Natural Sore Throat Remedies: 10 Fast-Acting Community Favorites

Coconut Oil

Posted by Maranatha812 (Irvine, Ca ) on 03/14/2017
★★★★★

Organic virgin coconut oil is amazing. It helps with sore throat and relieves of the discomfort associated with it. I even give it to my dog and rub it on her paws!!!

Castor Oil Packs

Posted by Mary (Long Island, Ny) on 10/14/2015
★★★★☆

After two days of using raw minced garlic and honey and the cayenne pepper and Apple Cider Vinegar remedy, I tried the castor oil pack. It worked amazingly well. Glands are still swollen but my throat feels so much better.

Black Pepper

Posted by Mary (Toronto, Canada) on 07/10/2012
★★★★★

I read a lot of feedback about the benefits of cayenne pepper for sore throat on this website and I'm happy to say I tried gargle couple of times a day with black pepper instead, and for my surprise it works as well. It took me about one day for sore throat and 3 for tonsils, no need for antibiotics or other medication.

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Annelle (Princes Town, Trinidad ) on 07/10/2010
★★★★★

Developed a sore throat after getting wet in the rain, because I (foolishly) kept my wet shoes on at work in the air conditioning. When I got home I boiled 4 cloves of garlic (crushed), 6 teaspoons of cayenne powder, and a tablespoon of peeled, sliced ginger. I let it cool, and because it was such a hot concoction, I put it in my blender with one cucumber, 4 teaspoons of cinnamon powder and a stick of celery. Also half a carrot for taste. Added an additional 1/2 cup of water, blended it and drank. Within 2 hrs, my sore throat was 95% gone. A 2nd dose will definitely get rid of the sore throat 100%.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Sindee (California) on 04/07/2017
★★★★★

I had persistent sore throat and sure enough after several months found out it was from the ear, especially as we age we begin to have more of these (I was told not that I believe everything I hear) however, treating the ears got rid of the sore throat. Thank you EC friends.

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by India (Coral Springs, Florida) on 08/24/2008
★★★★★

I used the idea of Jess J of Boca Raton, Florida, only I upped the dose of cayenne pepper to 1/2 a teaspoon.

1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons of honey
12-16 ounces of hot water
And a teabag of your choice for flavor.

I barely took a sip because I thought it would burn or taste terrible, but it really didn't! It was a subtle spicy and it tingled and felt really good. I barely took a sip, and already I could feel my voice coming back (I had a horrible sore throat, in which it hurt to swallow etc) It didn't immediately cure the hurting to swallow, but I've still got a whole cup to go. I think it'll help. Thanks Earth Clinic and everyone for posting these remedies!

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Gloria (Fresno, Ca) on 02/05/2008
★★★★★

I'd been getting bouts of horrible throat pain at least once a year for about 6 years and I've tried every kind of throat medicine besides going to the doctor (no med insurance). I recently was woken up by this horrible pain like small knives on the right side of my throat and it was so swollen, it was painful and difficult to swallow. I stumbled onto this website as i was waiting for the ibuprofen to kick in and at first i was pretty skeptical, but reading everyone's testimonies (and the fact that i was desperate) made me go out the next morning to buy all the ingredients. I figured the odds were better if i used as many of the remedies as i could so i made a tea consisting of 1 1/2 cups of distilled water, 1/4 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, a tablespoon of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of honey, a nickle sized piece of fresh ginger root, 2-3 whole cloves (the spice not garlic), and i put in a honey tea bag for flavor. Make sure you heat the water first by itself, then add the ingrediants. This drink was surprisingly tasty and I drank it about 3 times in the day, then i gargled with a cup of water and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper. My sore throats usually last 2-3 miserable weeks, but imagine my surprise when i wake up the next morning and my sore throat is completely gone!!!!! I was so amazed and I can't even tell you what a lifesaver this remedy is!!!!

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Debo (waco, tx) on 02/04/2008
★★★★★

I lost my voice and need to get on a legal call tomorrow - googled and found ceyenne recipe - had homemade chicken soup on the stove - scooped a bowl and put 1/8 tsp. in my bowl. Took one bite, throat on fire, coughed wildly, spit up green junk for a few minutes - went back and ate the whole bowl without even flinching - I can talk now! I am of Italian descent - maybe I can tolerate the pepper better - but it got the bug - I guess I'll be having chicken soup for a midnight snack, breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow!! Thanks!!

Baked Lemon and Olive Oil

Posted by Tara McDonald (Perth, ON, Canada)
★★★★★

This recipe was given to my grandparents by a spunky 90 year old (or should I say young) opera singer one day while he was digging in his garden. He valued his voice greatly and refused to take any "modern medications" that might numb his throat instead of heal it.

