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.
Pineapple Juice
Posted by S (NJ)
★★★★★
I usually drink pineapple, as hot as I can stand it at the first sign of a cold. The morning after there are no more symptoms. This is also an amazing remedy for an established sore throat or voice loss due to a cold. I suffered with a raw throat and loss of my voice for 2 weeks, then someone suggested drinking hot pineapple juice... the next morning, I had my voice back and my throat was no longer raw.
Pineapple Juice
Posted by Francisca (Zug, Switzerland) on 01/07/2012
Lou, I agree with you as far as pineapples goes, at least the real ones! In Europe now you see mostly the ultra-sweet ones which I believe are manipulated to produce always the sweetest pineapples. I try to stay away from those. Actually many fruit we eat now seems to be manipulated to contain more sugar, maybe to cover up the fact that they don't taste like anything anymore! I love kakis and till a little while ago I could find the traditional ones you eat very ripe, which are lovely but now I only find sharon fruit and those too are manipulated. They took away the tannin and they look just like they are made of plastic. I tried them a little while ago and it was almost like eating an apple just it wasn't an apple, very weird and they never seem to ripen.
Even pears nowadays are awfully sweet, too bad because we need the vitamins but not the sugar. When we go and live in our new house we will be growing quite a bit of fruit ourselves! The problem is that you have to stay away from the modern manipulated kinds!
Listerine
Posted by Robinhood ! (Janesville, ca.) on 12/25/2020
★★★★★
Sore throat, I just take 1/2 tsp of listerine "original", hold my head up and pour it down, keep looking up and let it trickle down, and if it doesn't work, do it again in 2 hours.
It kills a sore throat almost every time. I had a bad one the other day and did it, but the next day it bothered me again so I did it once and bang gone 3rd day now and no problems.
Remember 1/2 teaspoon, and good to go :) It might work for a virus also, don't know about that though, might try it, it kills germs!
Preserved Salted Lemons
Posted by Becksnyc (Cleveland, Ohio) on 10/11/2016
★★★★★
Preserved salted lemons for sore throat
A Chinese friend introduced me to this cure for sore throat. It doesn't taste great, but works faster than anything I've ever taken. You fill a jar with lemons (organic), cover with rock salt (I prefer pink Himalayan) and let them rot. The salt draws the juice from the lemon, she advised taking a teaspoon in a cup of hot water. I add raw local honey. The lemons mold as they rot, so persons sensitive to mold-based products like penicillin may wish to avoid this. I've read online that you can also use limes & kumquats and that this concoction can still be used a decade later. That has also been my experience.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey
Posted by Ssaunders95 (Baytown) on 03/03/2016
★★★★★
I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar with honey and water. I gargled it twice and rinsed with water. It was all I could stand, but I believe it did help. I almost certain I have strep throat. My ears have bothered me more than anything. My throat is red, grey and white. Afterward, it wasn't grey. I am about to do the same with pure lemon juice. I know it is effect in cleansing the body of in bacteria.
Vinegar and Water Compress
Posted by Jane (Fordingbridge, England) on 01/15/2015
★★★★★
For a sore throat, I have often used a vinegar and water compress pinned around my neck and covered carefully with dry towel, left on all night. Since the body is known to be electric, it is obvious that the acid in the vinegar could assist with re-establishing normality.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Mimmings (Alpharetta, Ga) on 03/25/2014
★★★★★
My mom has always sworn by oil of oregano, but just recently did she convince me to try it. I have taken it the past 4 times I have had the hint of a sore throat, and it completely eliminated it! I had a sore throat yesterday, and put 3 drops in a small amount of water... I would say within an hour, my sore throat was gone and today I feel 100%! I am not sure how well it would work on a sore throat after a few days, as I have always knocked them out at the first sign. This stuff is amazing! It has a strong taste, but not awful, and it may burn a bit going down. You can chase it with a glass of cool water.
