10 Best Natural Remedies for Soothing a Sore Throat

Hot Sauce

Posted by Chris (Springfield, MO) on 02/11/2008
★★★★★

I've found another good vehicle for the cayenne sore throat cure is bouillon broth. It ads to the beneficial effects of the hotness the other beneficial effects of salt exposure. I don't have any cayenne or Tabasco on hand (and the weather is not such that I can easily get out and get them right now), but I have Sriracha, which is a hot pepper/garlic sauce I got from a local Oriental food market. I mixed a teaspoon or so of it with the beef bouillon (didn't really measure, just squirted a glob in that looked about that size), and it worked well.

Cayenne Pepper Recipes

Posted by Laura (Pittsburgh, PA) on 02/05/2008
★★★★★

I tried James' remedy tea first. Let me say, I HATE vinegar, and it was god awful to swallow down. I took about 4 sips, gargling first, then swallowing. My throat has gone from razorblades to feeling just swollen, but thankfully, ABLE TO SWALLOW! I'm not suprised it worked, based on all the reviews. I will suggest that you follow what another post said and mix equal parts honey to apple cider vinegar if you can't stand the taste of vinegar. I don't mind the cayenne, so I still mixed about an 1/8 teaspoon with 2 TBS honey and 2 TBS ACV. I added a bit of hot water (like 1/4 cup) and a dash of lemon juice. I gargled and swallowed this. I think I will continue to do the "shots" as opposed to the tea. BUT IT DOES WORK! I managed to eat a nice chocolate donut (ah comfort food) within 10 minutes. AWESOME!!! I will continue every two hours throughout the day with the shots. I imagine adding some ginger may help, as well.

Cod Liver Oil

Posted by Sherry (Athens, Georgia) on 01/24/2008
★★★★★

I have found that taking a tablespoon full of cod liver oil the first thing in the morning has taken care of the onset of a sore throat. I also, take it throughout the day as needed.

Also, I've been introduced to Oil of Oregano. I started with 1 drop in the cod liver oil, because it is soooo potent. I mix it well and take, letting the spicy hot numbing effect do its work in my mouth and throat. I now take 3 drops at a time.

Cayenne Tips

Posted by Blue1965 (Stafford, Virginia) on 12/28/2007

To remove the burning from your mouth after using cayenne pepper or chilli pepper, take a slice of bread and push it down on your tongue & the roof of your mouth. The pepper grounds stick to the bread and come right off the skin inside of the mouth. You might have to move the bread around to get it all but it stops the burning.

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Dana (Fort Worth, Texas) on 12/05/2007
★★★★★

I have had a sore throat twice in the last two weeks, probably due to allergies, and both times I have COMPLETELY kicked it by gargling with tea tree oil mouthwash (I found it at a health food store). I would use it maybe 3 or 4 times during the day whenever it started hurting again, but w/each use it hurt less and then was all gone! Gasp! It had felt swollen as well and that also went away... it just seemed to kill whatever was causing it. I didn't even gargle that long, since it has a sort of medicinal, monkey urine flavor --but don't be scared. Hope this helps somebody!

Hand Therapy

Posted by Heatre (R'dale , us) on 09/14/2007
★★★★☆

i tried the hand n throat thing! it made less pain but didn't make my sore throat go away! it works better if while you are doing this not to open your mouth!

Hot Sauce

Posted by AL (Kuching, Malaysia) on 08/30/2007
★★★★★

I had read alot of positive feedback about using cayenne pepper powder to cure sore throat but unfortunately, in this part of the world, cayenne pepper isn't easy to find. So I thought I'd try a substitute instead-pure chilli powder which we keep an abundant supply because we cook curries so much.Then I decided to combine the other effective ingredient which have been also highly recommended by readers here-ACV! I had a terrible sore throat which was hurting very badly so I mixed a teaspoon of chilli powder with a 1/4 cup of ACV, then diluted the mixture with 1/2 cup of warm water and gargled 1/2 of it. The back of the throat burned a little but I didn't make much out of it. Then I rinsed my mouth and drank some water before going to bed.It didn't seem any better immediately after but the next morning , when I woke up, the pain in the throat was gone although I still felt as if a cough was still going to come up.I gargled the mixture again throughout the day, about 2 hourly and by evening, the sore throat was totally gone. I tried it with my children, aged 4 -13 and it worked for all of them too. Although my 4- year old felt it was too hot for her, she quickly took a chip of ice to cool her throat down. I must also add, it will not work if it's only done once a day-it will only be effective if it's gargled at least 3-4 hourly and for a very bad sore throat, every 2 hours.

