Sore throat

It has been described as a scratchy feeling, a tickle, or even a burning pain. Still, a sore throat by any other name is just that-a feeling of soreness that begins at the back of the mouth and extends to the middle of the throat. Usually the result of inflammation, a sore throat is not an illness but a symptom. When the throat is infected or otherwise irritated, the body responds by sending more blood to the area. It carries white blood cells and other substances to fight the infection-and these actually cause the redness, swelling, and pain in the throat.

Allergies, bacterial or viral infections, and environmental triggers (dust, low humidity, smoke) are the most common causes of a sore throat. In the case of an allergy or viral infection, a sore throat is often the result of postnasal drip, the draining of excessive mucus from the nose or sinuses down the back of the throat. In addition, the viruses that cause colds often attack throat tissue directly. Usually a viral sore throat develops slowly over the course of several days. It lasts longer but is milder than a bacterial infection (such as strep throat), which often strikes quite suddenly sometimes in a matter of hours-inducing severe throat pain, difficulty in swallowing, and fever.

Supplements and herbs

The remedies listed here will strengthen your immune system, help heal inflamed throat tissue, and ease pain. Unless otherwise noted, use them together for the duration of your symptoms. These supplements can be combined with over-the-counter or prescription medications for colds or allergies or with antibiotics for strep throat.

Vitamin C assists the body in fighting the upper respiratory infections that often cause sore throat. As a natural antihistamine, it can also reduce inflammatory compounds that the body produces in people with allergies. Vitamin A speeds healing of mucous membranes, such as those in the throat. The herbs Echinacea and garlic have antiviral and antibacterial properties; begin taking them at the first sign of throat irritation.

In addition, try zinc lozenges to help prevent a sore throat caused by a cold; studies have shown that they may shorten the duration of the illness. If you dislike the taste of zinc or don't have a cold, drink a tea of slippery elm or marshmallow root. These herbs coat the throat, making swallowing easier and relieving pain. Slippery elm also contains compounds known as procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs), which fight infection and allergic reactions. For an extra immunity boost, add a few drops of goldenseal tincture to your tea-it is especially effective against bacterial infections because it contains berberine, an antibacterial compound. If you are congested as well, you can add licorice (in dried herb or tincture form), but don't take it if you have high blood pressure.

Homeopathy

In acute sore throat, give the 30c of the chosen remedy hourly. In many acute cases, this will be enough to resolve the problem. Other tried and true throat medicines such as zinc lozenges, myrrh, propolis, Echinacea and just plain lemon and honey can also be relied upon.

• Belladonna
  Sudden onset; burning hot, dry, bright red throat, swollen and tender.
  Constant need to swallow, hawk. Feels constricted, plugged, suffocated.
  Choking spasms on trying to drink. Painful swallowing, worse from liquids.
  High fevers; hot, red face, throbbing headache. Delirious or dulled out.
  Worse: swallowing, turning head, right side, cold air, touch. Better: rest.
• Hepar sulph
  Sharp, splinter-like pains, like a fish bone in the throat. Sensitive to touch.
  Stitching pain into ear on swallowing. Hawks up lumps of foul mucus.
  Hearing blocked, speech affected. Solids difficult to swallow, liquid OK.
  Irritable; angry impulses. Very chilly. Hypersensitive to pain, suffering.
  Worse: touch, drafts, warm food, night. Better: warm drinks. Craves sour.
• Kali bich
  Splinter-like pains, better by swallowing, but also pain on empty swallowing.
  Thick, yellow or jelly-like mucus which can be drawn into long strings.
  Hawking, choking and constriction. Pain on protruding the tongue.
  Swallowing difficult, lump or plug sensation. Ulcers on throat, uvula.
  Worse: sticking out tongue, talking, cold, damp. Better: open air, warmth.
• Lachesis
  Dark red, raw. Sore, constricted feeling, worse slightest touch. Left sided.
  Painful to swallow saliva or hot drinks, but solid foods, cold drinks OK.
  Like a lump or crumb in throat-swallowing relieves for only a second.
  Talkative. Tongue quivers when protruded. Choking and regurgitation.
  Worse: pressure, touch of collars, heat, after sleep. Better: cold drinks.
• Mercurius
  Throat is raw, burning, dark red, swollen. May be pus or ulcers in throat.
  Constant need to swallow with stitches on swallowing. Like an apple core stuck in throat. Hawking up lumps of mucus. Burning like hot air rising.
  Much salivation, worse at night. Night sweats. Swollen glands and tonsils.
  Foul breath; metallic or putrid taste. Flabby, intended, cracked tongue.
  Worse: night, warm drinks or compress, hot or cold, weather changes.
• Phytolacca
  Dark red throat; raw, burning, swollen. Painful swallowing, radiates into ears.
  Hot lump feeling: Pain at the root of the tongue; coated with a red tip.
  Glands swollen. Hawking and clearing the throat. Much salivation.
  Soreness allover, with moaning. Loss of interest and great exhaustion.
  Worse: hot drinks, cold, damp, weather change. Better: cold drinks.

