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.
White Pepper
Posted by Mary Ann (Rural, South Africa) on 11/03/2008
★★★★★
Thank you for your miracle site. Being pensioners money is an affliction in itself. What joy to find this site. Well here is my small contribution.
Re-aligning a dropped little tongue. At the onset of a bout of sore throat or flu, the small tongue seems to drop back into the throat, affecting the ability to swollow. and is also very uncomfortable, almost worse than the flu its self. Take a small amount of pepper, preferbly white pepper, on the very tip of a round tipped knife and carefully dab onto the tip of the little tongue. This will pull the tongue back into position.
I tell anyone who will listen about this amazing site.
Tequila
Posted by Jacob (Costa Mesa, Ca) on 10/26/2008
★★★★★
I have very sensitive sinuses. I cannot, in my entire life, recall a year where I did not get to enjoy the wonders of a sinus infection. For me this means, among other things, lots and lots of very sore throats. A few years ago I was informed of an unorthodox sounding homeopathic remedy which I tried and have had tremendous success with.
What strikes me as odd is that this remedy is not at all featured on your sore throat article as a popular solution.
At the time I was working in a bar as a bouncer and between the yelling that is necessary to control a crowd and the sore throat I had even breathing had become a labored process. I asked the bartender what she did in these situations. She told me that she drank a shot of tequila and had learned to do so from one of our cooks, Luciano (Lucy for short.) I thought she was messing with me and didnt appreciate it. So I approached Lucy when she wasnt around and asked him. He told me about the tequila. He is a notorious joker, so I still didn't believe. I asked our other cook Pedro, and he also told me he would take a shot of tequila. It was just too much, so I figured I'd do it just to prove them wrong. I know that you prefer to keep your website label free, but they were pretty insistant that I use Patron, and I will explain why in a moment. Patron is very pungent, but the silver label is incredibly smooth as tequila goes, and that is pretty much the only reason to use it above other tequilas. I have used Cuervo as a cheap alternative and had similar success, the Patron is just more pleasant going down. As a rule drinking is a bad idea with a sore throat because it will dehydrate you and aggravate the condition and further your discomfort. If you can keep it to just ONE shot though the results are amazing.
That night, and every time I have had a sore throat worth treating since then, the shot of tequila worked miracles. Relief within about a minute, and by the next morning my throat felt good enough to let me yell again. I took another shot the following night and it was all cleared up by the next day. I get predictably similar results every time I repeat this remedy. I must stress that keeping yourself to just 1 or 2 shots is PARAMOUNT. A sore throat is not a good reason to go out and have a night of binge drinking. You will regret it.
I also understand that this remedy might not be practical depending on your religeon. You will, however, find that most religeons are quite tolerant of using mind affecting drugs when it is done so in a medical capacity. I myself subscribe to a religeon that prohibits me from drinking, smoking, or imbibing anything that might limit my ability to function in any way. But even I am allowed to take vicodin when disabled by headaches or tequila when rendered mute by a sore throat.
Tequila
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 10/27/2008 392 posts
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Tequila is long known to help sore throat in some cases, but it won't stop recurrence of sore throat. The reason for sore throat is virus or bacteria. So even a beer with plenty of tabasco sauce or halbenero pepper sauce may actually kill the sore throat too. Even a lemon juice with tabasco sauce or hot sauce also worked just as well without the alcohol. In certain cases very sore throat infection runs deep into the throat, the alcohol reaches the pathogens quicker killing them. But it can't be used frequently and I used only in extreme circumstances when alcohol is actually added. The reason is that alcohol also destroys the immune system in the process and takes days to recover because it cause the body to be metabolically acidosis. The other issue is alcohol has a tendency to be addictive to some people and then they start rationalizing for their continued use. I have found people who use alcohol added sore throat remedy will have a high recurrence rate compared to a lemon, baking soda or hydrogen peroxide, for the simple reason that alcohol also harms healthy cells and hence it lower's the body's immune system.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Posted by Tracy (Dearborn, MI) on 10/16/2008
★★★★★
Cayenne Pepper is great for circulation, but when something is 'hot' like a sore throat, don't you want to cool it? I use Grapefruit Seed Extract now - known for killing the strep virus (and I had strep 6 times in one year and hated taking antibiotics) ... so I was on a quest. Anyways, GSE turns out to be a Godsend, kills internal bugs without biotics... great thing! Brush teeth to kill sore throats - or gargle, if more severe. Great thing is, it numbs it. Raw throat, however, can't seem to snuff. What do you to when your 7 year old has a terrible raw throat and can't swallow? Darn!
Antiseptic Mouthwash
Posted by Jennifer (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) on 02/04/2009
★★★★☆
I used anticeptic mouthwash during the first day I noticed an irrated throat. I used the normal amount stated on the bottle for mouthwash but I made sure to allow it to reach the far back of my throat. It does help it to immediately feel better, but I wouldn't say that it cured my ailment. I have had a sore throat for several days and today I tried both Cayenne, and later ACV straight with honey like a shot. Just now I tried the salt water gargle. All have helped but we will see how fast I recover.