Vinegar
Posted by Dubdroid (West Midlands, Uk) on 10/05/2013
★★★★★
Managed to cure my sore throat in a very short time by buying a medium sized jar of pickled onions in sweet vinegar, chewing slowly and drinking small amounts of the vinegar with each swallow. May slightly aggravate stomach ulcer sufferers but also helps ease those with symptoms of gaseous Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This remedy is not as damaging to the throat lining as gargling salt in my opinion - and decidedly a more pleasant experience. Also took an occasional combination of a dissolved aspirin and 2 Ibuprofen - no more than 4 times in 24hrs. Seems to ease pain and improve blood circulation for antibody attack on infection. Seriously cured my sore throat within 2 days. The occasional teaspoon of honey swallowed slowly at the back of the throat also helps. Recommended.
Cayenne, Salt, Lemon
Posted by Dori (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) on 03/06/2013
★★★★★
I am in a play and dress rehearsal is tonight! I woke with a sore throat yesterday, hoping rest would take it away... Still here this morning. Went online and found the mixture of 1/2 tsp of each: cayenne, salt, lemon juice in 1/2 cup of water. WOW. First gargle took the sore throat away! Will repeat today until this evening. I did swallow the second gargle and tolerated it well.
Tomato Tea
Posted by Hedandsam (Perrysburg, Ohio) on 01/30/2013
★★★★★
Love the Tomato Tea for colds and sore throat! It totally cured my terrible sore throat, and my husband said it really helped him too. Just getting over a cold and this has helped me feel much better very quickly, and could actually sleep thru the night for a change. Thank you so much!
Salt Water
Posted by Turtle6685 (Dallas, Tx) on 01/28/2013
★★★★★
Since I was a child we would gargle warm water with salt to get rid of sore throats. It works wonders. Use 1 tsp of salt for 8 oz of water. Do this every 4 to 6 hours and sore throat should be gone within 24 hours.
Salt Water
Posted by Vikki (Solihull, Uk) on 02/27/2013
★★★★★
When we are kids we gargle with anything, but as u get older u get boring & forget!
Had severe sore throat for couple days now from blocked/runny sinuses. Decided to do the salt water gargle, started with small mouthfuls first then built my way up!! Plus kitchen towel on hand. After first cup I coughed up (sorry) lots of phlegm, did a second cup & feel much better.
Also had lemon juice (from bottle in fridge), honey & hot water as a "chaser". Have filled up my gardening flask & going to sip it tucked up in bed. Will repeat later & see how it goes. Anything's worth a try & cheaper than meds, plus the old ones are the best ;-)
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Daniel (Redding, California Usa) on 12/24/2012
★☆☆☆☆
Story: I am 13 years old, and its the day before Christmas eve. And I was sick the day before (Now just a sore throat)
First I gargled salt water (1 tsp/8oz) 3 times, every 10 mins. Cooked up some lemon-herb tea (Excessive honey). Then I found some leftover pasta and sauce from dinner, so I warmed that up, put alot of black pepper in it, and ate it... For the last part (Not necessary) Drank a sip of Soy-Egg-Nog to make my throat feel better before bed.
Morning results: Even worse...
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Sheila (Cork, Ireland) on 12/28/2012
Sage tea works every time for a sore throat. Add a teaspoon of dried sage to a cup of boiling water, cover and leave for 5-10 minutes, then drink slowly.
Brandy
Posted by Steve (Epsom, Surrey England) on 12/21/2012
★★★★★
Thought I'd share this adult remedy that I've used for 20 years. If you've got a sore throat coming on....... Gargle with Brandy 3 or 4 times in one night (not cheap supermarket brand stuff because I've tried that and it doesn't work). The next day your throat will be gone.
Turmeric
Posted by Charlie (Jacksonville, Fl) on 12/13/2012
★★★★★
Turmeric powder! Its a miracle worker! Gargle some of this in warm water a couple times and bam! Your sore throat is gone! I swear! Old Indian secret taught to me by a friend.
Iodine
Posted by Mundaring (Perth, Western Australia) on 11/10/2012
★★★★★
Over the past 6 months since discovering Earth Clinic I have revised how I deal with health issues. Waking up with a sore throat I would generally have tried an OTC remedy. I decided to gargle a few drops of iodine in a teaspoon of filtered water. I thank God it worked within 30 minutes to alleviate my pain. VOILA!
Mouthwash
Posted by Katy (Brighton, England) on 09/23/2012
★★★★★
Wow. I tried this and felt fine almost instantly! I did things a little different though, I watered down some mouthwash and swallowed that and it worked just as well! Thank you!
