Sore throat causes and natural home remedies

Sore throat is a common problem. One is said to suffer from sore throat when the pharynx or back of the throat gets inflamed. The membrane covering the pharynx may turn red in case of sore throat. When soreness occurs, there is much irritation of throat. The patient may find it difficult to swallow food and the voice may turn hoarse. There may also be post-nasal drip if the inflammation extends to nasal passages. The lymph nodes may also swell and turn tender. Cough, chills, fever, headache, ear ache, stuffy or runny nose, etc. may accompany sore throat. The causes of this problem may be listed as follows:

1. Bacterial or viral infections as in the case of ailments like common cold and flu, influenza, tonsillitis, sinusitis, diphtheria, measles, mumps, etc.
2. Breathing through mouth
3. Medications like antibiotics, immune-compromising drugs, etc.
4. Chemotherapy
5. Throat cancer
6. AIDS
7. Leukaemia
8. Excessive smoking
9. Talking loudly or shouting.

Home Remedies
1. Boil some basil leaves in water. Strain and drink the water and also use some of the water for gargling. This is a solution to sore throat problem.
2. Make a mixture of four cloves of garlic, one-eighth teaspoon cayenne and one tablespoon honey. Take spoonful of the mixture and chew the ingredients thoroughly to get rid of sore throat.
3. An Epsom salt bath yields good results.
4. Saline water gargling is an age-old but quite useful remedy. Gargling with aloe vera juice is also a useful remedy.
5. Frequent drinking of chamomile tea soothes throat pain and irritation. Drink red sage tea regularly. This is also a useful cure.
6. Add 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, juice of one-fourth of lemon, 1 teaspoon honey and a pinch of cayenne pepper to a cup of warm water. Stir and drink up to 4 cups daily. This is an effective home remedy for sore throat.
7. Boil cinnamon powder in 1 glass water. Add a pinch of pepper powder and some honey. Stir and drink the solution. This is beneficial in treating this problem.
8. One can also take a teaspoon of cinnamon oil mixed with honey. This cures throat problems.
9. Chewing of garlic piece is an easy remedy.
10. Boil 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds in water. Strain and use the water for gargling. This alleviates soreness in throat.