Antiseptic Mouthwash
Posted by Andrew (Lansing, Michigan) on 04/18/2009
★★★★☆
when i heard that listerine worked, i tried gurgling it in my mouth a couple times. It works but it doesnt cure your sore throat completely. It makes your throat feel alot better. And it gives you a fresh breath.
Antiseptic Mouthwash
Posted by Lea (Wabash, In) on 12/16/2009
★☆☆☆☆
The Antiseptic mouth wash work slightly for me when I treid this. I think relief in that area the mouthwash was able to reach lasted for a total of 5ish minutes. I have an extreme sore throat which from what I've read sounds like it could be strep or Mono. Though I've had both tests done for it, saddly it isn't either but a bad viral one. Salt Water provided more relief for me than mouthwash.
Horseradish
Posted by Lynn (Albany, Georgia) on 09/30/2008
★★★★★
Cayeene Pepper will cure your sore throat. Living in the south we are more prone to allergy related problems and believe in grandmas remedies. My cure for sinus and sore throat problems is a spoonful of horseradish, coated with Lousianna Hot Sauce (made from cayenne pepper) and take it till you feel better. I usually eat about 3 heaping spoonfuls every hour till it is gone. Usually gone by the next day.
Mouthwash
Posted by Jonathan (Rocklin, CA) on 08/07/2008
★★★★★
Anteseptic mouthwash gargled on the back of the throat effectively relieves mild to severe soar throat pain. This method also shortens the length of an average soar throat. I have told many friends about this method and have received it's praise every time!
Vinegar
Posted by Kaila (Springdale, Arkansas) on 07/13/2008
★★★★★
Welll i try salt and vinigar with hot water to gargle. It might taste odd but it helps alot. Use five teaspoons of salt and a half cup a vinigar. but it does not matter how much water you use! Hope it helps.
Rum
Posted by Tina (Park Forest, Illinois) on 05/17/2008
★★★★★
Sore Throat Remedies: Rum worked great for me -- i gargled with it for about 30 seconds and then spit it out and took a small swallow of the mouthwash and within a minute my sore throat was gone it is so nice to be able to talk without wanting to cry!!!
Rum
Posted by Minyen (Los Angeles, CA) on 07/25/2008
★★★★★
Haha. well it really worked....me && my friend tried it . BUT the thing that killed it was the mouthwash....that made me throw up ! Ew.. But the RUM worked good.. && THINK TWICE ABOUT THE MOUTH WASH !
Rum
Posted by Robin (Rural, VA) on 07/26/2008
Do I understand that you are supposed to "swallow" the mouthwash?
Rum
Posted by Nadine (Brooklyn, New York) on 11/01/2008
★★★★★
I tried the Rum and/or Listerine Mouthwash and it works ! I took a shot of Mexican Tequila and tried to gargle as long as I possibly could. As soon as I spat out the Tequila, my tonsils felt instantly better. The irration went right away and it almost feels like they aren't there. I will probably take another one here soon since I took a very little one the first time. Also with the Mouthwash, it works as well. I used it every morning with brushing my teeth, however, do not swallow this one. Simply just gargle and spit. I personally think Rum or Tequila works alot better because it has a stronger alcohol content then mouthwash. Goodluck!
Rum
Posted by Sam (Dayton, Oregon) on 07/14/2011
why do you spit out the rum, but drink the mouthwash? since your not sapose to swallow mouthwash but drink rum.
Peppermint
Posted by Janine (Pittsburgh, USA) on 05/10/2008
★★★★★
When you want some caffeine and a way to relieve your sore throat at the same time, try 4 bags of peppermint tea with 4 bags of green tea steeped in 12 cups of hot water. It's very good and it relieves the throat instantly.
Lemon ginger water also works better than plain water to relieve a sore throat (the juice of a lemon and 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger root (squeezed through a garlic press a few times) in a 2 quart pitcher of water. More palatable than some of the other remedies I've seen here. Plus, it works!!
Myrrh Gargle
Posted by Sam (Albany, NY) on 05/08/2008
★★★★★
Whenever I have a sore throat, even if it's just because I slept with my mouth open, I gargle with myrrh. We always have tincture of myrrh around the house, since it's useful for many, many things. Here's how I do it: I take a plastic cup (3oz.) and put as much tincture in it as I think I can stand. Then I dilute it a bit with some warm water, and gargle, repeating until everything in the cup is gone. Then, I rinse *just* my mouth, NOT my throat, with regular water. This leaves a bit of an aftertaste and you might produce excess saliva for a couple of minutes, but it helps quite a bit with the pain and can also help kill whatever infection might be causing the sore throat.
