Throat Pain Home Remedies

What is Throat Pain?

Throat pain or pharyngitis is a condition that can be easily prevented or treated by using some of the below home remedies or medication. Cough is a protective reflex that helps expel external particles/ respiratory secretions from air passage. Cough is a major symptom of throat pain that can be useful /productive/ wet or useless/non-productive/ dry cough. There are various home remedies for throat pain like; gargling with salt water, taking steam, and many more.

Antitussives suppress dry cough and expectorants for the expulsion of productive cough.

Causes-

1. Climate change or dryness.
2. Air pollution or allergies.
3. Sinus problems, Respiratory tract infection, tonsillitis, strep throat, swollen glands asthma, etc.
4. The flu or cold is a bacterial or viral infection.
5. Acid reflux 
6. Nasal congestion.

Symptoms –

1. Hoarseness in voice or dry voice
2. Itchiness, irritation, or inflammation in the throat
3. Pain in ears, headache, or tiredness
4. Cough, runny nose, pain while swallowing food.

Home remedies for throat pain-

• Gargle- Gargle with salt water, ginger water, honey, and lemon helps to relax the throat irritation and swelling and can cure the pain.
• Steam/Humidifier – Taking steam for 15- 20 min in cold and cough gives relief to the throat pain.
• Honey- Sweetening agent honey is also antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It can prevent throat pain by daily consumption of tea or water.
• Liquorice/ Yashtimadhu – Glycyrrhiza glabra acts as an expectorant essentially used in throat infections.
• Ginger- Ginger and other condiments help to suppress microbes and keep the throat healthy and painless.
• Baking soda – Sodium bicarbonate with tea or water can help to neutralize acid present in the throat due to acid reflux and treat inflammation.
• Vasaka- It is an anti-viral ingredient that also acts as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. It can help to treat sore throat.
• Turmeric milk- Haldi being antibacterial helps to treat one of the causes of throat infection.
• Soup- Hot soup can also reduce redness, irritation and throat pain, and especially bad/ dry cough.
• Bettle leaves – It is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. With preventing bad breath it also helps in cough suppression.

Some other Home Remedies for Throat Pain

• Marshmallow – Marshmallow roots contain mucilage which is gelatinous material that helps to mitigate sore throat.
• Sage- Sage tea is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial that is beneficial to treat mouth wounds and infections and also cures throat pain.
• Hydration – In the case of fever, dehydration can occur leading to a dry, itchy throat, so warm water or tea is helpful.
• Warm compress- Use a hot water bottle or a towel over your throat to reduce the pain.
• Lozenges- Lozenges like Vicks, strepsils, and even throat spray can work out to relieve throat pain. Consult a doctor if throat pain persists even after a week.
• Cough syrups are useful to treat throat pain in case of high temperature or infections.
• Tea, coffee, and chocolate contain alkaloid content that acts as bronchial dilation.
• Antitussives like anti-inflammatory- chlorpheniramine is also helpful.

In the case of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/ COPD lung infection can occur and bronchodilators are the solution and are also used in asthma such as salbutamol.

Physical test- it is the examination by looking at the mouth and identifying the physical symptoms that appear.

Rapid test/ Swab test- doctors perform a swab test to check the type of infection ( viral, bacterial- streptococcus) in throat pain. In the case of strep throat antibiotics are recommended.

According to the diagnosis, the doctor proceeds with the treatment – Analgesics, antibiotics, or even surgical removal if required as in the case of tonsillitis.