While you can catch a cold year-round, most people are at a higher risk of catching the common cold during the winter and spring months.first One of the most common symptoms is a sore throat. The Guardian describes the common cold as having “the twin difference of being both the world’s most common infectious disease and one of the most elusive.”2
According to data collected from 142,377 participants in the Rochester Epidemiology Project, upper respiratory illness, excluding asthma, is one of the top five reasons for this population to seek medical care.3
Pharyngitis, also known as pharyngitis,4 often triggered by viral infections, including the flu, the common cold, and COVID-19. Since these are viruses, antibiotics are not effective against infections.5 However, there are natural remedies you can use to help shorten the duration of the virus, as well as ease the symptoms of a sore throat.
Many pharmaceutical drugs sold today are the result of isolating plant compounds and replicating them in a laboratory.6 Through many years of fighting diseases, people everywhere have learned to rely on medicinal plants to cure diseases. They have been a part of human history since the very beginning.
The World Health Organization reports that many countries continue to rely on herbal treatments to provide healthcare needs.7 In a survey of 133 countries, 110 people reported using herbal medicines. Another survey in 20078 In the United States, nearly 4 in 10 adults use complementary and alternative medicine therapies, including herbal treatments.
The resurgence of herbal treatments may be fueled in part by significant mortality rates from all viruses, including influenza.9 and SARS-CoV-2.ten Two soothing ingredients in herbal tea can help soothe your sore throat, making it easier to swallow, hydrate, and eat.
Should You Take Herbal Medicine Hot or Cold?
Although some health professionals recommend drinking liquids at the temperature that works best for you,11 Others have studied the effects of hot beverages on the common cold. For example, Ron Eccles, Professor Emeritus at Cardiff University, has dedicated his professional life to analyzing and investigating diseases of the human upper respiratory tract.twelfth
His research includes a published study on the effects of hot beverages on symptoms of the common cold and flu. His goal was to obtain subjective and objective measurements of airflow. In his 30 subjects, the data showed that although there was no objective change in nasal airflow measurement, the participants reported that the hot beverage:13
“… Provides immediate and long-lasting relief from runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chills and fatigue, while the same room temperature drink provides only relief from runny nose, cough, and cold symptoms. and sneezing… In conclusion, the results support folk that a delicious hot drink is a useful treatment for reducing most symptoms of the common cold and flu. ”
The Mayo Clinic adds that warm liquids can help relieve congestion by stimulating the flow of mucus.14 Otolaryngologist and allergist, Dr Shawn Nasseri, agrees, telling Well and Good, “Warm tea makes the blood vessels of the throat and muscles more open and relaxed, thus soothing pain. throat. Iced drinks can sometimes cause throat spasms that certainly don’t ‘don’t feel comforting.”15
This might explain how January 11 became National Hot Toddy Day.16 According to one source, in the 1700s, Scottish doctors created the drink as a treatment for their patients suffering from sore throats and congestion.
A traditional hot wine box contains a little whiskey, honey, fresh lemon and boiling water. Personal preference dictates whether you add fresh ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon stick or cloves.17 While hot drinks are effective, alcohol is not beneficial because it has an adverse effect on your immune system.18 As Eccles explained:
“A glass of hot water is equivalent to any hot beverage. The more it promotes salivation, the more it promotes sebum secretion, and mucus is our first line of defense against bacteria and viruses. That’s why it contains honey and lemon – it stimulates both sweet and sour.”
Slippery elm root and licorice root tea soothe sore throats
Herbal teas can help relieve sore throat pain because they have a soothing effect on mucous membranes. In a double-blind, randomized controlled study,19 Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of herbal teas containing marshmallow root, licorice root, and elm bark.
They recruited 60 outpatients with acute pharyngitis and randomly selected them to drink either herbal tea or placebo tea of the same taste. The participants drank the tea four to six times daily for as long as they had symptoms. The scientists asked the individuals to use no other treatment for their sore throat.
Pain relief was assessed after one minute and then every 5 minutes for the first 30 minutes after drinking the tea. The participants then rated their pain levels 3 and 24 hours after the initial dose. The data revealed that the herbal tea was more effective than a placebo in providing short-term pain relief, but the effects lasted less than 30 minutes.20
Other health benefits of licorice root and slippery elm
The study evaluated the possible soothing effects of tea on acute sore throats but did not mention other health benefits associated with the herbs. According to Mount Sinai Hospital,21 Slippery elm has been used in North America for centuries to treat wounds, sores, burns, and boils. Native Americans used it internally to relieve coughs and sore throats.
