Sore Throat
Natural Remedies

Pickle Juice for a Sore Throat

| Modified on Feb 26, 2024

Your throat is so sore you can barely take a drink let alone talk to anyone and you pretty well exhausted all of the common remedies last time you had a sore throat, so what can you do to treat this sore throat and fast? Pickle juice - that's right, gargle pickle juice for immediate, lasting relief. As unusual as it sounds, pickle juice is an effective remedy for sore throats and can actually help you heal!

What About Over-the-Counter Meds?

While you are likely tempted to run down to the drugstore and grab an over-the-counter treatment, we wouldn't suggest it. These options often only offer limited relief and do very little to actually treat the underlying condition causing the sore throat. Likewise, these medications often dry out your body, leaving you feeling congested and dehydrated.

Does Pickle Juice Actually Treat a Sore Throat?

You may be slightly skeptical about gargling pickle juice to treat your sore throat, but it works. This remedy is one that is often passed down among families, so it has a whole repertoire of anecdotal evidence backing it up. Plus, we know when you try it, you'll be able to tell the difference too.

How pickle juice works:

Pickle juice contains two main ingredients that make it an effective treatment for sore throats - vinegar and salt. These ingredients function to cleanse the throat, fight infection, and reduce inflammation. Vinegar even helps balance out the body's pH to establish a more controlled level of health and wellness.

How to use pickle juice:

You can use pickle juice in two different ways as a treatment - drinking or gargling. (Those with slightly weaker stomachs will want to stick with gargling.) Get 2 tablespoons of pickle juice from the pickle jar and either gargle it or drink it up to three times a day.

Even if you are not a pickle-lover, you should give this remedy a try. The combined vinegar and salt in pickle juice make it the perfect treatment for a nasty sore throat. Keep reading below for feedback from over 30 Earth Clinic readers who have tried pickle juice for a sore throat and let us know if it worked for you!

Related Links:

10 Best Natural Remedies for Soothing a Sore Throat
10 Cold and Flu Home Remedies
Natural Remedies for Strep Throat Relief
Quick Sinus Relief: Natural Remedies for Congestion
Top 10 Natural Remedies for Flu




41 User Reviews

5 star (36) 
  88%
4 star (1) 
  2%
3 star (2) 
  5%
1 star (1) 
  2%
(1) 
  2%

Posted by Sara (Mesa, Az) on 04/25/2017
★★★★★

I've had a sore throat for a few days, slowly getting worse with pain on talking or swallowing and eventually losing my voice. I saw the pickle jar in my fridge and idk why, but I grabbed it and chugged a few gulps and low and behold, my sore throat was instantly relieved! Unfortunately, not a cure, and doesn't last very long, but when you're in that much pain, it's worth it. I decided to Google pickle juice for sore throat and came across this thread.


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Christine (Los Angeles, California) on 09/17/2014

I have a bad cold with loads of congestion. My throat isn't exactly sore, but I was wondering if pickle juice would help my congestion? My boyfriend told me to try it, but I'm a little skeptical. When he was in High School he got sick a week before a Choral Concert, the night before he drank pickle juice (He had a sore throat, cough, congestion etc.) and it seemed to help him pretty well.


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Marta (Dominican Republic) on 02/19/2014
★★★★★

I tried pickle juice for my sore throat. It tasted good and made my sore throat feel a lot better! I drank it from the bottle.


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Joan (York , Pa) on 07/22/2013
★★★★★

I tried pickle brine juice for a sore throat and had instant pain relief thank you so much!


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Jsut01 (Tville, Sc) on 08/24/2012
★★★★★

WOW!! Love this web site... Found the pickle juice suggestion a minute ago and tried it. I was amazed to feel it easing the pain as I was gargling!! I did not completely go away, but I no longer want to cry when I swallow. Maybe I didn't drink enough. I gargled then drank about a tbsp. I will try more.


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Ann (Woodstock, Ga) on 09/29/2010

How much juice and how often are you talking about the salty brine when you make pickles?


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Kendra (Bozeman, Mt) on 06/27/2010
★☆☆☆☆

Pickle Juice for sore throat

The pickle juice remedy didnt work for me as much as Id hoped...I love pickles...I warmed up 4 TBS of pickle juice and gargled before swallowing. It did reduce the severity but it didnt get rid of it ...The pain came back after 15 minutes...


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Carolyn (Springfield, Illinois) on 04/02/2009
★★★★★

I tried the apple cider vinegar, honey and hot water for my sore throat and the pain went away almost immediately after the first sip. I looked in my kitchen cabinets and couldn't find any apple cider vinegar. I wasn't about to go out and buy some either due to the fact that it was pouring down rain. I didn't want to get any sicker from the upper respiratory tract infection than I was already. I used 3 teaspoons of vinegar from a jar of pickles in my refrigerator, 3 teaspoons of honey and 8 ounces of hot tap water. I stirred it together in a coffee mug until it was completely mixed and took a drink of it. After the first sip I noticed improvement in the pain and I realized it did not taste as bad as I thought it would. True, I used vinegar from a jar of pickles but it still helped my throat pain.


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Stephanie (Virginia Beach, VA) on 02/26/2009
★★★★★

I read a few remedies and cayenne pepper seemed a little drastic (eating crushed red pepper in my food eased it temporarily) but i came across the pickle juice remedy and thought WOW that would be strange if it worked! Well i just gargled 3 minutes ago and swallowed a couple mouthfuls. Already (just a few moments later) my throat doesn't hurt at all! Its still uncomfortable swallowing but breakthing and talking are back to normal! thanks guys! ^.^


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Greta (Talladega, Alabama) on 02/07/2009
★★★★★

I had been sick all day. My throat hurt so bad, I didn't even want to swallow. I googled "relief for sore throat" and the pickle juice idea came up! It works! It really honestly works! I'm gonna remember this!


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Alice (Wokingham, England) on 01/18/2009
★★★★★

Pickle juice for Sore Throat: I had a sore throat when I woke up this morning, so I decided to try the gargling pickle brine cure, by gargling and drinking a shot glass full of brine. I absolutely can't stand pickles, but it really worked! My throat feels a lot better. Even though it tastes foul, I would recommend this cure for anyone, whether you like pickles or not.


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Divajinx (Mishawaka, IN/USA) on 12/08/2008
★★★☆☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

I tried both the warmed pickle juice and the honey, apple cidar vinegar & hot water drinks. Neither one got totally rid of the sore throat but neither one tasted too bad. The honey & ACV relieved the most pain. The pickle juice just tasted good! I would recommend either one for temporary relief....


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Ashley (Bakersfield, CA) on 12/07/2008
★★★★★

I tried the pickle juice remedy just now for this intense sore throat I'm having, and I was very surprised when it actually worked! I heated about 4 tsps of it and drank it.


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Briana (Houston, Texas) on 11/10/2008
★★★☆☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

I Google sore throat remedies and i cam upon this site. I clicked on pickle juice brine (I LOVE PICKLES, VERY MUCH) I heated up 3 tablespoons of pickle juice for 16 secs and it worked. It did not entirely kill my cold or my sore throat, it just soothes it for a while. My throat does feel a little better now!!


Pickle Juice Brine
Posted by Bernardo (San Antonio, Texas, USA) on 10/10/2008
★★★★★

I had been very sick since Wednesday night it is now Friday 10:00 pm.As I do have a gig Saturday afternoon with my band and I couldn't miss the performance and call in sick so I searched for a sore throat remedy and I found this site.I clicked the link to Pickle Juice Brine and I thought hey let me try this.Well now I did now I am cured!! No more throat discomfort! I am glad I came onto this site it really did help alot.



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