Mix a quarter to half of a teaspoon of salt into a cup of moderately warm water. Swish and swirl this in the back of your mouth near your throat for at least 30 seconds several times a day.
If you wait more than two days after your cold has begun, the zinc lozenges are unlikely to help in terms of shortening the duration of your cold. Regardless of when you take them, lozenges can help with symptom relief. This is because they typically contain topical anesthetic (which gently numbs the throat), and can also help with alleviate any dryness. [6] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Because lozenges (cough drops) stay in your throat longer than a salt water gargle or a throat spray, they are considered one of the most effective means of soothing a sore throat. [7] X Research source
Choose a cough syrup that also treats your other symptoms. Use as the package directions indicate, reducing the dose according to age and length of the cold. Don’t take anti-inflammatories in addition to cough syrup, since most solutions contain them already. [8] X Research source You can look for an all-in-one solution instead of each individual medication.
Chamomile tea, which has soothing qualities. Licorice root tea. [10] X Expert Source Ritu Thakur, MANatural Health Care Professional Expert Interview. 25 July 2019. A mixture of turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger in hot water. [11] X Expert Source Ritu Thakur, MANatural Health Care Professional Expert Interview. 25 July 2019. Hot water with a tablespoon of honey, a tablespoon of cinnamon, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Each of the ingredients in the hot water mixture above (honey, cinnamon, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar) have been suggested as naturally soothing remedies for a sore throat, and also potentially helpful at clearing out the infection more quickly. It is not the most tasty of mixtures, but it is worth a shot to see if it helps your throat feel better! Note that you can take the honey part on its own too; eating honey on its own has been scientifically shown to help reduce cough, and to help with wound healing which may be soothing for a sore throat as well. Note that honey should never be given to children under 12 months, as this puts them at risk of infant botulism.
Fever (in particular a temperature above 100. 4ºF or 38ºC) White “exudate” (visible white patches) on your tonsils or the back of your throat Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck Absence of cough (people rarely cough when they have strep throat) Absence of runny nose (common cold symptoms such as runny nose do not occur with strep throat)
Also, if you have swollen glands in your neck or the back of your throat that make it difficult to swallow or breathe, you should definitely see your physician right away (or, if you can’t make a same-day appointment, be seen in urgent care or the emergency department of your local hospital). [16] X Research source This could be a sign that something more serious is going on, like a mononucleosis (mono) infection or tonsillitis, both of which need medical evaluation and treatment. [17] X Research source
Medications such as naproxen can be given to you to help you cope with the pain until your sore throat resolves.
