Sore Throat
Natural Remedies

10 Top Home Remedies for a Sore Throat

Cayenne Pepper Recipes
Posted by Annelle (Princes Town, Trinidad ) on 07/10/2010
5 out of 5 stars

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%.

Aspirin Tea
Posted by Jennifer (Fontana, Ca) on 11/27/2009
5 out of 5 stars

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!

Vinegar
Posted by Gina (Denver, Co) on 05/20/2011
1 out of 5 stars

I have a sinus and ear infection and my throat has been killing me for 3 days. Went to the Dr. and got an antibiotic but my throat is still raw so I'm ready to try something "natural". I just tried 8 oz (240 ml) of warm water with a TBSP cidar vinegar, TBSP lemon juice and 2 TBSP honey. OMG I thought I was going to puke (maybe use less vinegar) I drank it all as quickly as I could and my throat is still killing me. Not a fan. Gimme drugs over this "remedy" any day.


Vinegar
Posted by Sara (Edmonton, Alberta Canada) on 05/29/2011
4 out of 5 stars

Vinegar Syrup Lemon, it may taste wierd but it instantly worked its magic. I felt a burning sensation, 10 seconds later my throat felt ALOT better. The sore throat isnt completely gone but the pain of swallowing has eased 100x better.


Baking Soda in a Nebulizer
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.


ACV, Baking Soda, Cayenne
Posted by Paul (Melbourne, Australia) on 07/11/2009
5 out of 5 stars

Yes the cayenne pepper works wonders. so does baking soda because of its alkalinity. (bacteria love an acidic environment) But I highly recommend putting a roll of toilet paper in the freezer for when you need it, and boy will you need it. I felt like i was giving birth to a marine distress flare on the toilet.

Also something that is of "enormous" help. WARMTH. keep the neck area warm as possible with a large towel. and sleep with it on all night. you'll be amazed at what a difference it makes. White blood cells in your saliva love love loves warmth, and they are more active in a warm environment.

SO WHAT WORKS FOR ME. First gargle apple cider to quickly remove the flem to expose the bacteria or virus, then hit it with baking soda. the baking soda makes the infected area alkaline. then hit it with the cayenne pepper. then wrap up the neck area with a towel and sleep with it on. If that doesn't work, I'll be dammed !

Mouthwash
Posted by Barb (Aberdeen, WA) on 05/07/2009
5 out of 5 stars

When you gargle with Listerine for a sore throat, try this: when you are done gargling, let just a SMALL amount of the Listerine go down your throat. In this way, the Listerine reaches any germs that are a little farther down your throat, where gargling can't reach. I have tried this several times, and if you do it about three times a day, as long as your throat is sore, it will relieve it. It's also important to do all the other good things too, though, such as getting extra rest, drinking liquids, etc.

Acid Reflux Connection
Posted by Rob (Mount Vernon, NY) on 01/15/2009
5 out of 5 stars

sore throats and acid reflux!

Here's a tip I'd love to share. Last year I dealt with a sore throat for over 3 months! Finally went to an ENT who put the camera up my nose and down my throat and saw that there was no infection. As it turns out he diagnosed it as acid reflux! So he put me on a reflux regimen and started me on AcipHex which I tried for a week to no avail. Then I tried Nexium out of pocket since it was not covered in my insurance formulary, and in about a day and a half, it was gone! Hope this helps someone!

Acid Reflux Connection
Posted by Mike O (Blackwood, Nj Usa) on 12/07/2011

Orange Peel Extract is the answer. It is all natural not a prescribed pill... D-Lymonene is what I use take it once in the morning and works like a charm! First few times you will burp up oranges but that means it's working. Good Luck


Coconut Oil
Posted by Susan (Glendale, CA, USA) on 01/04/2009
5 out of 5 stars

I've somehow managed to catch a horrible cold and have battled a sore throat for 2 days now. I have absolutely NO tolerance for pain, so I've been miserable. I've been using cayenne pepper and ACV as both a gargle and added to hot water to sip on constantly, but it only gives little to temporary relief.

I decided to try some coconut oil in some pineapple tea that I had (hoping deep down it resembled a pina colada!) I saw that EVCO wasn't listed as a remedy for cold or sore throats, really, but I decided to give it a shot.

