Tag: bacteria

I thought I had gotten through this long, long winter without a cold, but the other day I felt the tickle in my throat starting. Before it could become a full-blown throat infection, I started to hit it hard with three great sore throat remedies. Bye-bye sore throat!

1. Pathway Throat-Ease. This easy-to-use spray contains herbs that provide relief quickly. Osha and licorice are just two of the herbs that soothe a sore throat but also help if you have a cough. Throw this in your pocket, and use it whenever you feel the need for relief.

2. Raw honey. A tablespoon stirred into a tea or just taken by the spoon, can really help ease a sore throat. This one is especially good for children over the age of 1. In fact, a study in Pediatrics showed that 2 tsps of honey helped children with sore throats and coughs, especially when it came to sleeping at night.

2. Gargle with salt water. Mix about 1 tsp of sea salt with warm water and gargle for 30 seconds. Repeat throughout the day as needed. How effective is this home remedy? A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2005 followed test subjects during the winter. Those who were instructed to gargle three times per day, even while healthy, had a nearly 40% reduction in upper respiratory tract infections over the control group, that didn’t gargle at all. The gargling may have helped fend off viruses and bacteria by preventing the buildup of mucus where the microbes could take up residence.

If you continue to have a sore throat, or it’s accompanied by a fever or any sort of discharge, get yourself to a doctor.