What's the quickest way to relieve a sore throat?

Although sore throat is not a serious illness, it can be very uncomfortable. Most people will experience sore throat in the early stages of a cold, but it may also be pharyngitis. However, no matter what causes the sore throat, active treatment plays a very good role in the treatment of the disease. In fact, if we have a sore throat, we can use some methods to relieve the pain. Here are some methods to relieve sore throat.

Ways to relieve a sore throat

Salt water gargle: Studies have found that gargling with warm salt water several times a day can reduce swelling in the throat and thin mucus in the mouth, helping to flush out irritants and bacteria. Doctors recommend dissolving half a teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of water. If you are not used to the taste of salt water, you can add a small amount of honey to flavor it. After rinsing your mouth, spit out the salt water instead of swallowing it.

Lozenges and sprays: Sucking on a cough lozenge stimulates saliva production and helps keep the throat moist. But hard candies are more effective than many brands of lozenges. Hard candies with cooling or numbing ingredients, such as mint or eucalyptus, are more effective. Over-the-counter sprays such as Chloraseptic produce an effect similar to that of a cooling lozenge. While they won't cure a sore throat or fight off a cold, they can provide temporary relief. Chloraseptic's active ingredient, phenol, also has antimicrobial properties.

Cough syrup: Even if you don't have a cough and just have a sore throat, over-the-counter cough syrup can provide relief. It works similarly to lozenges and sprays, keeping the throat moist and providing temporary relief. If you have things to do during the day, you should choose a syrup that does not contain sleeping pills. But if a sore throat is keeping you awake, opt for a nighttime syrup with a sleeping aid, such as NyQuil. It contains analgesic and antihistamine ingredients that can relieve pain and help you sleep.

Drink plenty of water: It's important to stay hydrated when you're sick or have an upset or irritated throat, advises Lind, an internist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Drink plenty of fluids so that your urine is light yellow or colorless. This keeps the mucous membranes moisturized, allowing them to more effectively fight irritants such as bacteria and allergens, and allowing the body to better fight other cold symptoms. Dr. Lind believes that plain water is the most effective, but you can also try some slightly flavored liquids, such as diluted juice or salty chicken broth.

Herbal tea: If you don’t want to drink water, try warm herbal tea, which can quickly relieve pain. What’s more, non-herbal teas are rich in antioxidants that can boost immunity and protect against viral infections, whether they are black tea, green tea or white tea. Additionally, adding a spoonful of honey to the tea adds an extra boost, speeding up the effects of the "medicine" and having healing properties.

Chicken soup: This is an ancient remedy for colds and can also help relieve a sore throat. Dr. Linder says the sodium in chicken soup does have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help patients feel better. There is another benefit to drinking chicken soup when you are sick: when you are unable to swallow food due to a swollen or painful throat, drinking some nourishing chicken soup can ensure that the body obtains the necessary nutrients to better fight the disease.

Marshmallow: Although there is no definitive evidence, people have been drinking the sap from marshmallow trees for centuries to treat coughs, colds, and sore throats. It is usually made into tea. In the past, marshmallow was one of the main ingredients for making marshmallows. In modern marshmallows, marshmallow has been replaced by gelatin. Since gelatin also has the effect of relieving pain, marshmallows also have the effect of relieving pain.

Get plenty of rest: While rest isn't the quickest cure, it's the best way to get through an initial throat infection, Dr. Linder says. The vast majority of sore throats are caused by cold viruses, and as we all know, doctors have limited treatment options for viral colds. Therefore, you should make sure you get enough rest, which will at least help fight the virus and speed up recovery.