Sore throat (Gale me kharash) is the most common problem; it is usually caused by an infection in the throat. Normally, this soreness of throat is due to viral infection. Main symptom is soreness of throat; other symptoms may be mild cough, hoarse voice, fever, headache, swelling in glands etc. However, the common reasons of sore throat problem are pollution, dry air, allergy, cold, flu and other viral diseases such as- measles, small pox etc. If this soreness is neither due to bacterial infection nor any other serious reason, it can be cured at home within 3-4 days by applying some natural home remedies. There is no need to go to doctor every time.
But if it is not so, it means there is something serious and you need to consult your doctor.
Natural Remedies for Sore Throat:
1. Lemon Juice for Sore Throat:
Lemon (nimbu) juice is rich in vitamin- C; it has anti-bacterial properties which helps in treating soreness of throat. Simply, mix half lemon juice with honey (2-3 tsp) directly in a cup of hot water. Stir it well and drink immediately. You can take lemon juice with green tea also instead of hot water.
2. Carom seeds for Sore Throat:
Carom seeds (ajwain) have antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and insecticidal properties. They are used in lieu of antibiotics for relieving throat problem (gale me kharash).
a. For this purpose, boil a glass of water with 5 gm carom seeds and some sugar thoroughly. Now, divide this water into three 3 equal dosage and consume accordingly (thrice in a day). Follow this home remedy for 5-7 days regularly to clear soreness of throat.
b. Another way of using carom seeds (ajwain) is by gargling with its water twice a day. Simply, add one tsp of carom seeds and a pinch of rock salt (sendha namak) in a glass of hot water; now cover a lid on the glass and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Then, strain carom seeds and gargle with this lukewarm water to get rid of sore throat. You can repeat it for 2-3 times in a day.
3. Ginger or Adrak:
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and works amazingly to treat throat infection without antibiotics.
For soothing sore throat and clear voice, you have to ingest one teaspoon of ginger (adrak) juice and honey (1 tsp) by mixing them well. Ginger juice can be extracted by grating or crushing ginger. This home remedy is safe even for small children. But the dosage for the children should be half and quantity of honey may be increased.
4. Cardamom for Sore Throat:
Cardamom (elaichi) has anti-septic and decongestant properties; it soothes the mucus membrane and making it function better. Whenever you have problem of sore throat, eat 1-2 pods of cardamom on an empty stomach in the morning and at night; drink some lukewarm water after it.
You could alternatively opt gargling with the decoction (kadha) of cardamom and cinnamon too; it also help to soothe throat congestion. Boil 2 crushed black cardamom (badi elaichi) and a pinch of cinnamon (dalchini) in a glass of water thoroughly; gargle with this decoction daily before going to bed at night.
5. Fennel Seeds for Sore Throat:
Fennel seeds (Saunf) are also useful in sore throat because of its properties- alpha-pinene and creosol which help in loosening congestion and releasing mucus (balgam). To soothe your throat without medicine, use this home remedy.
Fennel seeds 1 table spoon
Clove 1 (Laung)
Crushed ginger 15 gm (Adrak)
Cinnamon powder ¼ tsp (Dalchini)
Boil one glass of water with all the four ingredients till it remains half. Now strain this decoction (kadha) in a cup and consume lukewarm. You can take this decoction 2-3 times in a day.
6. Almonds and Mishri:
Almonds and Mishri are beneficial for throat; you can try this remedy –
Almonds 100 gm (Badam)
Mishri 100 gm (Candy sugar)
Black pepper 25 gm (Kali Mirch)
Simply, collect all the above ingredients and grind coarsely (dardara) into mixer-grinder. Now, store it into a jar and eat one tsp of this powder daily with milk or lukewarm water at night. It also releases excess nasal mucus.
7. Mishri, Black Pepper and Ghee:
For sore throat, mix mishri powder (1 tbsp) & black pepper powder (1 tsp) with ghee (1 tsp) and make paste. Ingest it preferably at night before going to bed and avoid to eat/drink anything just after it. This is a good natural remedy for getting rid of sore throat problem.
8. Gargling for Sore Throat:
a. Gargle with a mixture of rock salt or tea leafs to clear up a sore throat. It is a simple remedy that is advised even by the doctor with medicine. But here you need not to have any medicine, only adopt gargling with lukewarm water.
b. Put ¼ tsp tea leaf into a mug and add some boil water in it and cover it for 5 minutes. Then remove the tea leaves and gargle with its water; repeat it for 3-4 times in a day to clear sore throat.
c. Similarly, put a pinch of alum (fitkari) and ¼ tsp of turmeric powder (haldi) in warm water and gargle twice a day. Alum and turmeric are natural anti-septic and help to cure sore throat problem without antibiotics.
d. Dissolve ¼ tsp of rock salt and ¼ tsp of baking soda in a glass of warm water and gargle with this water 3-4 times in a day. It helps to get rid of sore throat.
e. Gargle with 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp salt dissolved in a glass of warm water for 3-4 times in a day.
f. Boil 1 tsp fenugreek seeds (methi) in a glass of water; let it to be cool. Strain the seeds and gargle with lukewarm water; repeat it for 3-4 times in a day.
9. Basil Leaves and Black Pepper:
Decoction of basil leaves and black pepper is also good for sore throat.
- Boil 7 leaves of basil (tulsi patti) with 4-5 crushed black pepper corn for 10 minutes on medium heat.
- Sieve it into a cup and mix 1-2 spoons of honey (shahad).
- Sip this decoction hot like tea. It will clear your sore throat.
- Repeat it for 3-4 days or as required.
10. Liquorice for Sore Throat:
Decoction of liquorice (mulethi) is an old traditional remedy for sore throat and it is effective too. (1) It is very easy to make; you have to boil a stick of liquorice with 4-5 crushed black pepper in a glass of water till it remains half. Let it to be cool and drink lukewarm.
Or you can chew a mulethi stick (small piece) to treat your throat problem in lieu of decoction.
11. Cumin Seeds and Ginger:
Cumin seeds with ginger (adrak) work well to cure sore throat problem. Boil one glass of water; then add one spoon cumin seeds (jeera) and a small piece (crushed) of ginger in it. Now again boil it on medium heat for 5-8 minutes. Let it to be cool; drink lukewarm two times in a day.
All the ingredients, used in above mentioned home remedies, are part of our day to day life and do not cause any side effect until and unless you are allergic to certain ingredient. However, in case of not getting any relief, visit your doctor for further medical assistance.