10 Best Natural Remedies for Soothing a Sore Throat

Oregano Oil

Posted by Robert (Toronto, Canada) on 11/27/2008
★★★★★

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!

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.

Carrot Juice

Posted by Hope (Inverness, FL) on 06/10/2008
★★★★★

The best way to get rid of a sore throat is to drink fresh carrot juice (as much as possible) and within a day or two, it should be gone. You can buy it at your local health store or juice the carrots yourself if you have a juicer. The problem with this, however, is it can be costly and time consuming (if you are using a juicer). So here is another option that I do a lot (and also use it for my daughter). I use a homeopathic "cold remedy". You can buy it at your local health store or buy it online. You have to follow the instructions just like it says. Sometimes, you have to take the "pill" once every 2 hours and sometimes it will be once every 15 minutes until it subsides... and then an hour or two thereafter till it goes away. For me, the homeopathic cold remedy works usually within 2 days... but again, you need to be religious about taking the pills.

Tongue Stretch

Posted by Macy (Yakima, Wa) on 05/11/2012
★★★★★

Actually worked, really well. I can swallow now! So weird

Tongue Stretch

Posted by Sabrina (Nh) on 04/07/2016

I use this method all the time but I stretch my tongue side to side instead. As a child I was told to do this by an ENT specialist. It helps with tense muscles in the neck as well.

Rubbing Alcohol

Posted by Marina (San Diego, CA USA) on 04/01/2009
★★★★★

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
★★★★★

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.

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by June (KC, KS) on 02/05/2008
★★★★★

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 Sheila (West Palm Beach, Florida) on 01/04/2008
★★★★★

I stumbled upon this site a few days ago when I was searching for sore throat remedies. I read about cayenne pepper and decided to use it. I was really skeptical. What I did was made tea with water, ginger root, lemon and honey and then added 1/8th teaspoon to my tea. It burned alot in my throat. However 20 minutes later my pain was gone. It really numbed my throat and I was able to swallow, drink and eat without a problem. Cayenne pepper anesthetizes the pain. I am a true believer of cayenne pepper. I now have used it in my homemade chicken soup. Every time I use it I feel relief. So awesome!

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Nathan (Stamford, England) on 12/28/2007
★★★★★

for those who dont have cayenne pepper. i put together a mix of related ingredients to find it cures sore throats like a dream. jalipeno juice from the jar tip about 1/10 the size of your cup, a decent amount of lemon juice or lime juice.. two teaspoons of sugar and abit of warm water.. it has cured my sore throat in a matter of hours.

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Dave (Fayetteville, Ar) on 06/25/2011

I have used cayenne pepper a few times this year, after reading about it here and on other sites. I find that at the least it significantly reduces not just a sore throat but also cuts the life of a cold way down. At best, if used at the onset of symptoms, it completely stops a cold from progressing at all!

The first time I used it, it was in some sort of tomato soup recipe along with garlic, etc. The next time, I didn't want to hassle with that, so I simply used 1/2 tsp in a small mug of peach iced tea, heated in the microwave... it worked just as well.

Right now, I'm sitting sipping on a small mug of OJ with a half tsp mixed in!

Good Luck!!!

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by PeppaLady (Orlando, FL) on 12/28/2007
★★★★★

I came upon your site due to being congested and having the worse sore throat ever. Tried ACV first, and got some relief, but only about an hour's worth. I read all of the posts on cayenne and decided that one was next, but did not have any of the pepper. I remembered that it is in hot sauce, so i mixed up a tea. I boiled some water, and then added a shake or two of ground ginger, a tablespoon of hot sauce, a tsp of oregano, a tablespoon of honey, tablespoon of lemon juice and a green tea teabag. I let it steep for about 5 minutes. What i had was a concoction... "liquid fire" and about 30 minutes after drinking, no sore throat and nasal passages were draining. The next morning i was surprised to still be clear. Thanks for posting this idea.

Oregano Oil

Posted by Sandy (sticks, Nevada) on 11/24/2007
★★★★★

Oil of oregano cured my son's sore throat in a moment. We used 4 drops of oil of oregano in about a cup of warm water. I wanted my son to gargle with it, but he felt it work immediately and wanted to swallow it. He gargled/swallowed the whole glass and announced he was completely pain free. We had tried all sorts of remedies and none of them worked for him. Thank you to the person that posted about oregano oil originally.

Acidophilus

Posted by Ellen (Chicago, IL) on 03/19/2009

Yes I agree, it is a must to take the acidophilus when you are on antibiotic treatment, the key however, is to take it between doses of the antibiotic, for at least as long as you are on the treatment and longer if you desire. If you have been on previous/numerous antibiotics you could take the acidophilus as a daily supplement.