Wow, was it soothing! The horrible thing about sore throats is how dry and scratchy the throat gets which makes the pain ten times worse... but the coconut oil lubed everything up so nicely that it doesn't hurt half as bad! I have no idea how long this will last, but I'll take what relief I can get!

I did have a lot of success with EVCO after having a strange sinus infection last year at this time that made all the glands in my head so swollen. After trying everything and going to the doctor who gave me no-good antibiotics, I gave EVCO a shot, and within one day my glands had gone down, my head and decongested and I felt better. I love this stuff. I just wish I liked the taste better!

Coconut Oil
Posted by SUNNY (Ca) on 09/05/2021

Best way is to gargle and spit it. And swallow some. Best kind is cold pressed organic coconut oil. This works! Coconut oil is antibacterial and antiviral and warm and relaxing.


Vinegar
Posted by Abby (Birmingham, England) on 09/12/2012

i tried the vinegar it didn't completely cure it but when I wake up usually my throat is so painful I can't talk. I tried the vinegar and oh my god it relieved the pain so much. I used just normal vinegar it worked better then my cyder vinegar.


Whiskey
Posted by Kate (Toronto, Ontario) on 12/04/2008
5 out of 5 stars

The best remedy I know for sore throat is Drambuie. It's a Scottish liquer made with malt whiskey and spiced honey, and is 40%. Other similarly strong alcohols might help, but I have never tried them. Weak alcoholic drinks do NOT work.

Just one small sip always provides immediate relief for myself and all my family. If the liquid doesn't seem to touch the particular spot in your throat, I like to gargle just a little bit. I know it sounds gross, and please remember this is a liquer, so you only want a sip and not a whole mouthful.

If the sore throat comes back, two or three more sips throughout the day might be necessary. I have never had to use it more often than this.

Of course I don't think I need to mention that this isn't for kids as the taste is very strong and could upset sensitive stomachs.

Also, just a warning, that a 375ml bottle here in Canada will cost you about $25. This bottle will however last you a VERY long time. If you don't want to fork out that much, there are always small sample size bottles available too.

Honestly though, this has worked in my family for the past 20 years at least.


Oregano Oil
Posted by Robert (Toronto, Canada) on 11/27/2008
5 out of 5 stars

Sore Throat Remedy: Oil of Oregano, Honey & Water

From your local health shop you can usually find oil of oregano. It is super concentrated oil derived from oregano leave. If you research it is well know for its antibacterial properties. Apparently, and I believe it, it has the same antibacterial properties as lysol minus the toxicity.

I mixed two drops from 1:1 concentration formula (per the bottles instructions) to one ounce of water and a table spoon of honey. I gargled a bit then swallowed as it is perfectly safe to drink. And it doesn't taste that bad either.

The results were immediate. My sore throat went away in 5 minutes. I thought maybe I would have to follow-up
but no it was gone in 5 minutes. My throat was bad but not as bad as I have had as I get strept throat on occasion were I can't even eat because it hurts to swallow.

I see lots of people writing on the effects of cayenne pepper and am surprised noone has commented on oil of oregano. Try it it works!


Antiseptic Mouthwash
Posted by Joey (Toronto, Ontario) on 11/26/2008
1 out of 5 stars

This stuff is a lie, it makes you foam haha, I tried it, don't try it, it doesn't even work either.


Antiseptic Mouthwash
Posted by Matthew (Philladelphia, PA) on 02/18/2009
4 out of 5 stars

Antiseptic Mouthwash [Listerine] made my sore throat better, but not cured. It took the sharp edge off of my sore throat, but it definitely didn't cure it.


Cayenne Pepper Recipes
Posted by Cherokeeandproud (Somewhere A Time, Somewhere A Place) on 12/24/2012

