The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Cayenne
Posted by Jen (Orlando, FL) on 12/21/2008
★★★★★
You have GOT to be kidding me. I've had one of the worst sore throats of my life for the past few days. I had been trying to take over the counter cold medicine, but nothing worked at all. Then tonight when I tried to go to sleep, my throat was throbbing so bad that I could feel the pain in both ears - I didn't think I could stand it anymore, so I got out of bed to Google some late night urgent care clinics in my area. Since it was a Sunday night, everything had closed early...the only option left was the Emergency Room, which seemed a little drastic, even though I did consider it since my pain was so bad.
I stumbled across this site when I searched for 'sore throat remedy' - I've never tried any home remedies for anything before. I started reading through the testimonials on this cayenne pepper trick and I decided to give it a try. I figured it wouldn't make me feel any worse, so why not. And my husband was in bed already, so he wouldn't be there to make fun of me throwing random spices around in the kitchen at midnight.
I'm not a huge fan of most teas, and I couldn't stand the thought of just mixing cayenne pepper with water, so I decided to use canned soup, and then add the cayenne pepper as a seasoning. I'm not even done with the soup right now and I feel GREAT! Better than I have in the past few days. Granted, I still have a cold, so I still have the runny nose (even though the spicy flavor helped clean that out a bit too!), a tiny bit of a sore throat and a little bit of a cough...but WOW...this is amazing.
I used:
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 can of canned soup (I actually had a 'mexican style' soup flavor at the house, which worked well with the seasoning... but it will probably work with anything!)
I also kept a small glass of pulp-free orange juice nearby, since other posters said they needed to use it to cool off the heat at times - I definitely did!
This is amazing - if you have a sore throat...DO THIS! I wish I would have known about this years ago! I realize it may not work for everyone, but I'm glad I'm one of the people it works for.
Cayenne
Posted by Alice (Raleigh, North Carolina USA) on 12/19/2008
★★★★★
Thank you so very much for this site. I am plagued by sinus issues and each time the seasons change, I get sick. It always starts off with a sore throat due to the post nasal drip in the back of my throat. But this time after years and years of dealing with this and taking medications upon medications, I decided to try a remedy for sore throat. Saw this website and tried the pepper. It works!! Yes, there is some discomfort from the pepper. Put vaseline on your lips before you start. Just stick with it and take it consistently for about 24 to 48 hours. Repeating every 4 hours or so. Also it is better if you start taking the mixture at the FIRST sign of a sore throat. I also rinse with Neil Med Nasal Sinus Rinse after gargling with cayenne pepper solution. It works people, it simply works!! What have you got to lose...a sore throat?
Cayenne
Posted by Ivanna (Springfield Gardens, USA) on 12/17/2008
★★★★★
I was realy freaking out because a week before I was to sing at my talent show I got a sore throat. The show is tomorrow and my throat has gotten so bad that it is hard to talk let alone sing. I tried the first thing I saw and I instanly felt better. My dad even said he could here my voice from outside (in a good way). I hope this keeps us because I have some high notes to sing.
Cayenne
Posted by Marx (SG, Singapore) on 12/13/2008
★★★★★
Saying HI from Singapore! YES! Gargled for few times using MAX limit i can withstand the spiciness b4 bed. Cayenne Pepper really cured MOST of my throat the nex following day!
Cayenne
Posted by Robert (New York, NY) on 12/12/2008
★★★★★
The worst sore throat I can remember in my life. White spots on the tonsils, the ears starting to have pressure. A mess in other words. I couldn't sleep, so ended up hunting for remedies and found this site at 2:30AM in the morning. A quick trip to the kitchen, find the Cayenne powder and after 10 minutes of gargling, 5 minutes apart, blessed relief. I was asleep 45 minutes later. Thanks very much.
Cayenne
Posted by Mike (langley, B.C. CANADA) on 12/06/2008
★★★★★
Cayenne for Sore throat. Gargled with it and put some in my Clamato juice and drank it. Sore throat was almost completly go in a few minutes. Awesome. Thanks.
Cayenne
Posted by Jeff (Pittsburgh, PA) on 12/01/2008
★★★★★
I was on day 4 of the worst sore throat that I had ever experienced. I am sure it was strep throat but never went to a doctor. After researching this site I finally developed a remedy: 1 cup hot water, 3 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar, 3 tablespoons Honey and enough Cayenne Pepper to cover the entire top layer of water (5-6 sprinkles). Then I gargled then swallowed about 4 full mouth full every 30 minutes to an hour over a 6 hour period. I went from severe pain (9 of 10) to slight pain (2 of 10) within 4 hours. I also sprinkled the Cayenne Pepper on dinner, The next morning the sore throat was completely gone. Side note: On day 3 of my sore throat I tried gargling and swallowing ACV and hot water for a 7 hour period, this only gave me temporary relief but the sore throat was back in full swing the next day.
Cayenne
Posted by Celena (Albuquerque, NM) on 11/29/2008
★★★★★
I found mixing cayenne pepper with Odwalla Superfood works well to ease the pain of a sore throat. i used 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 6-8 ounces of superfood The superfood helps with the burn and also has iodine and immune boosting vitamins.
Cayenne
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 Ouida (West, Texas) on 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 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!
