Throat ailments are usually characterized by irritation, pain, and itchiness in your throat. Among the many prominent characteristics, pain reigns supreme. If your throat ailment or discomfort is still in its early stage, the effects are mild and tolerable. In more advanced cases, however, your throat ailment can lead to infections and other detrimental effects.
This is the reason why it’s very important to remedy throat ailments as soon as the first few symptoms arise. That way, you won’t have to be burdened by dealing with the pain, difficulty to swallow, and possibly even the sleep disruption it can bring.
With that said, here are seven easy remedies for throat ailments you can try out when the need arises.
1. Salt Water Gargle
Rinsing your mouth or gargling with salt water won’t give you immediate relief. But, it can be an effective remedy for killing bacteria. When your throat feels itchy, irritated, or starts to get painful, those could be early signs of bacteria possibly invading your throat. Rinsing with a salt water mixture can provide a solution to that problem right from the core.
All you have to do is to mix half a teaspoon of salt for every eight ounces of warm water. Gargle at least twice a day, or as needed.
2. Visit A Throat Doctor
Visiting throat doctors for children and adults is called for when you can no longer control the discomfort you feel from your throat ailment. When you visit a doctor, you can have a proper diagnosis and thorough check. This is important to ascertain the extent of the throat ailment. And, it allows you to be sure your throat ailment isn’t brought about by a more serious health concern.
The throat doctor will usually conduct a throat physical exam that includes:
- Listening to your breathing using a stethoscope;
- Using a lighted instrument to look at the throat, nasal passages, and ears;
- Conducting a throat swab;
- Getting feeling the neck to feel for any swollen lymph nodes.
3. Honey
Honey, when mixed into water to make honey tea, is also one of the most common household remedies for sore throats. This is because of its natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Many patients who actually use honey as their remedy of choice would choose it to tame their nighttime coughs and throat discomfort over other cough suppressants.
4. Lemon
Like salt water and honey, lemons are another easy and well-loved home remedy because of their antibacterial properties. Lemons are great for sore throats, as they’re effective at breaking up the mucus and providing pain relief.
If your throat ailment is caused by an infection, lemons may also help boost your immune system to fight off infection due to their high Vitamin C content. To make a lemon throat remedy, mix the juice from one lemon into a glass of warm water for immediate pain relief.
5. Rest
No remedy’s easier than resting. This means giving your body the time to heal and recuperate. Get plenty of sleep and rest your voice.
Sleep is important for the body to heal. If you don’t give yourself the time to rest and recover, your throat discomfort may just progress even more. You need to give your immune system the opportunity to properly protect your body from disease-causing germs.
6. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is one of the most soothing types of tea you can have. For many years now, it has been a trusted household remedy for many common ailments – sore throat included. Chamomile tea is also often used for its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties.
If you’re a tea lover particularly when the winter season comes, then chamomile tea should definitely have its place in your pantry. Doing so may help stimulate the body’s immune system so your body can fight off the infection that’s causing your sore throat.
7. Humidifier
For those who live in a four-seasoned country, you’d understand how investing in a humidifier is a good idea. If you noticed an increase in your frequency of sore throats during the cold months, that may be because the air in your home is dry.
A humidifier is a good must-have, as it has the ability to keep the air moist, therefore also opening up your sinuses. If you want additional relief, adding a tablespoon or two of vapor rub may also help.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are so many possible remedies for your throat discomfort. And, the good thing about these remedies is that they’re easy to do and follow through at home. However, this isn’t to say that the remedies above can replace a doctor’s opinion.
When, despite applying the remedies above, symptoms still persist, it’s always best to consult with a throat doctor. By doing so, you can get an effective remedy for your ailment. Also, going to the doctor can ascertain that your throat ailment or discomfort isn’t any other serious sign of a more pressing problem.