Recipe: 1 Lemon, Good Cold Pressed Olive Oil, Honey (optional). Go around the lemon - poking it with a fork and then put it in the oven (350') until juice bubbles out the holes. Cool. Squeeze the lemon and put the juice in a jar. Add an equal amount of olive oil. Add some honey if you like. SHAKE! Take a small spoonful now and again - like a lozenge.

Coconut, Neem & Blackseed Oils

Posted by Sasha (Jamaica) on 05/02/2026
★★★★★

Remedies for Sore Throat and Flu

I mixed 1 tablespoon of organic coconut oil with 1 teaspoon of cold-pressed organic neem oil and 1 teaspoon of blackseed oil. I then dipped my finger in the mixture and rubbed it on my throat, around my ears, and at the back of my neck. Within a few hours, the sore throat was gone, and the flu symptoms disappeared by morning. I did the same for my daughter, and she was perky the next morning, no flu symptoms or sore throat.

Epsom Salt

Posted by Nat (Brooklyn NY) on 11/22/2022
★★★★★

Rinsing the mouth (chewing the liquid) and gargling every few hours with Epsom salt and water helps relieve painful sore throat caused by Covid or other respiratory infections. Also swallowing a bit as well.

Chlorophyll

Posted by Jae (Walnut Creek, California) on 03/11/2022
★★★★★

If you suffer from chronic sore throats (like I did for 10 years), try gargling chlorophyll powder every day.

Chlorophyllin is a natural form of copper that kills bacteria/viruses on contact. It's the only thing that has worked for me and healed my never ending chronic sore throats. I use the World Organics Mega Chlorophyll (100mg) brand.

Open the capsule, pour some of the powder into your mouth, add some water in your mouth, then swallow a little, gargle for a few minutes, then spit out. I did this every day, morning and night. Warning: this will stain things green very easily so exercise caution!

Anytime I feel a sore throat coming on and like I'm getting sick, I'll gargle this multiple times a day and kill it on the spot. As someone who got sick with sore throats every few weeks, I wish I would've tried this years ago (and saved tons of time & money on useless doctor/ENT/gastro visits, endoscopies, prescriptions, etc).

Iodine

Posted by Nita (Jennings) on 02/11/2022
★★★★★

Hey.. so an old neighbor when I was a kid would take iodine and paint the back of my throat with it.. always worked and still does... Try that... It tastes awful but it works... Get the long qtips.

Tonic Water

Posted by Linstor (Uk) on 03/18/2017
★★★★★

Tonic water with Q has always worked for my sore throats, great to read not the only one.

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Krystine (Memphis, Tn) on 03/27/2011
★★★★★

I am a big tea drinker and when my throat started to become sore I went to my lemon tea. Then I read about the cayenne and was curious... So I mixed some things together and created the best hot drink for a cold and or sore throat. Here it is:

1 lemon (squezze as much juice as you can out of that lemon.)

1 lemon tea (I used Lemon Youkou from Teavana)

1 peppermint tea (again from Teavana)

some natural honey

1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne pepper powder

It's the best cup ever. It clears out my nose and helps my throat. I love this drink now. And would recomend it to anyone. Unless you are alergic to one of the ingredients in which case I would say not to try this... ;-)

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Kayla (Dallas, Tx) on 02/01/2011
★★★★★

If I ever have a sore throat or just need a boost, I LOVE this recipe.

Boil 1.5 cups water

add fresh grated ginger (I used about 3 Tablespoons)

add fresh garlic (2-3 cloves chopped)

add cayenne (to taste, I use a lot)

add turmeric

add fresh lemon (whole, then throw peal in there)

add about 1 tablespoon honey or agave.

This is a great detoxifier and a sore throat cure!

Aspirin Tea

Posted by Jennifer (Fontana, Ca) on 11/27/2009
★★★★★

tea remedy for sore throat

My husband did this for me and I was amazed. I have had a sore throat for 3 days. He took a green tea bag, water, a half lemon, 1-2 tbs honey(taste) and 2 aspirin and put in in the microwave for 2 min... when it cooled enough i drank it and Im telling you my sore throat was gone within 20 min.. this is not a cure it will come back but do it every 6-8 hours or so and you will be able to swallow food! its thanksgiving and i spent it bed but at least i was able to eat what they brought home! This also works for cough and fever!! GOOD LUCK!

Baking Soda

Posted by Tina (Bowling Green, Ohio, Usa) on 05/11/2010

Are you sure you used that much baking soda and water? My nebulizer only holds maybe a table spoon or so of liquid and takes a long time to nebulize what I put in it. It would take a very long time to breath in that much mixture! Please respond soon.Thanks.