Black Tea

Posted by Cheska (Dahab, Egypt) on 08/21/2007
★★★★★

This is the most amazing cure! when i got throat infections they would then travel into my lungs and then only antibiotics would cure it, but recently my homeopath told me to make a cup of very strong black tea (2 teaspoons of tea in 2/3 cup of boiling water) then add 1/3 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, when it has cooled a little gargle half the cup, try keep gargling each mouthful for a long time and as deep in your throat as possible then spit all of it out down sink. repeat with other half of cup a few hours later and then again with a fresh cup a few hours after that, you will see the sore throat disappear!

ACV and Raspberry Tea

Posted by Lynn (Waterville, Maine) on 08/15/2007
★★★★★

I learned about raspberry tea and started using a cup of warm raspberry tea with 1/2tsp of apple cider vinegar to gargle with and spit back out. I freaked when I saw the gunk it was nasty. If caught in time it gives a nice relief of a sore throat. From time to time I just gargle to keep from getting a build up of gunk. Especially during allergy seasons. I hope this helps as it did for me.

Vicks Vapor Rub

Posted by Esvl (Strand, South Africa) on 07/14/2007
★★★★★

I tried the sore throat cure of vicks vapour rub and a scarve around my neck and it helped.

Acidophilus

Posted by Tamara (Yukon, OK) on 08/17/2008

Acidophilus can actually be taken with an antibiotic and should be taken with an antibiotic. This is why.... antibiotics kill good and bad bacteria. When the good bacteria is killed, it can cause diarrhea or a yeast infection. The probiotic, acidophilus, will help keep the normal flora, or good bacteria intact and help prevent antibiotic associated diarrhea or yeast infections.

Cayenne Tips

Posted by Helen (Toronto, Canada) on 04/21/2007

Cayenne pepper remedy cured my sore throat. This helped: Cover lips with vaseline before gargling. Keep tongue up by the roof of the mouth when sipping. Finally, keep a cold wet washcloth while gargling, wipe lips (especially inner lips) and tongue with it, it helps. Rinse washcloth every time to remove pepper dust from cloth. Washcloth dipped in icy ice cube water works best. Stinging from pepper subsided within a few minutes.

Hot Sauce

Posted by Lori (Oklahoma) on 11/25/2016

Hey,

I use hot sauce sometimes for the sinuses, and sometimes if I can't get warmer because I'm cold natured! Seems to help! But even though I like hot sauce I don't eat hot sauce alot. Helps with the sinuses, feels like u have a fireball in your tummy throat and on your lips, but u know if it works it works! Have a great day

Cayenne Tips

Posted by Gail (Las Vegas, Nv) on 02/14/2011

Let the cayenne and glycerin sit for two days? My throat hurt so bad I didn't have time to wait. I mixed it according to your suggestion and immediately dropped it into my throat. Mixing it with glycerine did produce a sweet flavor. Within in minutes I was able to swallow with much less discomfort.

I'd like to know why I should wait two days before using the concoction.

Thanks

Coconut Oil

Posted by Sunny (Ca) on 09/05/2021

You don't need to use the clove and it will still work. But I'm sure the clove powder makes it better.

Epsom Salt

Posted by Michelle (Phoenix, AZ) on 01/28/2007
★★★☆☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

i soaked in a bath with epsom salt and when i got out i felt way better! my throat did not hurt at all. But it only takes the pain away for a couple hours. But its better than nothing.

Vicks Vapor Rub

Posted by Mark (Toronto, ON) on 02/04/2006
★★★★★

I tried Vics Vaporub last night and it helps. I think I will try it again for several days on my neck, chest and back before going to sleep.

Vicks Vapor Rub

Posted by Lindsey (Rising City) on 01/11/2006
★★★★★

I tried Vics vapor rub after my mom and her friend told me about it. You put some on your neck, wrap your neck in a towel and safty pin the towel shut. I usually do this before I go to bed and the next morning, my sore throat is gone along with my stuff nose! WORKS GREAT!

Hand Therapy

Posted by Bob (Mesa, AZ)
★★★★★

When I have a sore throat, I place the palm of my hand across my throat with fingers on one side and thumb on the other. The heat generated from the contact of my hand ends my soreness after about 15 or 20 minutes. It works most of the time for me.

Hand Therapy

Posted by Dolly (Dallas, Tx) on 09/24/2011
★★★★★

I had a really bad sore throat, so bad it hurt to swallow, talk, eat, even drink a glass of water or tea. I found this website and tried the hand therapy, I'm not sure why but I tried it and withing 3 minutes the my throat healed. No lie and I was sick for 3 days before I tried it. The pain was gone and my throat felt smoother I could swallow without wincing.