What else you can do

• Use a humidifier or cool-mist vaporizer to keep the throat lubricated.
• Don't smoke and stay out of smoke-filled rooms.
• Drink eight or more cups of liquids daily. Warm liquids, such as soup or tea, may be especially helpful.

How much to take

Vitamin C

1,000 mg 3 times a day.
Reduce dose if diarrhea develops.

Vitamin A

25,000 IU twice a day until symptoms improve; if needed after 7 days, reduce to 10,000 IU a day.
Women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should not exceed 5,000 IU a day.

Echinacea

200 mg 4 times a day.
Standardized to contain at least 3.5% echinacosides.

Garlic

400-600 mg 4 times a day with food.
Each pill should provide 4,000 mcg allicin potential.

Zinc

1 lozenge every 3 or 4 hours as needed.
Do not exceed150 mg zinc a day from all sources.

Slippery elm

As a tea, 1 tsp per cup of hot water as needed.
May substitute or combine with marshmallow root.

For kids

See age-appropriate dosages of herbal remedies

• Echinacea and goldenseal combination formula is important for helping to clear any kind of infection. Both of these herbs stimulate the immune system. Give your child one dose, every two hours, during the acute phase. Then reduce the dosage to one dose, three times a day, for up to one week.
  Note: You should not give your child Echinacea on a daily basis for more than ten days at a time, or it can lose its effectiveness.
• Garlic is antibacterial and supports the immune system. Choose an odorless form, which will be better tolerated by children. You can give it to your child in whole capsule form, or dissolve the liquid in hot water or soup. Follow the dosage directions on the product label and give it to your child until she is better.
• Brew a sore throat tea. In 1 quart of water, boil some or (preferably) all of the following: 1 tablespoon of licorice root, 1 tablespoon of hyssop, 2 tablespoons of slippery elm bark, and 1 teaspoon of sage. Licorice and slippery elm soothe irritated mucous membranes and ease a sore throat. Hyssop and sage detoxify the blood. Give your child one dose of tea, three times daily, for a couple of days or until she feels better. She can also gargle with this tea when it has cooled.
  Note: Licorice should not be given to a child with high blood pressure.
• At the first sign that your child may be developing scarlet fever, give her one dose of the Chinese botanical formula yin qiao, twice a day, for two days. This remedy is not helpful after the third day of symptoms.
  Note: The liquid extract is the preferred form because it contains no aspirin. The tablet form should not be given to a child under four years of age.
• Yarrow may be helpful because it promotes sweating and helps to lower fever. Give your child one dose, two to three times a day, as needed, for the first one or two days.
• Grapefruit seed extract can be taken internally or used as a gargle. A highly concentrated form, such as Citricidal, Nutrabiotic, or Paramicrocidin, is preferred. Place 5 to 10 drops in a glass of water for a gargle. Or have your child drink 3 to 5 drops of extract in 6 ounces of water, three or four times daily, for up to three days.

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