Soothe your sore throat naturally
A sore throat can often be accompanied by extra problems like a dry cough, difficulty swallowing and difficulty talking, so it’s something that most people would want to heal as quickly as possible!
Luckily there are lots of natural solutions that provide quick, effective relief, whether your sore throat is caused by a simple cold, a nasty flu, or something else like strep throat. Let’s take a look at some of my favourites...
Honey and Lemon
A classic, but one definitely worth mentioning! Honey is naturally antibacterial and antiviral, so it can help to fight off your infection whilst also coating your irritated throat with a soothing, protective layer. Better still, try using a good-quality Manuka honey!
Simply brew some boiling water, add in a slice of lemon and a teaspoon of honey, and drink once it’s cooled down a little.
Gargle salt water
Salt water is naturally antibacterial and it’s something that we’re sure almost every household will be able to make up easily enough using plain old table salt.
Use freshly boiled water to ensure it’s clean and disinfected. Pour into a mug, add in a teaspoon of salt and stir until it’s dissolved. Once the water has cooled enough, pour some into your mouth and gargle – but don’t drink it!
If you ever get mouth ulcers, this is a fantastic way to heal them too!
Throat spray
Throat sprays are the perfect way to deliver vital medicine directly to the throat, where it’s needed most! However, conventional sprays can be full of chemicals and preservatives, and you often can’t use them more than a couple of times a day or for more than a few days in a row.
Our own Echinaforce Throat Spray contains fresh Echinacea and Sage to naturally soothe and heal a sore throat. It can be used 6 to 10 times daily for up to a week and its subtle peppermint flavour is really cooling.
Throat lozenges
You can buy these in supermarkets, pharmacies and even corner shops so they’re really easy to come across. If you’re looking for a low sugar, herbal alternative, try our Echinacea Lozenges, containing the same fresh Echinacea extract as our Echinaforce products, as well as honey, menthol and peppermint oil to cool and soothe your irritated throat.
Water
That’s right, something as simple as water can really help! Sipping regularly on water throughout the day stops your throat from drying out which can worsen symptoms.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is vital for the immune system, and it’s particularly good at repairing the respiratory system. Make sure to eat lots of vitamin C rich foods like oranges, citrus fruits, bell peppers, kiwis and rosehips.
Alternatively, you can try our vitamin C supplement, made from vitamin C rich foods like passion fruit and Acerola. Each tablet contains 100mg of naturally occurring, highly bio-available vitamin C, and we recommend two tablets per day. This is a great way to top up your vitamin C levels alongside a healthy diet.
Get plenty of rest
Rest truly is one of the best remedies we can recommend for most ailments. Resting not only gives your body a chance to recover without trying to cope with the everyday stressors of a busy lifestyle, but it also reduces the amount of talking you have to do, which can be a massive help for sore throats!
Don’t forget to eat properly!
If your throat is really sore, you may find it difficult or painful to eat – but remember that food is so important for providing your body with the nutrients and energy it needs to fight the infection!
Your best friend for the next few days should therefore be soup! It’s such an easy way to get loads of veggies into your belly, and a smooth, blended soup won’t cause as much pain as something dry, hard and lumpy.
Broccoli, Kale and Spinach are super nutritious, so try to get some of these in your soup. However, just eating vegetables for lunch and dinner is not very balanced, so try to include some complex carbohydrates such as potatoes or lentils to give your body vital energy.
Try this Broccoli, Kale and Potato soup, or this Herby Mushroom and Puy Lentil soup to get you started.
If crunchy cereal is making breakfast difficult, have some warm porridge instead. Add some soft fruit like raspberries and a spoon of nut butter for extra vitamins, minerals and protein.
Smoothies are also packed full of vitamins and would make a good mid-morning boost. Add some oats or chia seeds for a more filling snack. Yogurts can also make a really great snack as they are so cooling and soothing, but try to opt for a natural dairy-free alternative that won’t be so full of inflammatory chemicals.