Want to know why cayenne relieves a sore throat? It's the capsaicin. You can make an ointment or liniment our of cayenne and make your own headache reliever. The capsaicin acts much like Cepacol in the sense that it essentially becomes a "local anesthetic". This is why you will get relief but have to do it several times for it to "stick". I love cayenne. It's a great immune booster, it works great on heartburn, it tastes amazing on food, if you make an ointment or liniment it makes an amazing headache/migraine reliever. I've been using cayenne probably longer than this site has been around. That being said, I just tried the cayenne pepper gargle since it's Christmas Eve and a few days ago my husband was kind enough to share his germs and now I have a sore throat. I also added a little bit of salt just for good measure. Let me say that, having had to drink valerian root tea, which literally tastes like dirt, this concoction is absolutely the most foul, vile tasting thing I have ever experienced. The sore throat is still present but it is not as bad. I can now swallow and it's basically just that "scratchy" throat feeling you get when a cold is beginning to creep up on you or when you have some annoying, allergy related sinus drainage down the back of your throat. So I think I am going to say this method, though it's absolutely disgusting, works really well because this sore throat got into my subconscious and into my dreams before waking me up after a mere 4. 5 hours of sleep.

A tip to all that do this: ONLY USE 1/8 OF A TEASPOON! I think that may be why it tasted so horrible. I used about 1/2 a teaspoon, not realizing it. Also, I would recommend probably 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt. It's still going to taste absolutely disgusting but I think it won't be as "strong" of a taste while still working just as well. To get rid of the scratchy feeling, if you're still left with that afterward, I recommend simply gargling with regular salt water and a cup of warm, herbal tea.


Aspirin
Posted by Dallas (Hayesville, NC) on 04/03/2008
5 out of 5 stars

For many years, when I had started to get a soar throat I would take 2 aspirins and let them melt on the back of my throat and let them disolve. This would usually cure the soar throat if I did it early enough.

Aspirin
Posted by Keshia (Jersey City, NJ) on 06/13/2008

My throat had been hurting me since last night. I just tried letting the aspirin dissolve some at the back of my throat, and I'm feeling much better already! I hope it lasts! Thanks!


Cayenne Pepper Recipes
Posted by Eric (London, UK) on 03/28/2008
5 out of 5 stars

cayenne pepper works for a sore throat. I did this-heat qtr cup of lemonade, juice of one whole lemon, 2tbsps honey, 1/4 tsp cayenne. heat until just before it boils, stirring. sip whilst still hot from cup. Works almost immediately.


Ted's Remedy Feedback
Posted by Missy (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 03/03/2008
5 out of 5 stars

Hello, FIRSTLY, I THANK EACH & EVERY ONE OF YOU, ESPECIALLY TED for taking the time from your busy schedules or physical discomfort for sharing and helping all of us in need. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

My throat was not only like razors when swallowing, horrible coughing from chest with phlegm & fever, but my gums were very swollen especially on the right side of mouth behind the molars. They were seriously infected, sort of cut up, open lesions and extremely sensitive when I tried to eat. My Tinnitus was so loud my balance was affected. My head was pounding, sinuses all stuffed up and face puffy. I'm scheduled for nasal surgery on the 20th of this mth and needed to clear this up asap or no surgery. I need to avoid antibiotics now as I may need them later and less is more. Oh, and my lips were very cracked and dry. (I just threw out my toothpaste as per info re: fluoride poisoning on this site, using baking soda & H2o2 combo)

I read [your] article about the ice cream and lo and behold....that is exactly what I had at my favourite Chinese Buffet two days prior and even had more of it since then. This seems to happen every time I eat the darn stuff, but NOT as bad as this time. My body must have been very acidic due to over consumption of meat & starch from the buffet along with the poisonous chemical in the ice cream.

Ted's soooo smart and I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his compassion and knowledge. So I began to alkaline my body with the baking soda WITH NO ALUMINUM and 1/2 of a lemon in a glass of R/O water (reverse osmosis). The AVC just didn't do it for me.
I stepped up the Super Cal Mag Plus (Shaklee), Vitamin B Complex (which included zinc and Vitamin B2) as per Ted & took Emergen-C (best vitamin C around) & 3% H2o2 spray, food grade & CELL FOOD drops in drinking water & vitamins.

I had not read as far as the cayenne cure as yet, so I made a Organic green tea with ORGANIC ginger (huge difference and very potent) and raw honey. Chewing on the ginger really burned, killed me to chew as gums were so sensitive. (even chewing on ORGANIC garlic did me in). I love spicy foods, but this was so unbearable....I quickly took a large spoon of Virgin Coconut Oil & swished it around my mouth. IMMEDIATE RELIEF! Better and quicker than bread or milk. I pushed a chunk of it onto the cut gums and just let it gradually melt, WOW, IMMEDIATE RELIEF. The cuts started to close up. Lips are a lot better too. I kept all this up over the past 4 days. BUT, I wondered why I was having such coughing jags, then I remembered that I turned down the humidifier in the basement furnace during our last cold snap as the windows were full of moisture. I just turned it back on at 3 am last night. Woke up with no coughing & no pain but also no voice. If you live in an apartment, remember, it may be to dry in there, get a humidifier, air moisture very important.

