Sore throat refers to the inflammation of the back of the throat or the pharynx. It occurs most often when a person has a cold or an attack of influenza. The symptoms in the case of an acute sore throat are pain, irritation and inflammation in the throat - followed possibly by chills, fever, and some hoarseness or laryngitis. A common reason for a throat infection is due to an attack of bacteria which can be caused by a common cold, flu and other diseases which affect your throat. It can also be caused by smoking, breathing polluted air, consumption of alcohol and any other allergies you may be suffering from.
Try to gargle with a solution of warm salt water several times a day. This can prove beneficial in soothing a sore throat. You can also gargle with a preparation made from fenugreek seeds. To prepare this gargle, add two teaspoons of fenugreek seeds to a liter of cold water and allow to simmer for half an hour over a low flame. This should then be cooled to room temperature, strained and used as a gargle. Another effective gargle can be made of sage. Pour half a liter of boiling water on a handful of sage leaves. Once cool, add a little vinegar and honey to taste. This mixture can also be taken internally, a teaspoon at a time. Similarly a tea leave decoction can also be used in the treatment of a sore throat. Pour boiling water on tea leaves and use this decoction as a gargle. You can also add a dash of salt to this.
Drinking tea made with lemon, apple cider vinegar, cayenne, and honey can prove soothing for a sore throat or swollen glands. Mango bark can also be used as an efficacious home remedy in the treatment for a sore throat. Extract the fluid from the bark by grinding and apply locally. You can also mix 10 ml of the fluid extract to 125 ml of water and use as a throat gargle. Similarly, one teaspoon of powdered cinnamon, boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder can be used as an effective remedy for a sore throat. Honey can be added to this mixture. Bishop's weed is a valuable sore throat treatment. An infusion of these seeds mixed with common salt can be used as a gargle in an acute condition caused by a cold. Remember to increase your liquid intake.