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by AristidSes (San Juan, Puerto Rico) on 05/12/2007
★★★★★

Cayenne (don't use if you have low blood pressure) pepper works wonderfully, it's also great to mix with other remedies cause it helps them work faster. Why? It thins your blood and since your body registers the hot effect as fire it gets your heart pumping more blood to rush the endorphins (natural body made morphine) to the mouth area. This creates 2 effects: 1st, you get relaxed due to the anesthesic effect of the endorphins and 2nd, the nutrients that u took with your remedy spread through your body faster, and on top of that it's a natural antibiotic. I use it for sore throats and colds in the following manner:

in glass pour about 2-4oz water (for diluting purposes [gonna try ACV next time]),
1 whole lemon (not those dry lemons we want some juice here),
1-2 Tbsp of honey (natural honey none of those syrup mixed ones) and cayenne (lots of it)

I usually put cayenne till it's red (remember were going for the blood and endorphin rush here). Bottoms up! (this is a shot) There still hasn't been a cold to pass the 3 day mark with this stuff.

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Sabrina (Canada) on 05/04/2007
★★★★★

An oldie but a goodie, my recipe is a little different. Mix vinegar of any variety with a spoonful of cayenne, a spoonful of licorice root, and a small amount of RAW honey. Drink it back - the sore throat will go away shortly. The raw honey is great because honey has natural antiseptic properties, and it makes the mix a little easier to drink!

Coconut Oil

Posted by GuestCC (SLC, Utah) on 10/16/2008
★★★★★

I have had a sore throat for a couple of weeks now. Woke up at 3:30am and the sore throat was much worse!!! I already had some VCO in the frig but I didn't have cloves. But, I did have ground clove spice. I took about a spoon full of VCO and sprinkled ground clove spice all over the spoon full of VCO. I let the VCO / clove spice just melt in my mouth and it made me feel much better. Thx!

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Ken (Arlington, VA) on 02/03/2007
★★★★★

Simple remedy that is working for me to assist in ridding your body of sinus issues and assisting in the reduction of sore throat is just this.... 1 cup of lightly pre sweetened tea, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 vile of ginseng and royal jelly. Heat in the cup for about 2 minutes, let set for another couple of minutes and slowly drink. You will start to feel the sore throat go away while your sinuses drainage. It also appears to help me relax. Always remember to discard of any excess mucus in order to get rid of the bacteria that has collected in your sinus cavities during the time of mucus build up. Good luck to everyone.

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Janeene (Saginaw, MI) on 12/28/2006
★★★★★

I have used this remedy for YEARS and can tell you, IT WORKS!! The only thing that I do different is, I add an equal amount of ground ginger along with the cayenne pepper into a cup of HOT water and allow it to steep with a lid on the cup for 5 minutes. Then allow it to cool to a comfortable temperature (or add a little cold water) and gargle. This may seem time consuming when you are in a lot of pain but it is worth the wait! Allowing it to steep like that makes sure the spices are at their best. The cayenne brings the blood to the throat helping circulation for those well needed "healing soldiers" and the ginger calms the throat and helps reduce the swelling. I sometimes drink this as a tea on those cold winter nights to help me stay warm! For you hunters out there...sprinkle cayenne in your socks to keep your feet warm out in the field. The moisture from your feet activates the heat of the pepper keeping those toes TOASTY!!! CAYENNE PEPPER IS THE BEST!

Oregano Oil

Posted by Sterling (Honolulu, HI) on 02/18/2006
★★★★★

sore throat,colds ,flu, parasites. Oil of oregano - the king of herbs, books have been written about it, as well as many studies and years of tests. I myself have used it for many years with stellar results and also raves from thankful patients. A couple drops sublingually held for thirty seconds will get a bit intense. This will get it into your blood stream asap. Your sore throat will be gone in less than fifteen minutes.

NAC and Bromelain

Posted by Findcount (Singapore) on 02/02/2025
★★★★★

NAC and Bromelain for Red, Swollen Sore Throat

I just accidentally discovered NAC and Bromelain(taken together on empty stomach) really help with sore throat that's red and swollen......i took it as I had a bad runny nose and flu......and after taking 2 pills of each for 3 times on empty stomach within 12 hours - my runny nose is gone and my sore throat felt so much better.......

Citric Acid + Methylene Blue

Posted by hello (France) on 08/19/2023
★★★★☆

Sore throat is due to microbe infection and virus infection.

Take citric acid as needed (multiple tablespoons) and make a cure of methylene blue for one week for example

Citric acid is for the microbe and methylene blue for virus

Onions

Posted by Lorica (New Albany, Ind.) on 06/24/2016
★★★★★

I was having a problem with a sore, red and painful throat. I tried cayenne, a strong colloidal silver spray and salt. I used these separately and jointly. I used them through gargling and with a neti pot. They helped for a part of a day, then I would feel that pain again. This is what worked for me: 2 bunches of green onions tossed into a blender with just enough water to get a pudding consistency. I would "gargle" with this 3 times a day. That means I would kind of pour it in the back of my throat, make some gargling sounds and then spit it out. It worked when all else failed. Onions are known for being antibacterial and green onions seem to be the most potent.