Sore throats can be caused by a variety of things, including viral and bacterial infections, allergies, irritants, and exposure to pollution, such as cigarette smoke. Treatment can vary, including various natural sore throat remedies that are easy to find and can even be made at home.
Sore throats are most often caused by viral infections, therefore the use of antibiotics to treat diseases caused by viruses is of course useless.
Antibiotics should be used to kill bacteria, not viruses. Excessive use of antibiotics can cause germs to become resistant. This will lead to antibiotic resistance that is difficult to treat, even causing severe, deadly infections.
There are many variations of natural remedies for sore throats that you can do yourself. Most of the treatments that can be done to cure a sore throat you may have known for a long time. Here are some natural sore throat remedies that you can try at home:
1. Salt Water
One of the natural remedies for sore throats that is very easy to make is salt water. You simply mix a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water, and stir until evenly mixed. Gargle with your head up and then vomit.
A study found that gargling with salt water can prevent upper respiratory infections and fever. Gargling with salt water can also help clear the throat of phlegm. But remember, don't use too much salt and don't swallow it.
2. Honey
Whether mixed with tea or drunk directly, honey has long been believed to relieve sore throats. A study conducted on children with upper respiratory tract infections (ARI), confirmed the effectiveness of honey in relieving coughs. In addition, other studies also support the claim that honey is an effective wound healer. With these properties, honey is believed to speed up the recovery of a sore throat.
3. Garlic
One of the natural ingredients that can be used to help relieve a sore throat is garlic. This ability is owned because it contains antibacterial properties. However, the best way to get the benefits of garlic as a natural sore throat remedy is to chew it.
When crushed, garlic will release compounds that have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The name of the compound is allicin. In addition to chewing as much as one clove, another way that can be used is to suck it for 15 minutes.
If you can't afford to eat it raw, try mixing it with other ingredients, such as honey, olive oil, or making juice. However, allicin will be more effective if it is chewed raw.
4. Warm chicken soup
Never assume that good food can never be used as medicine. Warm chicken soup can be used as a natural remedy for sore throat, because this warm food can help reduce irritation and dry throat.
Enjoying soup when you are sick is easy and delicious, considering that this food is easy to swallow even if your throat hurts. By consuming liquid foods, such as soups, the nutrients the body needs to fight infection can be met, while also getting additional fluids to prevent dehydration.
5. Hot tea
Drinking warm tea can also be used as a natural remedy for sore throat. Hot tea of any kind, whether herbal or non-herbal, can help soothe a sore throat. One reason is that tea contains antioxidants that are predicted to strengthen the immune system and help ward off infections. To be optimal, add a teaspoon of honey to a cup of tea, so that a sore throat heals faster.
6. Licorice
This natural remedy for sore throat is also known as liquorice.Licorice It works by reducing inflammation and helping to thin mucus so that it can clear the airways. You can consume it by mixing licorice root into warm tea.
But keep in mind, pregnant and lactating women are advised not to use licorice as a natural remedy for sore throat, because it is feared that it can have an impact on the baby.
In addition to using various natural sore throat remedies that have been mentioned above, the thing that should not be forgotten is adopting a healthy lifestyle. One of them is to stop smoking, because smoking can cause a dry, irritated, and inflamed throat so that a sore throat will become more difficult to heal. Adequate rest also plays an important role in curing a sore throat. While sleeping, the immune system will be more effective against viruses or bacteria that cause disease.