I quickly came back to this site and read more. I started chewing on the cloves (not garlic) and finally I can speak, not great yet, but I can speak.

Ted's remedy with Green Tea & Baking Soda combo was what got everything in my throat to finally settle down as of yesterday. I used Organic, no pesticide tea. This combo is the best, I even squeezed in 1/2 lemon juice. (Always remember to wash the outside of the lemon with some of your dish soap to remove pesticides and other germs before cutting into it.) Oh, and to aid the alkaline, I made a pot of Organic Black Turtle Bean Soup as per the Gout remedy (I do not have gout) but thought this would feed me and keep everything alkaline.

I forgot to mention, I also started taking New Chapters Holy Basil to reduce cortisol due to STRESS. Do not swallow. Just crack open the gel tab with teeth and let the God awful contents stay under the tongue for a few minutes and then swallow. You can spit out the gel tab after you get all the contents out. Really helps with the soar throat & stress. Take as often as needed. It really helps to calm everything down.


Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Marina (San Diego, CA USA) on 04/01/2009
5 out of 5 stars

Yes. My mom used to do that to us too and we were cured the next day in most cases except strep throat. Always needed antibiotics for that.


Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Gabi (United States) on 02/03/2018
5 out of 5 stars

Yes! I'm from Brazil and I grew up with my mom and grandma doing this to me, my brothers and cousins. It DOES work! I have a cloth with rubbing alcohol around my neck as I type.

Was 100% healthy, went to the doctor for my yearly physical and boom... next day woke up with a sore throat. :/ For now on I'll only be getting physicals during the summer... This stinks.


Hot Sauce
Posted by Christopher (Springfield, MO) on 02/12/2008
5 out of 5 stars

One more thing: if you're using milk to unbond the capsicum from your mouth and stop the burning, I'd advise just rinsing with it and not swallowing. You should avoid eating dairy products as much as possible while fighting a cold because they cause your body to secrete more mucous and phlegm--which means that you'll actually be making your congestion worse.


Hot Sauce
Posted by Chris (Springfield, MO) on 02/11/2008
5 out of 5 stars

I've found another good vehicle for the cayenne sore throat cure is bouillon broth. It ads to the beneficial effects of the hotness the other beneficial effects of salt exposure. I don't have any cayenne or Tabasco on hand (and the weather is not such that I can easily get out and get them right now), but I have Sriracha, which is a hot pepper/garlic sauce I got from a local Oriental food market. I mixed a teaspoon or so of it with the beef bouillon (didn't really measure, just squirted a glob in that looked about that size), and it worked well.


Cayenne Pepper Recipes
Posted by June (KC, KS) on 02/05/2008
5 out of 5 stars

I came back to EarthClinic to read about flu and sore throat cures and saw lots of feedback on cayenne pepper for sore throat.

I recently tried cayenne in an ACV drink recipe here that was so disgusting I had to pour the whole thing down the sink. It tasted foul and burned my mouth, so using cayenne for my sore throat was a last resort. But so many people said it was The Cure, so I had to try it. Here's what I did:

I emptied one capsule of cayenne into 3/4 cup of hot water and let it steep for a while like tea. I then drained the mixture through a coffee filter and into a small spray bottle. Then I sprayed the mixture on the back of my throat, gargled a bit, then swallowed. The spray completely bypassed my mouth, so no unnecessary burning. The burning in my throat actually felt kind of soothing and effective. And, what a miracle cure!!! What iodine, h2o2, colloidal silver and salt water could not do in 4 days, CAYENNE PEPPER DID IN 2 HOURS!!! It completely took away the sore throat and I continued to use it periodically for the next several days to ensure the sore throat did not take hold again


Cayenne Pepper Recipes
Posted by Gloria (Fresno, Ca) on 02/05/2008
5 out of 5 stars

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!!!!



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