The tonsils are glands located at the back of the throat. Sore throat, which is quite painful, is usually caused by inflamed or irritated tonsils. Strep throat can occur due to post-nasal drip due to allergies, viruses such as the flu or the common cold, or bacterial infections such as streptococci. Depending on the cause, there are a number of medical and natural remedies to relieve and heal a sore throat, along with best practices to ensure that your condition gets better as soon as possible.
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Part 1 of 3: Taking Drugs
Step 1. Use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs
Medications such as aspirin, Aleve (naproxen sodium), Advil, or Motrin (both ibuprofen) can relieve inflammation and pain. These medications also help relieve the fever that accompanies a sore throat.
WARNING: Do not give aspirin to children. Aspirin can cause Reye's syndrome – sudden brain and liver damage – in children who have chickenpox or the flu
Step 2. Try over-the-counter painkillers
Acetaminophen doesn't relieve inflammation, but it can reduce the pain associated with strep throat. Adults should not take more than 3 grams of acetaminophen per day. Look at the packaging or ask your pediatrician for a safe dose for children.
Step 3. Take 1 tablespoon full of cough syrup
Even if you don't have a cough, cough syrup will coat your throat and contain pain relievers. If you don't want to take cough medicine, honey can also coat and soothe your throat.
Step 4. Try an antihistamine
There are various types of antihistamines – drugs that relieve allergy symptoms by blocking histamine receptors – which are available over the counter in pharmacies. Antihistamines can relieve symptoms experienced if sore throat is caused by post-nasal drip due to allergies.
Step 5. Take antibiotics for sore throat
Streptococcus (bacterial infection) is the cause of about 5-15% of sore throats in adults and is more common in children aged 5-15 years. Sore throat is usually accompanied by a runny nose, but unlike a cold, it also causes severe pain in the throat with swollen tonsils, often accompanied by exudate (pus), swollen glands in the neck, headache, and fever (above 38 C). Doctors can diagnose strep throat using a throat swab. By taking antibiotics, the body's condition will feel better in a few days.
Always finish the antibiotics given, even if your body feels better before you finish it. Finishing all the antibiotics given will kill all bacteria and prevent them from becoming resistant to the drug
Part 2 of 3: Using Natural Medicine
Step 1. Drink plenty of fluids
Keeping the body hydrated can help fight disease. It can also keep the throat moist and reduce pain. Don't drink coffee, alcoholic beverages, and caffeinated sodas, which can make dehydration worse.
Step 2. Gargle with salt water once an hour
Dissolve tsp of salt in 1 cup of warm water. Gargling several times a day has been shown to reduce swelling and eliminate irritants, including bacteria.
Add tsp of baking soda to your mouthwash to help kill bacteria
Step 3. Swallow hard candy
Sucking on candy will promote saliva production, which can keep your throat moist. Candies and anti-inflammatory sprays can be used interchangeably, both of which can provide temporary relief from sore throats, but excessive use can make your sore throat worse.
Do not give hard candy to children as they can cause choking. Try an ice lolly or cold drink instead
Step 4. Drink 1 tablespoon full of honey
Honey can coat and soothe the throat, but it also contains antibacterial substances. Also consider adding honey to warm water to enhance its taste and properties.
Warning: Do not give honey to children under 1 year old because it contains spores that cause infant botulism, a life-threatening disease
Step 5. Drink warm liquids
Lemon tea or tea with honey can help soothe the throat. In addition, try one of these hot drinks:
- Chamomile tea – Chamomile contains natural antibacterial and pain-relieving properties that can soothe the throat.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Vinegar helps kill germs and soothes the throat. Mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar with 1 tablespoon of honey and a cup of warm water. This solution has a pungent taste, so gargle and spit it out if you don't want to swallow it.
- Soak marshmallow root, licorice root, or elm bark – These are demulcents, which are substances that relieve inflammation of mucous membranes, such as the tonsils, by helping to coat them with a protective layer. Buy tea with these ingredients or make your own at home. Pour 1 cup of boiling water into a glass containing 1 tablespoon of dried tree root or bark and let it soak for 30-60 minutes. Strain and drink the solution.
- Ginger – Ginger contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Start with 5 cm of ginger root. Peel, cut into small pieces, and bruise. Add the crushed ginger to 2 cups of boiling water and boil for 3-5 minutes. Drink the solution after it cools down enough.
Step 6. Make chicken soup
The sodium content in chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, chicken soup is a source of nutrients that can help the body fight diseases that cause sore throats.
Step 7. Eat a scoop of ice cream
The body needs nutrition to fight disease and if the throat feels too sore when swallowing food, ice cream is the solution to overcome it. Ice cream is easy to swallow and the cold sensation can soothe the throat.
Step 8. Crush the garlic
Garlic contains allicin, a compound that kills bacteria and also has antiviral properties. Although sucking it won't make your breath smell bad, garlic can still kill germs that cause sore throats.
Step 9. Chew cloves
Cloves contain eugenol, which is a natural antibacterial and painkiller. Put one or more cloves in your mouth, gulp them down until they are soft, then chew like chewing gum. Cloves are safe to swallow.
Part 3 of 3: Consider Other Treatments
Step 1. Rest
Some medications are more effective than resting to allow the body to recover. Not getting enough sleep or continuing to go to work or school when sick can make your condition worse.
Step 2. Turn on the cool-mist humidifier while sleeping
This method can help moisturize and soothe the throat. In addition, it is able to thin the mucus that causes discomfort in the throat.
Step 3. Steam the bathroom
Turn on the shower to steam the bathroom and sit in the middle of the steam for 5 to 10 minutes. Moist, warm air can help soothe the throat.
Step 4. Call your doctor if the sore throat persists for more than 24-48 hours
Call the doctor early if you or your child has swollen glands, fever (above 38˚C), and severe sore throat or if you've been around someone with strep throat and now have a sore throat.
Consult your doctor if you have sore throat that gets worse or doesn't improve after 2 days of taking antibiotics, or if you experience new symptoms such as rash, swollen joints, dark or diminished urine, chest pain or shortness of breath
Step 5. Talk to your doctor about removing your child's tonsils if he or she has frequent tonsillitis or sore throat
Children who have large tonsils are more prone to sore throats and ear infections. If your child has frequent infections – 7 or more times a year, or 5 or more times over 2 years – talk to your doctor about the possibility of tonsillectomy – a low-risk outpatient procedure to remove the tonsils.
