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.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Rosa (Chicago, Il) on 02/18/2009
★★★★★
warm salt water for relief of sore throat; I was looking for a desparate cure for a severe sore throat late at nignt w/o having to use meds and this remedy helped immediatly. I used 2cups warm water with 3tspns salt and gargaled with it, the results helped the swelling go down immediatly and helped me sleep asap. when I woke up I repeated the treatment and the results improved drasticly. It will take a few times to completely get rid of the sore throat.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Emma (Glasgow, Scotland) on 02/10/2012
Yea gargling warm salt water made my throat a whole lot painfuller but what I found works, is if you fill up a glass of cold water and add a teaspoon of salt mix it and then drink it you get instant relief.. Hope this helps but yea salt is a life saver!
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Ty (London) on 07/01/2012
Umm, just for the people who are saying it hurt loads, It's MEANT to hurt, it's like if you rub alcohol on a wound to sterilise something it will hurt right? There's a Chinese saying, No Pain, No Gain.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Alexis (Essexville, Mi Usa) on 02/20/2011
YES!!!!!! This helps A LOT!! I've had a sore throat for 3 days now and this defiantly helps :D
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Bob (Timnbuktu, Timnbuktan) on 11/17/2007
★★★★★
Salt water and Sodium Bicarbonate Gargle the best sore throat cure -- Ingredients: Half a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate and a teaspoon of salt. Mix: Place bicarb and salt into mug. Add apx two tablespoons of boiling hot water (a quater a cup). The temperature actiates the bicarb and salt and it bubbles furiously for a few seconds. Add cool water until temperature is warm/hot cool enough to gargle -and gargle it until all gone. The bicarb helps break down the mucous and permits the salt to do its job
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Beth (Clearfield, PA) on 08/16/2007
★★★★★
I really enjoy this site and have tried some of the suggestions with much success. I have been ready about the Cayenne Pepper for a sore throat. I can't even imagine how that must feel. I am not a fan of spicy hot things so I know I would never try the Cayenne Pepper. If there is anyone out there that is not a fan of this type of remedy, I have one that I have used for years with total success. Gargle with salt water. I can't give you the exact measurements, because I don't make the same amount every time, but I can tell you that the solution should not be any saltier than your tears which is not all the salty. This remedy has worked every time for me and my family. My husband's aunt, who was an army nurse during WWII, told me that they used salt and sugar solutions to cure a lot of things years ago when she was growing up. Both items have healing properties when used correctly. Hope this suggestion helps someone.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Rachel (Fort Worth, Texas) on 10/18/2012
@Roberto, I felt the same way however I tried the baking soda and salt instead as mentioned in another post; to my surprise it gave me some relief. I'm guessing the baking soda really released the mucus because that's whats coming up now but it feels better. By the way I did two cup fulls of gargling before the relief came. I'm doing another two in the morning- Good luck to all and thanks for all suggestions.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Norman (Anaheim, CA) on 12/07/2006
★★★★★
it's now 12:20am. been lying in bed and trying to sleep since 10:30pm but my constant coughing and really sore throat prevent me from sleeping so i got up and google "the best way to cure sore throat" and this site is on the top of the results. since the only thing that's available for me at this hour is the salt, i tried and gave it a shot. i heated up water and put a great amount of salt on it. i gargled it and i really felt much better. although, i can still feel it being sore, it made me stop coughing and the itchiness on my throat is gone. thanks!
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Lashyah (Orlando, FL) on 02/01/2006
★☆☆☆☆
salt and water, i did gargle salt and water and it helped me get my voice back but i'm still suffering from strep throat does any one have a cure for that?
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Winslow (Pittsburgh, Pa) on 11/27/2009
um... try going to the doc where he or she will prescribe you some amoxicillan. Its for bacterial infections such as strep throat. There's no gargling cure for that.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Christina (USA) on 01/17/2006
★★★★★
YES USING SALT WATER DID HELP SOOTHE MY THROAT, BUT ALSO IT IS BETTER WITH COLD SALT WATER. HOW CAN SALT REDUCE SORENESS THOUGH I JUST DON'T GET IT.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Tammy (Pampa, Tx) on 01/11/2006
★★★★★
I had a really bad sore throat, but was really hungry. I snacked on some really salty peanuts. It a matter of minutes my sore throat was no longer hurting. I do believe that salt really works. I used to do the salt and water as a child. Pickle juice seemed to work as well.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Ruth (Fountain Inn, SC)
★★★★★
I swear by gargling salt water. My mom always used it. I tried that chloraseptic spray, it only numbs. Cough drops don't work because once you eat them they are gone. Salt will actually heal the throat. You can look it up. I think that it kills the bacteria that causes sore throats. I just know that it works. I use warm water and enough salt that I can stand it.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Tiggy (London)
★★★★★
a glass of tepid water with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt helps reduce soreness!!
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Felicia (Georgia)
★★★★★
The best way I have found to soothe a sore throat is to mix 2 tsp salt with 1 cup warm water and add a crushed baby aspirin to mixture, and gargle several times.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Gerrad (St. Louis)
★★★★★
Salt Water Gargle helped too!! Use the hottest water that your mouth and throat will tolerate without being burned and uses Sea Salt if possible.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Leo (Macon, GA)
★★★★★
I used the the warm water and salt, and it worked well for me, because I could barely go to sleep, and after gargling some salt water, I was able to sleep, and was much more better the next morning.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Jess (MI)
★★★★★
I tried the salt water trick, and in about 30 minutes my sore throat was history. But that morning it wasn't so bad then it got bad REALLY bad. So I tried to look for a cure and I saw the salt water trick so, I tried it and it worked so you should try it! You can also add a couple drops of lemon juice if you would like. This may not cure it, but it makes it go away.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Brad (Bolton)
★☆☆☆☆
I have used salt water and gargled for my sore throat, it only reduces the soreness, and it dries your throat.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Teia (Hawyard, CA)
★☆☆☆☆
I tried the salt-- it didn't work, it seemed to make it even worse.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 11/13/2010
I don't agree with you. I have used salt water for a sore throat all my life and it really helps because it disinfects and I think that the fact that you gargle is also good, some kind of massage. I also use it when I have mouth sores. Cheap, great and without side effects!
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Sydney (Surprise, Arizona) on 12/04/2010
Well... Ive heard salt water gargling works, so I tried it. I put it in my mouth, and once it got to the end of my tongue, my throat spit it back up, and I felt I was gonna throw up for 5 minutes afterwards. I didnt just spit it out because I hated the taste; my body somehow spit it back up. Try the tongue streching thing instead.
Salt Water Gargle
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 11/23/2011
You could get a spray bottle and spray into the back of your throat. Add some cayenne pepper into warm liquid and spray that down the throat.
