I've got a sore throat

Plum Phlogiston wrote:May I recommend honey and cider vinegar, mixed and sipped. With a warm rum chaser to take the taste away.

I 2nd this because I know from experiance that this will always loosens the throat.

I had a sore/thick throat that developed into a 2-month long cough. No sign of bacterial infection, so I figured there was no use going to the doctor.

But I found the most effective treatment was brandy hot toddies -- a large shot of brandy in a tea mug, couple tablespoons of honey, and a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice. Add boiling water to almost fill the cup, stir to dissolve the honey, then float a thick slice of lemon on top and sip.

Another alternative would be a mixture called "Mahogany" in Cornwall and "Whistlejacket" in Yorkshire -- gin mixed with enough treacle to sweeten it, warmed up if you like (although it has enough 'burn' even at room temp.)

I had one of those awful stuffed up sore throat colds one winter. A friends mum made me a hot toddy. I woke up the next morning and it was all gone. I have no idea if they ever studied what it is about a hot toddy that works, I do remember seeing a study about chicken soup.

Some of those old basic remedies do work quite well. I have a friend who studies herbalism and has passed on a few decent remedies.

Chased mine off with hot lemon and honey, with a teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of ground ginger, with an extra strength Lemsip stirred in.

And several Whiskey Macs.

Ah lemon and honey was my father's favourite for sore throats, although he made it exceptionally hot and with more lemon than honey. The lemon needs to be really fresh and I've had good results from using a lot more honey than my dad ever did. I don't make it very hot but I do make it very strong, enough honey to give that weird burning feeling at the back of the throat you only get from honey, and enough lemon to taste through that. Works a lot better than my dad's version.

Mr. Ethan Grammatikidis wrote:Ah lemon and honey was my father's favourite for sore throats, although he made it exceptionally hot and with more lemon than honey. The lemon needs to be really fresh and I've had good results from using a lot more honey than my dad ever did. I don't make it very hot but I do make it very strong, enough honey to give that weird burning feeling at the back of the throat you only get from honey, and enough lemon to taste through that. Works a lot better than my dad's version.

Honey has antibacterial properties. That may be part of the beneficial combination. It can also be put on minor wounds.

Some of the older in-laws still swear by old remedies like mustard plasters and the like.

The above posts are good but check with your friendly neighborhood healers early on.

If something's going around,they can put you on the correct track for treatment right away.

Allergies and such can just be annoying but strep can affect the heart as well as the throat.

(That's not even getting into exotic diagnoses like cancers,STDs,diptheria and the like.)

You don't want to encourage ear,nose or chest involvement so relieving the throat malady in a timely manner
can minimize trouble elsewhere.

Air purifiers (to remove allergens),vaporizers or pans of water (to treat dry,heated air),viscous xylocaine (for throats too sore to swallow anything and CPAPs (if the sore throat results from sleep apnea)can all help heal and reduce discomfort.

The aforementioned suggestions to hit the aggrieved throat with moist heat,ice as tolerated and anti-oxidants (soup,teas,juices,tisanes,lozenges,etc.) are excellent.

You might want to cut back on dairy products,though.

(Milk can make mucus levels worse.)

You might try replacing your toothbrush after your illness (and sterilizing any dental appliances like orthodontic retainers) so you don't re-infect yourself once you recover.

I hope this information can be of use to y'all.

(goes to get another bowl of hot vegetable soup to accompany the pomegranate green tea,lemon and honey.)