Gargling is a simple and remarkably effective way to kill the bacteria and relieve sore throats.
If you don't know this method, it's high time to discover it.
A gargle is the action of rinsing the throat with a liquid and then spitting it out.
It can be done for hygiene (like mouthwashes) or to treat a sore throat.
The next time your throat is scratchy and hoarse, try one of these homemade gargles to soothe the pain.
Gargle with salt water is a grandmother's remedy with recognized effectiveness.
Mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt with 235 ml of hot water. Then, heat the water to the hottest temperature you can tolerate.
No need to scrape your throat, but be aware that cold gargles are less effective than hot gargles.
If you have Listerine on hand, add 1 tbsp to take advantage of its bactericidal properties.
The salt water gargle flushes and neutralizes the acids in your throat. It relieves the burning sensation associated with sore throats and accelerates the healing of irritated mucous membranes.
An important tip:prepare a new mixture for each gargle.
This is because if you let a solution sit in a glass, it may become contaminated with bacteria. So better to waste a little salt than risk another contamination, right?
Click to discover the trick.
Preparing this homemade sore throat remedy is easy. Mix 1 teaspoon of squeezed lemon with 235 ml of water.
Lemon juice has an astringent effect . This means it will cause the inflamed throat tissue to shrink.
In addition, lemon juice will increase the acidity level, creating an environment hostile to viruses and bacteria.
Click here to discover other uses of lemon.
For this homemade remedy, mix 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger, 100 ml of hot water, the juice of 1/2 squeezed lemon and a little honey.
Start by pouring hot water over the ginger to dissolve it well. Then, add lemon juice and honey and gargle with this mixture.
Honey is also used to line the throat with a protective coating, as it has antibacterial properties.
Peppers contain capsaicin. This alkaloid is a natural remedy that relieves pain and reduces inflammation.
Add a few drops of chilli sauce to 235ml of hot water to soothe your throat. You can also use chilli powder, at the rate of 5 pinches for 235 ml of water.
Okay, we know it will sting a bit — but try this gargle every 15 minutes and see how well it works.
Sage has many medicinal properties. It can soothe an irritated throat and can also clear inflamed nasal cavities.
For this homemade gargle, mix 1 tsp sage, 50g cane sugar, 90ml vinegar and 30ml water.
This yellow spice is a powerful antioxidant. Scientists even believe that it would be able to fight some serious diseases.
For an effective sore throat remedy, mix 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of hot water. Then, gargle with this mixture. You can find turmeric in organic grocery stores or here on the Internet.
Here is another remarkable remedy:wheatgrass juice. Wheatgrass refers to the young shoots of wheat, which are pressed to extract a juice.
A gargle to spit out with this juice rich in chlorophyll will slow the growth of bacteria and ease your throat pain.
Wheatgrass juice has many benefits. For example, if kept in the mouth for 5 minutes, it revives the gums and puts an end to toothache.
Add 1 to 3 teaspoons of cloves (ground or powder) to 235 ml of water. Then mix and gargle.
Cloves have powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties . They will help relieve and heal your sore throat.
To temporarily relieve the symptoms of sore throat, you can gargle with a mixture of 100 ml of tomato juice and 100 ml of warm water.
Increase the beneficial effect of this mixture by adding 10 drops of hot sauce.
Tomato juice is high in lycopene , an antioxidant that can speed up the healing of sore throats.
Green tea is known as a natural cure for infections . When you make yourself a cup, make it a little more than usual.
That way, you can take the opportunity to gargle. This will kill bacteria that may be harming your throat.
Click here for more green tea benefits.
If your throat is ravaged by a nasty coughing fit, consider apple cider vinegar. The vinegar will coat your throat with an acidic and protective layer . The infection-causing bacteria cannot survive there!
Gargle with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 glass of hot water (ie, 25 cl). Repeat the treatment throughout the day, as many times as necessary.
If the vinegar taste is hard to sustain, you can try a less aggressive treatment. Prepare a mixture of 60 ml of cider vinegar and 60 ml of honey. Swallow 1 tablespoon every 4 hours.
This North American plant, surely known to our Canadian readers, produces an alkaloid frequently used in pharmacy.
Mix 1.5 teaspoons of goldenseal tincture with 235 ml of water. A gargle with this mixture will eliminate bacteria and viruses from your throat and soothe inflamed tissue.
If you don't have goldenseal tincture, you can find it here or in organic stores.
Echinacea is the natural killer of viruses.
An echinacea gargle has 2 benefits on your body. It will relieve sore throat pain . And, it will also increase the fighting power of your immune system against infections.
Add 2 teaspoons of echinacea tincture to 235ml of water. Gargle with this homemade remedy, 3 times a day.
If you don't have echinacea tincture, you can find it here or in health food stores.
All it takes is a few drops of myrrh tincture mixed with 235ml of water to accelerate the natural healing process.
Myrrh has powerful astringent abilities, which makes it remarkably effective against inflammation. In addition, it is also antiseptic.
The dosage is a little more demanding:6 gargles per day. On the other hand, the result is guaranteed.
If you don't have myrrh, you can find it here or in organic stores.
Licorice can relieve a sore throat and also remove cough-causing sputum.
In 2009, a study was conducted on patients who gargled with a licorice-based mixture after their surgery. Scientists concluded that they were less likely to have sore throats.
Mix 1 teaspoon of licorice (in syrup or powder) with 235 ml of water to prepare your gargle.
If you don't have licorice powder, you can find it here or at an herbalist.
Raspberry leaf tea is an old grandmother's remedy to which several virtues are attributed:to cure the flu to treat an open wound.
A known recipe is to pour 235 ml of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of herbal tea. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes, drain and let cool. Gargle while the mixture is still warm.
If you don't have raspberry leaf tea, you can get it here or at an herbalist.
