Sore throat — is an inflammation of the pharynx.
Root Cause of Disease
It is usually caused by viral and/or bacterial infections, such as the common cold and flu (both viral infections) or by infection with the Streptococcus bacterium (strep throat). Pharyngitis can also occur with mononucleosis (aka “mono”), a viral infection.
Symptoms
The incubation period is typically two to five days. Symptoms that accompany pharyngitis vary depending on the underlying condition.
In addition to a sore, dry, or scratchy throat, a cold or flu may cause:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Chills
- Fever (a low-grade fever with a cold and higher-grade fever with the flu)
Causes
There are numerous viral and bacterial agents that can cause pharyngitis. They include:
- Measles
- Adenovirus, which is one of the causes of the common cold
- Chickenpox
- Croup, which is a childhood illness distinguished by a barking cough.
- Whooping cough
Viruses are the most common cause of sore throats. Pharyngitis is most commonly caused by viral infections such as the common cold, influenza, or mononucleosis. Viral infections don’t respond to antibiotics, and treatment is only necessary to help relieve symptoms.
Less commonly, pharyngitis is caused by a bacterial infection. Bacterial infections require antibiotics. The most common bacterial infection of the throat is strep throat, which is caused by group A streptococcus. Rare causes of bacterial pharyngitis include gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and corynebacterium.
Frequent exposure to colds and flus can increase your risk for pharyngitis. This is especially true for people with jobs in healthcare, allergies, and frequent sinus infections. Exposure to second-hand smoke may also raise your risk.
Home Remedies to Pharyngitis
Remedy – 1: Chamomile tea
Materials: Chamomile
Chamomile is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs known to mankind. It is a member of Asteraceae/Compositae family and represented by two common varieties. The dried flowers of chamomile contain many terpenoids and flavonoids contributing to its medicinal properties. Chamomile preparations are commonly used for many human ailments such as hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, ulcers, wounds, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatic pain, and hemorrhoids.
Procedure:
- Add dried chamomile to your infuser or place a tea bag in your cup. If you’re using an infuser, use about a tablespoon of dried chamomile.
- Heat your water. Use a tea kettle or pot to heat water for your tea. Heat the water until it boils.
- Discard the warm water in your mug (if you added it previously), and add the boiling water. Dump out the tap water in your teacup or mug. Pour in the boiling water.
- Steep the tea for five minutes. Place your infusion device in the water. Cover the tea and allow it to steep for five minutes. Then, remove the infusion device or tea bag.
Product link: Chamomile-tea
Remedy – 2: Honey with lemon
Drinking tea or warm lemon water mixed with honey is a time-honored way to soothe a sore throat. But honey alone may be an effective cough suppressant, too. While at-home remedies may take the edge off a sore throat, there are also some things you can do to reduce irritation and promote healing. These include
Procedure:
- 1 cup water.
- 2 teaspoons honey.
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice.
- 1 teaspoon white sugar.
- Pour water into a mug. Add honey and heat it for 1 minute 30 seconds.
- stir in lemon juice, mixing until honey is dissolved. Stir in sugar.
Product link: Honey with Lemon
Remedy – 3: Gargling with salt water
Materials: Salt water
A sore throat may get better with time. Gargling with salt water to help relieve uncomfortable symptoms. And it’s for good reason. When you gargle with salt water, the saline solution coats your mouth and throat. This can help loosen mucus, lessen inflammation, and ease throat pain. Gargling with salt water may also eliminate the virus or bacteria that causes a sore throat. That’s because salt changes the pH level in your mouth, making it harder for them to survive. It may also help draw out viruses or bacteria from the throat or mouth and into the solution. Gargling with salt water is a simple home remedy. Here’s how to try this method
Procedure:
- Create a saltwater solution.
- Gargle the solution.
- Spit out the solution — don’t swallow it.
- Repeat as necessary to relieve your sore throat.
Remedy – 4: Ginger Tea
Materials: Ginger
This is a spice which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can give you relief from a sore throat. One study said that when the ginger extract is applied to throat swabs from people with bacterial respiratory tract infections, then it can kill some of the bacteria that are responsible for the illness. You can easily find ginger root tea at markets.
Procedure:
- You can make your own tea from fresh ginger.
- You should peel fresh ginger root and then grate it into a small bowl.
- You should boil it in one-litre water in a large saucepan and then remove it from the heat.
- You should place one tablespoon (15 ml) of the grated ginger into the saucepan and you should cover it with a lid.
- You should let it steep for ten minutes.
- You should squeeze lemon juice.
- You should add sweetener and lemon juice and then stir it to combine.
- You can use it cold or you can reheat it if needed.
Other Remedies
Coconut oil
This is a versatile food which has many health benefits. There are some animal studies in which it is said that coconut oil can help to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and fight against infection. This natural cure oil has soothing properties.
This property of coconut oil lubricates the mucous membranes in the throat. You can add a spoonful to hot tea or hot cocoa. Also, you can add a spoonful of coconut oil to your soup. You can simply put a spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth and then allow it to melt down your throat. You should limit the coconut oil to two tablespoons (30 ml) per day because it can have a laxative effect if you consume it at higher dosages. If you have never used coconut oil, then you should start taking one teaspoon (5 ml) at a time to minimize the potential side effects.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea has anti-inflammatory compounds and it is very soothing to the throat . The mint can slightly numb your throat which will give you relief from the pain. You can easily find peppermint tea in markets. Also, you can make your own peppermint tea by steeping fresh peppermint leaves in boiling water for 3 – 5 minutes and then straining off the leaves. This natural cure is free of caffeine. It has a naturally sweet taste which often requires no additional sweetener.
Complications
In some cases of laryngitis caused by infection, the infection may spread to other parts of the respiratory tract.
Preventions
To prevent dryness or irritation to your vocal cords:
Avoid smoking and stay away from second-hand smoke. Smoke dries your throat. It can also cause your vocal cords to become irritated.
Limit alcohol and caffeine. These cause you to lose total body water.
Drink plenty of water. Fluids help keep the mucus in your throat thin and easy to clear.
Keep spicy foods out of your diet. Spicy foods can cause stomach acid to go into the throat or esophagus. This can lead to heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Include a variety of healthy foods in your diet. Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These have several vitamins, such as vitamins A, E and C, that are important for overall health. These foods can also help keep the mucous membranes in the throat healthy.
Avoid clearing your throat. This does more harm than good, because it causes an abnormal vibration of your vocal cords and can increase swelling. Clearing your throat also causes your throat to secrete more mucus and feel more irritated, making you want to clear your throat again.
Avoid upper respiratory infections. Wash your hands often and avoid contact with people who have upper respiratory infections such as colds.