This herb has antioxidant activities and causes irritation in the digestive tract to increase mucus secretion, which may help protect against ulcers and excess acid. It is often suggested in the treatment of sore throats and coughs.22
One of the main active ingredients in licorice root is glycyrrhizin.23 Like anything else, overeating can lead to negative health effects, including primary pseudo-aldosteronism,24 causes high blood pressure, muscle weakness, and headaches.
It suppresses plasma renin activity and aldosterone levels through excessive and prolonged consumption of licorice. If you like the taste of licorice, you can get it in candies, drinks, and extracts. One of the side effects was a significant decrease in plasma potassium levels, which one article suggested could be clinically applicable to people on chronic hemodialysis and at risk of hyperkalemia.
Licorice is an herb widely prescribed in Chinese medicine to treat a number of disorders, including stomach ulcers.25 and peptic ulcer. In Japan, doctors injected glycyrrhizin intravenously into chronic hepatitis B patients to improve liver function and inhibit the secretion of hepatitis B surface antigen.26
Licorice has been used in combination with spironolactone to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).27 One study has suggested that licorice root can reduce body fat28 and has been shown to lower testosterone in healthy women,29 that could be one way it helps women with PCOS.30
Studies have also demonstrated dose-dependent effects in animal studies on cell and tumor proliferation and apoptosis.thirty first Research32 published in the Lancet showed that the compound also exhibits antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-1 by blocking the reproduction of the virus.
Another study33 showed that glycyrrhizin had antiviral activity against coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus 71 that causes hand, foot and mouth disease, a contagious viral infection in children.
Other remedies to soothe sore throats and relieve colds
While there are a number of reasons you might have a sore throat, the most common one is a cold. Here are some natural remedies to help ease the discomfort of a sore throat. The following are natural strategies that can shorten the length of your cold and then shorten the time you have a sore throat.
- Herbal medicines – Herbal teas made with eucalyptus, mint, or licorice can help relieve cold symptoms and soothe your sore throat.34
- Gargle with salt water – Gargling with a quarter to a half teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water can help relieve pain and discomfort from a sore throat.35
- Sauna – More moisture36 Getting out into the air using a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer can help ease congestion and reduce postnasal drip, which irritates your pharyngeal tissue.
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Zinc lozenges – Zinc is an effective natural remedy. Since 1984, results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial37 shows that zinc lozenges relieve the common cold, and further research has proven it can reduce the duration of your cold by an average of 33%.38 Zinc lozenges are most effective when started within the first 24 hours when you experience symptoms.39 Citric acid, tartaric acid, and the sweetener mannitol/sorbitol should not be taken with zinc because they interfere with the release of nutrients in your body.40 More recent studies have demonstrated that both zinc acetate and zinc gluconate are effective.41 |
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Hydrogen peroxide – One of my favorite treatments for upper respiratory viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19, is nebulized hydrogen peroxide. Simple and effective treatment that kills the virus in your respiratory tract. This video shows how to do the treatment, which must use food-grade hydrogen peroxide, not something you buy at the grocery store. |
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Apple Cider Vinegar – This substance has antibacterial properties and is highly acidic, so it can be used to create an unfavorable environment for viruses. Gargle with a cup of warm water and 2 teaspoons of salt to help relieve a sore throat.42 Do not use full strength as it can damage your esophagus and stomach lining. |
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Garlic – Despite conflicting evidence,43 Allicin in raw garlic is anti-bacterial and may affect the length or severity of a cold. Crush cloves before eating to release the active ingredients. |
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Pure honey – While raw honey has antibacterial and antiviral properties, they are not potent enough in reasonable amounts to fight your virus. However, raw honey is just as effective as cough syrup or cough drops for you.44 Remember that honey is a natural sugar, so large amounts of it can adversely affect your immune system and will affect your insulin and leptin levels. |
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Chicken soup – Homemade chicken soup is soothing when you’re sick and it contains the amino acid cysteine45 that can thin the mucus in your lungs, making it easier to clear.forty six |
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Vitamin C – Eating foods rich in vitamin C can shorten the duration of a cold.47 Foods rich in vitamin C include red bell peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, kiwi, and citrus fruits. |
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Wild chrysanthemum tea – Echinacea is one of the popular Native American medicinal plants that can help relieve a cold when you start drinking the tea on day one or two. Researchers have found that it reduces the recurrence of viral infections.48 Drinking two or three cups of hot tea a day can also help soothe your sore throat. |
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Propolis – This material is collected by bees from trees to maintain the hive. One study found that propolis nasal spray improved children’s recovery from the common cold.49 |
