Soothe Your Sore Throat Naturally with Cayenne Pepper

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Posted by Kaylee (Hyde Park, Utah) on 11/20/2008
★★★★★

I tried the Cayenne remedy for my sore throat. I read about one person who tried mixing the Cayenne with bullion and it got me thinking. I don't really enjoy downing hot drinks, but being in college, I have a lot of Ramen Noodles around. I made some of the noodles and then put 1/4 tsp of the pepper (I accidentally put a little too much in, so be careful!) in the normal amount of broth. I felt immediate results while just eating lunch. Drinking the broth afterwards is suggested, but I found it a bit difficult to do. I also tried just a little bit of the pepper straight on my tongue. Not a lot, but just enough to taste. It wasn't uncomfortably hot, but it gave just enough heat that when I breathed it would go to my throat and soothe it.

Cayenne

Posted by Stef (Jacksonville, FL) on 11/11/2008
★★★★★

I have had the worst sore throat this past week I can't eat I can hardly drink and unfortunately don't have insurance right now. I Googled sore throat cures and found this sight. I tried one of the first remedies I found which was 3 shakes of Cayenne Pepper to one cup of hot water and INSTANTLY I started feeling better. It's almost completely normal again! I hope it lasts!

Cayenne

Posted by Kim (Maplewood, MN) on 11/07/2008
★★★★★

WOW! I was having trouble sleeping because my throat and tonsils hurt so bad. I've never experienced such sharp burning and sore pain like that before. I hate spicy foods, but a few sprinkles of cayenne pepper in some hot water and just one sip helped immediately! ...3 shakes of pepper to one cup water.

Cayenne

Posted by Rodney (Kaysville, UT - USA) on 11/04/2008
★★★★★

Many thanks to both the Yea and Nays. My daughter brought home "that 1st ugly cold" of the year and I've been off work for 2 days with this horrid sore throat and a cough that won't stop. I am trying the cayenne pepper with a small can of V8 vegetable juice. Wow! I'm glad I had a V8...with cayenne pepper. My ears have quit hurting...they're burning a little, but I think it is from the infection that was trying to harbor in there. My sinuses have opened and my throat is not sore anymore, just a pleasant kick. I used a small can + 3/4 tsp (pretty strong) of cayenne. For those that don't tolerate hot/spicy foods, start out with 1/4 tsp. Good Luck!

Cayenne

Posted by Stel (Sydney, Australia) on 11/02/2008
★★★★★

I have had a sore throat for 2 weeks now. I was prescribed antibiotics but they had no effect after finishing the course, so I was then re-diagnosed with a viral infection.

I've been trying to ride it out since. I've been taking lozenges with anaesthetic agents in them to ease the soreness, as well as an iodine gargle, which is supposed to kill viruses and bacteria. Both have only had temporary effects. So as a last resort, I bought some Cayenne pepper, after reading the many comments on this website.

My concoction is based on the good old honey lemon water recipe.

- 1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper
- 1/2 lemon, squeezed
- 2 tsps honey
- 1 tsp raw sugar
- Water, boiled

I'm drinking my first cup right now, and I can definitely say that there has been an immediate improvement. I am actually not a fan of chilli and spices, but this drink goes down quite nicely. It doesn't taste that much different from the standard honey lemon drink, except it has a nice kick to it. I am noting that the further down the cup I go, the spicier it gets, as the Cayenne pepper tends to settle down to the bottom. Cayenne pepper seems to only produce a kick in my throat; I don't feel it in my mouth at all. And it feels nice! The razor-in-throat feeling has now been replaced by a spicy tingle.

As it is only my first day of drinking Cayenne pepper, time will tell whether the sore throat will go away once and for all. I will definitely continue drinking this in the next hours/days, as the short-term effects at least are noticeably positive.

Cayenne

Posted by Elizabeth (Hollywood, CA) on 11/02/2008
★★★★★

Cayenne Pepper for sore throat!

Yesterday I woke up with a wicked sore throat, every time I swallowed it was like swallowing razor blades, and the infection had spread to my ears, because my ears were burning as well.

Today I read about using the cayenne pepper and decided to give it a try.

At 12:00 noon, I drank 1 cup of chicken broth with 1/4 teaspoon cayenne. I didn't notice a change in my throat right away, but the burning and pressure in my eardrums went away immediately.

At 1:30 I drank a cup of tea with:

1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey.

THIS REALLY WORKS! Immediately after finishing the tea, I felt 50% better. I will drink some more in about 2 hours.

Good luck and feel better!

Replied by Ouida
(West, Texas)
11/19/2008
★★★★★

Thanks for the recipe. I used mint tea, 2 tsp honey and 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper in a mug and have been sipping it. I can tell a difference in the sharpness of the pain. After having several children I am pretty pain tolerant but this throat pain had me up at all hours of the night and I am exhausted. Thanks. It seems to be at least taking the edge off but I suspect that in a day I will feel much better all around.

Cayenne

Posted by Terri (Brisbane, Australia) on 10/28/2008
★★★★★

Thanks to Karen from Pennsylvania (10/15/2008) I think I've discovered the ultimate Aussie version of this amazing cure! This poster mentioned mixing the cayenne with bullion. I adapted the suggestion by mixing a scant 1/4 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper (extra hot) with one teaspoon of Vegemite in near boiling water. Yes, my lips and mouth burned, but it was far more palatable than straight water & cayenne. I'm still sipping it as I write this and 90 minutes after taking my first dose, the swollen throat that kept me awake last night and in pain all day is 70% better.

