, lol. I asked if I could read what was on the bottle, so he ran to the back and grabbed it for me to read. When I looked at it, low and behold, the first ingredient was...cayenne pepper.

I was sold. This wasn't a case of the placebo effect, as all I wanted to do was eat. I didn't think that this soup would cure me when I ordered it, but in the end, it helped so much that I ended up naming it, the Magic Feel-Better Soup. Ha ha...I wonder if they changed the name after I called it that, but I haven't been back to check.

515 User Reviews

Posted by Penny (USA) on 02/01/2006
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Whole cloves cure and numb sore throats. I carry cloves everywhere I go. At first sign of a sore throat, I place one or two between my cheek and teeth after crunching them just a little bit. This numbs the throat and kills the germs that cause the problem. If I awaken at night, even one clove can save me from a sore throat coming on, if I place it in my mouth in this manner. I had to tell my family, 'No, it does not stain my teeth. No, I never choke on it, and yes, I do sleep on my back, etc.'


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