Simple herbal remedies for relieving a sore throat

I don’t know how your body reacts but every time I come down with something the first place it settles is in my throat. And it can last a really long time. I am always on the hunt for finding a natural remedy that can help relieve that pain so I can focus on healing the rest of my body.

What causes sore throats?

A sore throat is a painful, scratchy and sometimes swollen feeling in the back of your throat. It can be brought on by viruses from the common cold or flu, allergies, or even smoke exposure. There are two types of sore throats, one that is brought on by a virus and one that is brought on by the bacteria called group A Streptococcus, also known as, Strep throat.

How to tell what kind of sore thought I have?

The most common symptoms of a sore throat brought on by a virus are:

Runny nose

Sneezing

Conjunctivitis, also known as, Pink Eye

Coughing

The most common symptoms of a sore throat brought on by the bacteria group A Streptococcus are:

Fever

Sudden onset of pain and swelling in your throat

Swollen tonsils

Red bumps on the rough of your mouth

White puss on the back of your throat and on your tonsils

Herbal Remedies for sore throat

1. Salt water and Sage Gargle

My go to the first signs of a sore throat is a salt water and sage gargle. Gargling with salt water alone is extremely beneficial for a sore throat. Sea salt helps reduce swelling, prevents bacteria from spreading and loosens up mucus.

Adding sage to the mix provides you with a stronger armor to help potentially kill off the bacteria or virus that has settled in your throat. Sage is known to be a warm and drying herb. This will help soothe the irritation in your throat causing pain. The compounds of sage that can potentially help relieve the pain from a sore throat are:

Anti-inflammatory

Antimicrobial

Astringent

These three compounds help reduce the swelling and pain and potentially kill off any bacteria.

How to make a salt water a sage gargle?

In 8 oz of warm filtered water, add 1 tsp of sea salt (non-iodized) and add 2 drops of clary sage essential oil. Now, if you have access to fresh sage from your garden you can make a strong concentrated tea and add about 1 oz of tea to your salt water. I use essential oil because it is incredibly convenient and I know exactly how much to use every time.

***Quick note on using essential oils: Please be sure to use high quality oils. Find a company that provides you with the confidence that their oil is pure and can be used internally. Essential oils are not regulated by the FDA so companies can get real tricky with their claims. We ONLY use this brand. And If you want to purchase some clary sage now head on over here.

How often should I gargle?

You can gargle 2-3 times a day. I usually go one more day past relief just to be safe.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

I know, I know…apple cider vinegar is no one’s favorite but it should be. Apple cider vinegar has so many incredible properties to it that it would be insane for you not to use it. While the salt water and sage gargle is my first go to, I will usually switch back and forth between that and apple cider vinegar.

How do I use Apple Cider Vinegar for my sore throat?

When I start to even feel a tickle, I will take a shot of ACV.

Mix 1 tablespoon of ACV with about 3-4 oz of filtered water and drink it. If I am feeling really desperate, which I am not going to lie happens more times than not because sore throats are my nemesis, I will actually gargle 1 tablespoon of ACV mixed with only 1 oz of water. Yes, I know just reading this can make your eyes water but what the ACV is doing is making it extremely uncomfortable for any virus or bacteria to live in your throat.

I hope you find some sort of relief from either of these herbal remedies. I love to help relieve the overwhelming feeling of using herbal remedies. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments down below and I will be sure to follow up.

For herbal remedies on sinus infections head on over here.

Happy no more sore throat!