Pharyngitis (Sore Throat) Symptoms Causes and Treatment

by Nikitha · Published February 6, 2016 · Updated February 7, 2016

Sometimes, when you catch a cold, you feel pain in the throat and difficulty in swallowing. This can be pharyngitis, which means infection of the pharynx or tonsils or sore throat. It is caused by various factors. Common cold, flu, viral infections, fugal or bacterial infections, pollution and chemical substances are some of the reasons for pharyngitis.

Symptoms of Pharyngitis:

Pain in the throat when you swallow.
Cough
Fever
Joint pain
Headache
Skin rashes
Muscle pain

Although there are prescribed drugs for pharyngitis, people are now looking for alternative medicines. Many prefer home remedies that can prevent and cure the disease. The ingredients needed are easily available at your home and they are not as costly as the drugs that you buy from the medical shops. They also have no side effects. Here are some home remedies for pharyngitis.

Home Remedies to Treat Pharyngitis:

Apple cider vinegar:

Vinegar has acidic properties which help in killing bacteria. Mix 1 or 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with 8 ounce of water, and gargle with this mixture. This can provide you relief form throat pain. You can also mix equal quantities of apple cider vinegar and honey and take this mixture every four hours. This will also provide you relief form throat pain.

Cinnamon:

Cinnamon can help soothe the throat and it also provides you relief form inflammation and pain in the throat. Add cinnamon to your dish or you can make a concoction with cinnamon. Take one teaspoon each of cinnamon powder, cardamom and black pepper powder, and mix with one glass of warm water. Gargle with this mixture 2 to 3 times a day. This will cure sore throat.

Garlic:

The antiseptic properties of garlic help in fighting the infection on the throat. You can add garlic to your meals or suck a clove of garlic like a cough drop. Crush it a little to release allicin, which is a chemical that can kill the bacteria causing infection. Garlic pills are available in the market.

Green tea with lemon and honey:

Mix lemon and honey with green tea and drink it when it is still warm. The honey draws the water from inflamed tissues and its antibacterial property helps in curing sore throat. Lemon helps in thinning the mucus and removing it.

Gargling with baking soda solution:

Gargling with baking soda solution is also good for sire throat. It loosens the mucus, which gets flushed out.

Honey:

Honey is excellent for pharyngitis. Honey has antibacterial properties, which help in healing sore throat faster. It also draws out water from the inflamed tissue and reduces the swelling and discomfort due to sore throat. You can consume honey as it is or mix it with warm water or herbal tea. Hot lemonade, to which honey is added, is also good for reducing pain.

Horehound:

Horehound is a herb and it has antiseptic, diaphoretic, expectorant, diuretic and anti-spasmodic properties. You can make tea by adding horehound herb and drink it. This is great for sore throat. Boil 3 cups of water and add a teaspoon of horehound herb in it. Let it simmer for about 45 minutes and then strain it. Drink it when it is warm. You also get horehound lozenges.

Liquorice root:

Make a gargling solution by mixing this root with water. This helps in soothing the pain and also reduces cough.

Mustard:

Take the juice of half a lemon and mix one tablespoon of ground mustard to it. Also add one tablespoon each of honey and salt and 1 ¼ cup of boiling water. Keep it covered for 15 minutes and then gargle with it. This can heal sore throat and also provide you relief from pain.

Marshmallow roots:

Marshmallow helps in loosening the mucus and flushing it out. Boil 1 cup of water with 2 teaspoons of dried herb and simmer it for 10 minutes. Strain it and drink it four or five times a day. You will get relief from sore throat.

Peppermint:

Peppermint contains methanol, which is an excellent decongestant. It helps to soothe and cure sore throat. Drinking peppermint tea is an easy way to cure sore throat and it is also inexpensive. You get relief form throat pain, and the mucus is also made thin and flushed out.

Slippery elm:

This is a traditional home remedy that has been used from ages. The mucus like gel in it forms a slick gel when it is mixed with water. This gel provides a soothing effect on throat and gets you relief from the irritation. Mix powdered bark of slippery elm with boiling water and drink it. You also get slippery elm lozenges that help in providing you relief from sore throat.

Salt water gargles:

One of the best remedy for sore throat is to gargle with salt water. Take one cup of warm water and add half a teaspoon of salt in it. Take some water in to your mouth and gargle. Spit the water out and take another mouth of the salt water. Do this several times. Gargling is very effective for getting relief from inflammation, swelling and to loosen mucus. The mucus can then be flushed out. It also helps in getting rid of the bacteria that are responsible for causing sore throat. Salt is a mild antiseptic.

Salt water gargles:

Turmeric:

Turmeric, with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory antifungal, antiseptic and expectorant properties, is great for curing sore throat. Take half a cup of warm water and add half teaspoon of salt and one-fourth teaspoon of turmeric to it. Gargle with this mixture when you get up in the morning. This can flush out bacteria and cure sore throat.

Vitamin C:

Having lots of citrus fruits is also good for sore throat. These contain vitamin c, which can fight infection. So, have oranges, kiwi fruits, lemon, broccoli, spinach etc, which are rich in this vitamin. Vitamin c supplements are also available.

Fenugreek seeds, black pepper, ginger, basil leaves, pomegranate and Listerine are also good for curing sore throat.