How to Beat Winter Sore Throat with Natural Remedies

Sore throats are one of the most common problems faced by people in winters. It is one of the early signs that your body gives in reaction to the infection which has entered into the body. A sore throat if kept untreated makes it difficult to swallow, eat or drift off to sleep. Few ways in which you can heal and cure your sore throat are: 

• Gargles:

This is your grandmother’s verified cure for a sore throat infection. A glass of warm water with a pinch of salt will help in increasing the blood flow to the pharyngeal region which will in sometime wash off the infection. Once the infection reduces, oedema related to this infection will also reduce. Apart from this, the mucus which toughens up will also get loose and get out of the body.

• Teas.

The throat with the infection is choked up, sipping on some warm liquid can relax this area and any pain. You can include some cinnamon tea, ginger tulsi tea, lemon honey tea, clove tea, or peppermint tea.

• Steam.

Steam can help with any congestion in your nasal or throat area and aid you to breathe properly. Alternatively, you can also add some ajwain in the water to do the trick.

• Eat a soft diet.

With sore throat swallowing hard food gets difficult and painful, hence include foods that are lighter on the stomach and throat. Few options to think of are stewed apples with honey, warm khichdi, soups, and dal with mashed vegetables.

• Heat treatment.

Heating pads or towels soaked in hot water can be applied to get relief from the pain caused due to hard food, spasms or accumulated mucus.

• Lower down the consumption of alcohol and oily foods

Do not smoke, consume alcohol, deep-fried or oily foods, caffeinated drinks such as cold drinks, exercise, or have anything processed. These things can interfere with the healing process and do more harm than you can understand.

• Take some honey.

Honey is known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Consuming a tablespoon of honey will coat your throat with a sticky film which eases out irritating when you swallow something.

• Avoid dairy.

Cheese, yoghurt, and ice cream, even if it seems like it might be soothing for your throat. These chilled dairy products are mucus planters, which will further intensify the sore throat. Remember, you want to dissuade post-nasal drip, not the other way round.

Over to you. 

One should start to treat sore throat as soon as it starts. The more you delay, the more painful and problematic it becomes. In winters, you should especially do things to avoid getting an infection like including more vitamin C, warm teas and water, and including more seasonal fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, if you have a sore throat infection, try these home remedies to get some relief.