Like others, I intend to persist. The side benefit of this mix is that Vegemite (a yeast extract similar to Marmite/Promite) is a rich source of vitamin B. A teaspoon of Vegemite mixed with hot water is a popular old cold & flu remedy. Thanks to all for their feedback and variations.

PS: Remember to stir before every sip. If you have trouble tolerating the burning sensation on your lips and don't have Vaseline at hand, try sipping it through a straw.

Cayenne

Posted by Teresa (Hopewell, NJ) on 10/28/2008
★★★★★

Hi! I recently tried the Cayenne pepper remedy for a sore throat and found it really did relieve the pain. First I tried it mixed with just water, about 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon in a small galss of water. I gargled and also sipped the solution and found it did numb the pain. The next morning I felt much better and took another "dose" this time mixed with vegetable juice, and now the soreness is just about gone! Thanks!

Cayenne

Posted by Ella (Beaverton, Oregon United States) on 10/26/2008
★☆☆☆☆

I tried the cayenne pepper remedy, and gargled and drank it straight with water, like some other people did...It did not work at all. I gargled 5 times and drank it, it hurt so bad, but I thought it would work. It didn't. Pain and agony was all it caused me.

My advice: Do not try this with just water.

These were the measurements that I used:
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp cayenne

Thanks so much.

Replied by Gmong
(Anchorage, AK USA)
10/27/2008

Ella, the cayenne pepper works for most people, but not for everyone. When I first started taking cayenne pepper I'd add about 1/4 teaspoon to 4 oz. of orange juice (with the pulp). The sugar in the pulp neutralized the "hot" taste in the pepper, and made it into a slightly tangy and refreshing drink. My husband has a very weak stomach, and cannot eat spicy foods and he was able to drink this.

From the very little I've read it seems that either salt or sugar will neutralize a large portion of the pain that a person may experience when eating cayenne pepper.

But the cayenne pepper remedy is not for everyone, there are some side effects that certain people experience if they take too large of a dose (dizziness, for example), and for some people it simply doesn't help at all.

Replied by Gmong
(Anchorage, AK USA)
10/29/2008

For people with weak stomachs, try taking 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper with 6-8 oz orange juice and see how it works. It's been so long since I've used this remedy that I was confused on the recipe a bit. I can take the 1/4 teaspoon with 4 oz of orange juice successfully and need to take it in that dosage to see progress. DH needs 1/8 teaspoon with 6-8 oz.

Cayenne

Posted by TM (Medford, NY) on 10/22/2008
★★★★★

I woke up this morning with a killer sore throat. Tried a salt water gargle, chloraseptic (which worked temporarily). So when I googled sore throat remedies I found your site. seeing all the positive results for cayenne pepper I gave it a try. I mixed up a tea spoonful in a V8 and sipped at it. I have to say it really worked. I am now able to talk with no throat pain. thank you very much and keep up the good work.

Cayenne

Posted by Tricia (Paw Paw, Michigan) on 10/19/2008
★★★☆☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

Cayenne Pepper (sore throat)

I had such a sore throat. I couldn't even swallow or breathe. I heard about this method, so I added 1/4 teaspoon to water about three-five times a day for three days and drank it. It definitely worked temporarily. For about 3 hours after I drank it, breathing and swallowing weren't even a problem. Eventually though, it would come back.

After I had had this problem for a week and had been trying the pepper remedy for three days, I went to the doctor. I didn't have strep throat, but she put me on an antibiotic and THAT made it go away.

All in all, for me cayenne peppers were good for temporary relief, but they were not a cure for my sore throat.

Cayenne

Posted by Frank (Morgan Hill, CA) on 10/15/2008
★★★★★

I am shocked by cayenne pepper results. Thank you for publishing results. I am an Architect. On Monday evening I was unable to talk due to sore throat. Today is Wednesday and I am near 100%. I have been keeping cayenne pepper in my briefcase because it works so well. I felt obligated to find this site a second time to say thank you.

Cayenne

Posted by Karen (Birdsboro, Pennsylvania) on 10/15/2008
★★★★★

I read about using cayanne pepper on this website and decided to try it as I always get sore throats when the weather changes. My doctor always tells me to gargle with salt water but it only gives temporary relief at best.

Since I like bullion I decided to make really strong bullion (2 cubes to 1 cup of water) to take the place of the salt water and then added cayanne pepper 1/8th tsp. That way I could keep sipping it and swallowing it rather than spitting it out.

I couldn't believe how quickly this worked and have been using this ever since.

Cayenne

Posted by Don (Southwest, Michigan, USA) on 10/10/2008
★★★★★

The dry sharp painful sore throat that is going around this fall (2008) seems to respond to cayenne pepper and garlic tea. At least it worked for me. . The garlic powder is optional but you must use the cayenne. Put 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper powder and 1/8 tsp. garlic powder into a mug of hot hot water. Sip it slowly to let the brew linger at the back of the throat before swallowing. Keep the cayenne circulated in the water while drinking. Take it about every hour or so until the pain is gone. It only took three cups for my sore throat to dissappear. Note: I notice that some people use orange juice to cool the pepper. To me, the warmth of the water and the pepper is soothing and part of the healing process.

Cayenne

Posted by Julie (Chapin, IA) on 10/09/2008
★★★★★

Cayenne Peper cured my sore throat. I must admit I was skeptical, but I decided to give it a try. I had such a sore throat that was working it's way into my right ear yesterday. I have had this since Monday and could barely stand it, so I looked up home remedies for sore throat and this website came up. I gargled once at 1pm yesterday and again at 7pm. I woke up this morning and it there was still just a small throb and pain so I gargled again this morning. By 11 am it was gone. I could swallow without pain in my throat or ear!