Have you woken up on an important day only to be barely able to speak? Are you looking for simple home remedies to cure your sore throat? You do not have to look any further! In this post, you will find the causes and remedies for a sore throat. Do you want to know more? Keep reading.

There are several physical conditions that are not exactly ailments, but act as precursors to more serious health conditions if left unattended. One such example is a ‘sore throat’. It is caused when the pharynx – the tube stretching to the oesophagus from the end of your mouth – becomes inflamed. It can be rather painful and makes swallowing food rather tedious. A sore throat can persist for a couple of days or more, based on the root cause and actions taken by the victims.

Causes of Sore Throat:

While most of us are often afflicted with a cold and sore throat, little do we know what actually causes them. A sore throat can be caused by a number of factors and sometimes, it is accompanied by conditions like a headache, cold and stomach ache (1). The major causes are:

• Acid reflux
• Excessive smoking
• Bacterial infections
• Viral infections
• Irritants and allergens in air
• Food sensitivity

Ways To Treat Sore Throats:

Whether it is for teens, children or adults, there are many ways to treat a sore throat. The most common first step for treating a sore throat would be to consult a doctor or opt for OTC medications. However, it makes more sense to opt for herbal and household remedies to get relief from a sore throat. Given the fact that it does not lead to serious complications in most cases, you can try drinking various types of teas to soothe a sore throat. It is common knowledge that gulping down warm beverages offers some relief to your throat.

How Drinking Teas Can Help In Soothing A Sore Throat:

Drinking herbal teas can be helpful in treating an inflamed throat, but not all teas work on the throat in the same manner. Some herbal teas may numb the heaviness and irritation in the throat while some other types of tea may help heal bacterial infection leading to the condition. Besides, not everyone afflicted with a sore throat is likely to find relief by drinking the same type of tea. To get relief from a sore throat, you may try various types of herbal, spice-based, traditional or fusion tea.

Types Of Tea That You Can Try For Relieving A Sore Throat:

1. Cinnamon Tea:

Cinnamon is a spice that is used widely in the cuisines of various countries (2). It has a nice, invigorating aroma and helps decongest the throat to a great extent. Using it with honey helps clear the throat and honey helps lay a soothing coat on the inflamed throat. You will need ingredients like:

• A cup of milk
• A few pieces of cinnamon
• Ginger – shredded or powdered
• A spoon of honey

How To Prepare:

Heat the milk. Then add the ginger and cinnamon pieces to it. Add honey to add sweetness to the tea. You can drink it anytime, but gulping this concoction before sleeping proves to be particularly effective. If you are intolerant to cow milk, it is alright to use almond or coconut milk.

2. Russian Tea:

Originally from Russia, this tea can be drunk several times a day to soothe an inflamed throat. It is made with herbs and ingredients with proven therapeutic properties (3). Apart from clearing congestion in the throat, this tea also helps in mitigating germs leading to the onset of a sore throat.

You will need ingredients like:

• Sugar
• Black tea
• Orange juice or powder
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground cloves

How To Prepare:

You will need to combine all the above-said ingredients well. Then, pour into a container and stir well before use. For every usage, add 4 spoons of the mix to hot water. You may also add a small amount of lemonade to it to enhance the flavour.

3. Ginger Tea:

Ginger is a common herb used mostly for cooking needs. However, ginger is also known for its robust anti-inflammatory properties (4). It has a nice aroma that enhances the flavour of the tea as well. This tea helps your stressed vocal muscles relax. You will need ingredients like:

• Ginger – shredded or chopped
• Water
• Honey or sugar
• Tea leaves
• Milk

How To Prepare:

Wash the ginger roots thoroughly. Ensure you use fresh and organic ginger to maximize the benefits. If you cannot get hold of ginger roots, organic ginger powder will also suffice. After chopping and crushing the ginger pieces well, boil some water in a pot. As the water starts boiling, add the ginger pieces in it. After a minute, add the sugar and tea leaves. Put off the flame and let the tea steep for a couple of minutes. Add the milk and stir well. Ensure you do not use a lot of sugar. Ginger tea can be taken twice or more per day. Some people prefer not using milk.

4. Honey And Lemon Tea:

Honey is known for its healing and antimicrobial properties (5) and lemon has natural acids that neutralize throat irritation. Honey also helps layer the throat. This is not exactly a tea since no tea leaves are used, but it is very effective in relieving a sore throat. You will need ingredients like:

• Lemon juice, a spoonful
• Honey
• Water
• Ginger – optional

How To Prepare:

Heat some water in a pot. When it is hot, add the honey and lemon juice to it. Stir well with a spoon. Add a few ginger pieces. Strain the tea and drink it while it is warm. This can be taken thrice a day to soothe a sore throat.

