How To Heal A Sore Throat

When wishing to know how to heal a sore throat, there are several factors to consider. If the sore throat is accompanied by other symptoms, indicating that the person is getting sick, there is often little he can do to stop the course of the illness aside from riding it out. However, often a sore throat stands alone, as a symptom of staying up too late, eating something that caused the irritation, or possible dehydration, in which cases there are several things he may do to alleviate the pain and recover quickly. Regardless of the cause, these steps may help reduce the pain in a sore throat and heal it fast, and even if the sore throat is accompanying a full-blown cold, this can still help reduce the discomfort.

You will need: 

• salt
• warm water
• chloraseptic spray

1. To heal a sore throat, gargle with warm salt water. This often makes people gag, so this should be done over a sink. Fill a glass with about eight ounces of warm water and add salt. The salt content to water should be quite high, so start with a teaspoon and add more if necessary and if the person can handle the saltiness. Take a mouthful of the warm salt water, but not too much that it cannot be gargled. Tip the head back, keeping the throat closed so as not to swallow the salt water, gargle for a few seconds, swish the water around in the mouth, then spit it out. Repeat several times until the glass is emptied. Rinse the tongue off lightly with cool, plain water if necessary.
2. To reduce the pain of a sore throat temporarily, consider using a chloraseptic spray, which numbs the surface of the throat. To use the spray, flatten the tongue as much as possible and open the mouth fairly wide. Looking in a mirror to help aim the spray, keep the tongue flat, and spritz the throat spray into the back of the throat two or three times, angling the spray tip to target the tonsils (if present) and back of throat. Allow to rest for a minute or two, and the numbing will start to take effect.
3. Stay hydrated to heal a sore throat. Consuming beverages with a sore throat can intensify the pain, but it is important to stay hydrated. Avoid citrus juices as the acid will only burn and irritate the already sore throat. Sports drinks are full of sugars or sugar substitutes so consume these in moderation. If necessary, and water is just too plain to be drunk, add a little sugar and sliced fruit to water and drink. Aim for ten or more glasses while the sore throat persists.
4. Get plenty of sleep as a sore throat often indicates a lack of sleep. This is especially important if the sore throat is part of an overall cold, and if the person is suffering a fever as well. Getting plenty of sleep will help the sore throat heal fast, as well as any other symptoms.
5. Consult with a physician if the sore throat persists for more than three or four days without getting better. Additionally, if the sore throat is accompanied by white spots on the tonsils and back of the mouth, this is a sign of strep throat and will require antibiotics to recover from. It is highly contagious until antibiotics begin to take their effect inside the body and thus, medical attention is necessary.