Treating Sore Throat: Natural Gargles to Help You Ease the Pain and Get Rid of the Infection

Having a sore throat is one of the most unpleasant symptoms of a cold. Even when your throat is sore just a bit, you are constantly aware of it and it makes you feel worn out. Most of the time sore throat gets better after a couple of days. But in some cases the pain may be severe and can go on for days. This usually happens when you have tonsillitis, pharyngitis, or even quinsy. If you have one of these, your throat may be so sore that swallowing and talking hurts too much. You may also lose your voice. If this happens to you and you have a sore throat for more than 3 days, you must see a doctor because treatment with antibiotics might be required. In addition to the treatment your doctor prescribes, there are a lot of home remedies, especially gargles, you can use to ease the pain and disinfect your throat. Here are some of the best gargles for sore throat.

This is the gargle that you can easily prepare as soon as your throat starts hurting. Its ingredients are available in pretty much every household and it's effect is very beneficial. Both sea salt and iodine are strong disinfectants, which means that they don't only treat the symptoms, but actually help you get rid of the infection. In addition to that, both sea salt and iodine help you boost your throat's local immunity. Here is how to make this gargle:

1. add a teaspoon of sea salt to a glass of warm water
2. make sure the salt is fully dissolved
3. add two drops of iodine and dissolve them

The gargle is ready. Use it as often as you can, especially at the early stages of the infection.

Another gargle that you can use to ease the pain and fight the infection is made of black tea and sea salt. Sorry tea lovers, the taste might not be as pleasant, but it does work well. Black tea is a good antiseptic and it has a soothing effect. And sea salt with help you fight the infection. To make this gargle, do the following:

1. make a mug of very strong black tea
2. add a teaspoon of sea salt and make sure it fully dissolves

Use this gargle as often as you can. If possible, every hour.

Tea tree oil is famous for its strong antiseptic effect. In Australia indigenous people use it to treat colds and coughs by inhaling the oil from crushed leaves. But you don't have to use the leaves, as it's easier to use tea tree essential oil. Gargling with tea tree oil will help you fight your throat infection and numb the pain. Preparing this gargle is very easy - simply add three drops of tea tree oil to a glass of warm water and stir well.

We all use sage in cooking and love it for its wonderful fragrance. The good news is that sage has wonderful medicinal properties, especially when you need to treat a sore throat, mouth sores and even mouth ulcers. That's because sage has antiseptic and astringent properties. It's also very soothing, which makes it a great gargle.

Preparing sage gargle is very easy - all you need to do is make sage tea. Add 1 teaspoon of sage leaves to a cup of boiling water. Let it stand for 30 minutes. Then divide the gargle, leave half in the cup and transfer the other half to another cup. Add warm water and gargle.

These gargles will help you make your throat feel better, as they will reduce the pain and help you get rid of the infection.