Millions of people suffer from sore throats and coughs each year. In the U.S., sore throat is often one of the first signs that you’re coming down with a cold, especially if a runny nose and cough soon follow.
In most cases you don’t need to see your physician for a sore throat, and fewer than 1 in 10 people actually do. Even so, sore throat is the second most common acute infection seen by family practitioners.1
In 85 percent to 95 percent of cases, sore throats in adults are caused by viruses.
Only about 10 percent are due to bacteria, including group A β-hemolytic streptococcus, while allergies, acid reflux, and even dry weather can also cause a sore throat. If you feel a sore throat coming on, you needn’t suffer through it.
There are many natural remedies that can not only take the edge off but also help with healing. As a bonus, many of the remedies that follow work for both coughs and sore throats because they tackle the underlying viral infection.2
Hydrogen Peroxide
At the first sign of a cold, which is often behind a sore throat, pour a capful of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in each ear. This works remarkably well at resolving respiratory infections, like colds and flu.
You will hear some bubbling, which is completely normal, and possibly feel a slight stinging sensation. Wait until the bubbling and stinging subside (usually 5 to 10 minutes), then drain onto a tissue and repeat with the other ear.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is best known for its benefits for infectious diseases. Research published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that regular supplementation with vitamin C had a “modest but consistent effect in reducing the duration of common cold symptoms.”3
Kiwi fruits are exceptionally high in vitamin C, along with vitamin E, folate, polyphenols, and carotenoids. Research published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that a kiwi-packed diet reduced the duration and severity of upper respiratory tract infections symptoms in older individuals.4
Other foods high in vitamin C include citrus fruits, red bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, papaya, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup made with homemade bone broth is excellent for speeding healing and recuperation from illness. You’ve undoubtedly heard the old adage that chicken soup will help cure a cold, and there’s scientific support8 for such a statement.
For instance, it contains immune-stimulating carnosine to help fight off infection.
In addition to the anti-inflammatory benefits of bone broth, chicken contains a natural amino acid called cysteine, which can thin the mucus in your lungs and make it less sticky so you can expel it more easily.
Keep in mind that processed, canned soups will not work as well as the homemade version made from slow-cooked bone broth. If combating a cold, make the soup hot and spicy with plenty of pepper.
The spices will trigger a sudden release of watery fluids in your mouth, throat, and lungs, which will help thin down the respiratory mucus so it’s easier to expel. Black peppercorns also contain high amounts of piperine, a compound with fever-reducing and pain-relieving properties.
Colloidal Silver
Last but not least, colloidal silver (silver that’s suspended in a small amount of liquid) has long been used as an antimicrobial agent.
Researchers from Brigham Young University tested colloidal silver against five pathogens, including streptococci, and found it worked as well as commonly used antibiotics.
The researchers noted the silver solution “exhibits an equal or broader spectrum of activity than any one antibiotic tested” and could be “effectively used as an alternative to antibiotics.”11 In this case, the silver could be especially useful for cases of strep throat.
Herbal Snuff Recipe (If You Dare)
The Epoch Times recently shared a bold “herbal snuff” recipe that is meant to be snorted, and can also be applied directly to your tonsils.12 It’s not for the faint of heart, but the collection of ingredients just may send your infection packing:
Herbal Snuff Recipe
Ingredients
- 7 parts goldenseal root powder
- 7 parts bayberry bark powder
- 1 part cayenne pepper powder
- 1 part garlic powder
Method:
Grind up finely, mix well, and snort.
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