An Overview of Natural Sore Throat Remedies
If you search the Internet for ways to treat your
sore throat with natural products, you are bound to find many options. The challenge with any of these products is that the majority of them have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers natural products as food products, rather than as medicine. This means they are not regulated in the same manner. They also do not have manufacturing requirements that are as stringent. This increases the chances for potency and purity problems.
If you are going to use natural products, make sure to use products made by trusted and reputable manufacturers. It is a good sign if a manufacturer abides by the rules of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). It is also a good sign if a product has the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) seal, which means that the product has been independently tested and shown to contain the correct ingredients in the amounts listed on the label. Your pharmacist is a good resource for information about which manufacturers are the most reputable.
Specific Cures for a Sore Throat
Below are some examples of natural ways to treat a sore throat:
Salt-Water Gargle
An oral rinse with salt water is about as natural as it gets. The research has not shown that this treatment option necessarily works, but it is unlikely to cause harm.
For a salt-water gargle, dissolve a ½ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Gargle the water for 10 seconds, and then spit it out.
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