Best home remedies for a sore throat

Winters are a devastating time when it comes to health. Not only does cold and dry weather impact our immune system, but it also serves as the perfect environment for viruses to thrive and expand. Given these conditions, we are susceptible to contracting a number of infections, most predominantly the common cold, which comes with its own set of annoying symptoms. Weakness, cough, fever, and sore throat throat are some symptoms associated with the common cold, and while each problem can be remedied individually at home, here are some of the best remedies to treat a sore throat.

Granny’s special cure for a sore throat might actually be one of the best medicines. Golden milk, as the concoction is commonly known as, can treat many problems like a cold, cough, and even a sore throat. The combination of turmeric and milk can provide many anti-inflammatory benefits that help in relieving throat pain.

One of the most widely used treatments of a sore throat is salt water gargling. It is one of the most commonly recommended solutions to cure a sore throat, and with good reason too. Gargling salt water allows the salt to cure infections by absorbing fluids from your mouth and throat tissues. Always do gargling with warm water so as to not aggravate your throat.

Another excellent gargling application to cure a sore throat, baking soda not only fights off infections by killing microbes, but it also prevents the growth of fungi and yeast. So not only does it help in soothing throat infections, it also prevents fungal and yeast infections.

Peppermint contains many properties which can cure a sore throat. It contains menthol, which helps in dissolving mucus and soothing a sore throat, and it contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help in getting rid of infections and speeding up the healing process. The best way to ingest peppermint is in the form of tea.

Honey has a number of properties that help in getting rid of a sore throat. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties pool in to provide one of the best cures to a sore throat. The best way to consume honey is with a glass of warm milk or a glass of warm lemon water.

One might find it repulsive to chew garlic, but believe it or not, it is one of the best cures for most throat infections. It contains a compound called allicin which is known to fight off germs and cure infections. The best utilization of garlic to cure a sore throat is to place a clove of it between your cheek and teeth and slowly chew on it while the allicin gets squeezed out and fixes your throat.

Most green vegetables are known for their impressive health benefits. Fenugreek too has its own share of benefits, including antimicrobial properties, which are particularly helpful to soothe a sore throat. It is known to relieve pain by killing microbes that cause irritation or inflammation. Fenugreek has many forms - seeds, topical oil, or tea.

The acidic nature of apple cider vinegar has many antimicrobial uses, including helping with a sore throat. It helps in breaking down mucus in the throat and stops the infection from spreading. It can be consumed by itself, added to herbal tea, or diluted with water for gargling.