Salsa
Posted by Renee (Melbourne Beach, FL) on 04/11/2008
★★★★★
A few month ago, I came down with a sore throat. That afternoon I grabbed some salsa and tortilla chips as a snack - my sore throat was gone almost instantly! After coming across your website, now everything makes sense. Since most salsas have vinegar, garlic & spices in them, this is a great snack for anyone to grab with a sore throat - only have mild salsa on hand: spinkle cayenne pepper in it and voila!
Salsa
Posted by Mara (Somewherreee., Florida) on 07/04/2010
I have not tried using Salsa but after reading this I sent my dad to the store to buy it for me, I did try gargling salt water but it did not cure it just took some of the pain away.
Vicks Vapor Rub
Posted by Mary (Altadena, CA) on 04/04/2008
★★★★★
for immediate sore throat relief try spreading vicks vabor rub on your neck at the thorat and wrapping tightly with a rag pinning it so it does not come off.
Vicks Vapor Rub
Posted by Raymond (Kongiganak, Alaska) on 10/28/2011
Im trying this vaporrub... See if it works. Yesterday I had a bad headache. Hope it works. God blessing :)
Hand Therapy
Posted by KK (USA) on 03/31/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I tried the hand remedy for my sore throat, and it didn't really work. I had my hand on my throat, for about 5 minutes, not talking or anything, then I took my hand off. My throat felt better for about 30 seconds, then the pain came back. I have a cough drop right now and it's doing more than the hand thing.
Lemon and Garlic
Posted by Marilyn (Cherry Hill, US) on 03/28/2008
★★★★★
I now understand the meaning of the old saying "prevention is worth a pound of cure". Doing this regularly once or twice a week may help prevent a sore throat. 8 to 10 oz. water with one lemon squeezed in the water. Drink this with a straw. The lemon may eat the enamel off your teeth so use the straw. If your throat is scratchy do this. Do it at the onset of a sore throat and use 600 to 900 mg of garlic tablets. I use 1200mg and some time 2000mg. Wala your cured of your sore throat. If you do this before you get this you can prevent it.
Turmeric
Posted by Elsy (Singapore) on 03/24/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I am having a bad sore throat. I tried your remedy of turmeric, pepper, ginger in warm water. While drinking the water, the pain reduced. But it returned soon after. Then I cut up half a clove of garlic and added a teaspoon of honey to it. I was unable to take the garlic due to its burning taste. But the honey coated the 'scratchy and painful' parts of my throat. The skin has gone off at the back of my throat. So it is still painful..!
Cayenne Tips
Posted by M.akram (Abbottabad, Pakistan) on 10/29/2012
Thanks very much for this post. I have been looking for something like this desperately. Thanks very much for sharing this piece of information.
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Donnie (Chicago, Illinois) on 12/05/2012
Why are you suppose to avoid dairy? My throat has been hurting but I drink one of those instant breakfasts that mix with milk. Should I lay off the milk until I'm better then?
Cayenne Tips
Posted by P (Middle Of, Fl) on 12/07/2012
I'm late; however aloe juice always helps with vomitting. I've had multiple success with multiple people. Honey and Ginger tea excellent as well. If you're still vomitting now being 2days later (can be something severe) read up on iodine in the above in remedy tab. Hope this helps for future reference.
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Nina (San Diego, CA) on 03/07/2008
Cayenne pepper works, but in order to ease the hotness, I just use orange juice. Put an 1/8 of a teaspoon of cayenne in a glass of orange juice, and drink it. Make sure the oj has pulp in it, the cayenne will bond to the pulp, and it won't burn your mouth at all! I have been using this method for years. And DON'T use milk to "ease the hotness" when you're sick- avoid dairy products.
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Steve (Portland, Oregon) on 05/13/2009
You should be aware that orange juice thickens your mucus, which is the opposite of what you want when you have ear, nose or throat problems.
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Caroline (Alexandria, Va ) on 03/11/2010
Steve, Curious why OJ thickens your mucus. I thought it was anti-inflammatory and therefore beneficial when ill.
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Midlyfcrisis (East Tn, Tn, Usa) on 11/16/2011
The orange juice worked great! I used a straw, and drank about 1/3 cup mixed well with about 1/8 tsp of cayenne. I put the straw onto the middle of my tongue, and bypassed the tip. I barely had even a hot aftertaste. Within 5 minutes, my nose started running, and 10 minutes later, I can swallow w/o pain! Thanks so much!
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Leia (Forest Grove, Or) on 12/27/2011
@ Caroline from Alexandria, VA: Actually on the Anti-Inflammation Diets given by Natural Paths they remove all citrus (except lemon/juice: for flavoring food) from the diet; because it's known for causing inflammation through out the body.
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Kateseed (Seattle, Wa) on 03/22/2013
Orange juice contains a ton of sugar. Sugar is mucus forming and competes with vitamin C at the same receptor site on the cell. I'd advice to steer clear of all juices. Despite how pure fruit juice is, it contains a lot of fruit sugars. Any vitamin C in orange juice is added as ascorbic acid usually because pasteurization kills the natural occurring vitamin C.