5. Sage Tea:

Sage is an herb that can be used to soothe an inflamed throat (6). This herb has potent antibacterial qualities. It is particularly effective when you have a sore throat along with cough and fever. You can use either fresh or dried sage to make aromatic tea. You will require ingredients like:

• Sage leaves – dried or fresh
• Honey
• Lemon juice – optional
• Water

How To Prepare:

Heat water in a pot. As it starts boiling, first add the sage leaves and boil for a couple of minutes. Then steep for a few minutes after putting a lid on the pot. After that, add the honey and lemon juice to it and stir with a spoon. Drink this tea warm. This tea can also be used for gargling. It is, however, not recommended for breastfeeding and pregnant women.

6. Peppermint Tea:

Peppermint is an herb that is used mostly for aromatherapy purposes and in the skin care industry. It is also used widely in FMCG products for flavoring needs. However, it has also been used since ancient times for healing several human disorders. You can use peppermint based tea to relieve throat inflammation. The main compound in peppermint, namely menthol, acts as a powerful expectorant and decongestant for the throat. You will find peppermint in several forms in the market nowadays. To make the tea, you will need to use dried peppermint leaves.

You will need:

• Dried leaves of peppermint
• Water
• Lemon juice – optional

How To Prepare:

You will need to boil some water in a pot. As the water boils, add the dried leaves to it. After steeping the mixture for a couple of minutes, strain it and add a few drops of lemon juice. You can then strain the tea and drink it. It can be taken three times a day or so.

7. Green Tea:

There is hardly anyone who has not heard about the numerous health benefits offered by green tea. It tastes awesome, is replete with nutrients and antioxidants and boosts your immunity significantly (7). It can be used as a home remedy to soothe a sore throat. There are many types of green tea in the market, and you will have to choose a variant. Most of the variants are sold in tea bags. You will find various flavours and herb infused versions.

You will need ingredients like:

• A sachet of green tea
• Water
• Lemon juice – optional
• Honey

How To Prepare:

Boil some water. Pour the boiling water into a cup and then dip a sachet of green tea into it. Stir the sachet several times to make the tea. Add a dash of lemon juice and honey to the tea. However, based on your choice and flavour of tea, lemon may or may not be used. You can take green tea a few times every day to bring relief to a sore throat.

8. Turmeric Tea:

Turmeric is a very common household spice and herb that is used extensively for cooking needs. It is replete with antioxidants and nutrients. Its active ingredient, ‘curcumin’, has powerful healing properties, and this is what makes turmeric ideal for reducing inflammations in the human body (8). You can surely use turmeric tea to get relief from sore throat conditions. While the taste may seem a little odd, you can use other ingredients to make it more palatable.

You will need ingredients like:

• Turmeric root – shredded and chopped into pieces
• Honey
• Lemon juice
• Water

How To Prepare:

Heat water in a pot. As the water is boiling, add the turmeric pieces and let the water boil for another minute. Then add the lemon juice and honey. Strain the mixture and drink the tea. You can have this tea two times a day or so.

9. Licorice Tea:

Licorice is an herb that has been used since ancient days in Indian Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine (9). It is also used extensively as a flavouring agent in diverse beverages and foods. This herb helps reduce inflammation and loosens phlegm. Try licorice tea to heal an inflamed throat. You will find licorice tea in sachets, but you may also look into a few Chinese herbal shops to get authentic licorice root.

You will need ingredients like:

• Licorice root or tea sachets
• Ginger
• Honey
• Red dates
• Water

How To Prepare:

Crush ginger pieces and licorice roots carefully. Boil water in a pot. When the water begins boiling, add the roots or sachets in it. Also add the ginger and honey. Stir with a spoon and put the flame off. You may now add red dates as well. Strain the tea and drink it hot. You can have two cups of this tea per day.

Cautions To Keep In Mind:

While using herbs and spices along with various types of tea can bring you relief from a sore throat and cold, you need to act cautiously. Herbs like turmeric, licorice, ginger, natural ingredients like honey and lemon have proven health benefits. Some of them act as decongestants and expectorants but using them randomly is not advisable. While using them for making tea, keep the following aspects in mind.

1. You may be allergic to certain herbs like licorice or mint. In such cases, avoid making tea with those herbs to treat a sore throat. You may be unaware of such allergies and if symptoms like skin rashes appear after drinking any tea, discontinue usage.
2. Herbs like ginger and turmeric may interact with specific types of medications including blood thinners and some NSAID class drugs (10). If you are taking any such medications, it will be a wise idea to talk with your doctor first. The doctor may either advise you regarding a safe type of tea or change the existing medications.
3. Do not go overboard with drinking tea made with turmeric or ginger. Doing so can lead to stomach and digestion issues along with other side effects.

If drinking herbal and spice infused teas do not bring relief from a sore throat, you should see a doctor to find out the underlying cause.

A freshly brewed cup of tea can do wonders for your moods! But now you know that the same cup of tea can also chase away blues and treat a bad case of a sore throat! Try these simple remedies, and let us know which one worked best for you!

The post 9 Best Teas To Treat Sore Throat appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

by Maanasi Radhakrishnan via STYLECRAZE