Sore throats are often unnerving and can hamper your daily life. Certain medications like antihistamines may provide temporary relief, yet they are notorious for making you lethargic for the rest of the day. A warm cup of herbal tea for sore throat can be the most soothing solution in the case of having a sore throat. .

Packed with antioxidants, herbal teas help fight the viruses causing common cold. Analgesic properties soothe the throat pain and inflammation. Also, they relieve congestion and help in clearing out mucus from your body. The benefits of these teas are readily proven, so we'll shed some more light on different tea varieties that you are able to drink for soothing your sore throat.

Herbal Infusions for Soothing A Sore Throat

Listed below are some of the best teas for sore throat. Are you in a lot of pain? Just pick one of them!

1. Peppermint tea

Packed with anti-microbial properties, peppermint tea helps to fight bacteria and viruses by inducing cough that helps to eliminate phlegm. The inflamed throat tissue can be soothed by menthol in peppermint. It can be easily prepared at home using either fresh or dried leaves; also, this tea is available in the form of tea bags. And it's recommended not to consume this brew more than 5 times a day.

2. Turmeric tea

A powerhouse of antioxidants makes turmeric an essential home remedy for common cold. Blessed with many vitamins, minerals, protein, and fibre, turmeric is known to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties, making it a perfect choice for a painful throat. Turmeric powder can be added to milk and consumed directly. Alternatively, it can be simmered in boiling water, strained, and consumed with honey. Turmeric tea before bed aids in improving your sleep quality.

3. Chamomile tea

Touted as one of the oldest herbal remedies for cold and cough, chamomile tea is loaded with anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.It helps to lubricate your throat, reduce cough, heal inflammation, and ward off the hoarseness. You can prepare it using a readily available tea bag in a mug of hot water, making it the best tea for a sore throat when you are on the move.

4. Slippery elm tea

Being used as a natural remedy for centuries, slippery elm is blessed with a combination of sugars (that can't be broken down by the human digestive system) called mucilage. Mucilage o forms a sticky gel upon being mixed with water and this gel forms a coat on the sore throat. In case of common cold, this coat helps you to pass food more easily. There are powders available in many health shops, so you should just buy it and use the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Slippery elm can also be used to make lozenges and porridges that are essential to fight the common cold along with its annoying symptoms.

5. Green tea

Green tea helps to boost the immunity along with minimizing pain and sore throat as it is packed with catechins and antioxidants. Adding lemon to your green tea will give an extra source of Vitamin C to help cure your common cold.

6. Licorice root tea

Drink or just gargle licorice root tea because it has many antioxidants and topical analgesic properties. You will get some relief! That said, caution must be exercised to limit the quantity of consuming this tea as excessive doses may have toxic side-effects.

7. Ginger tea

Ginger tea kills bacteria and flushes out toxins, but its pungent taste is definitely something that may not be the favourite for everyone. Anti-inflammatory properties of ginger help soothing an inflamed throat. It's a readily available option and can easily be made using ginger powder or a piece of fresh herb.

8. Clove tea

Known for its anaesthetic properties due to the presence of a substance called eugenol, clove tea helps to soothe painful and sore throat by providing some pain relief. It's also used by dentists for tooth-ache for the very same reason. Clove can also be added to other teas for additional medicinal properties.

More Home Remedies for Sore Throat

Consuming these teas not only help to relieve your scratchy throat but also reduce the dependence on over-the-counter medicines. Apart from these herbal teas, a few other home remedies are available that can help you deal with pain.

• Gargling with salt water

Mix some regular or sea salt with warm water, gargle, and spit out. Doing this can soothe your sore throat. The salt acts in comforting you by removing the mucus from the inflamed, swollen tissue.

• Honey is a good choice

Easy availability makes honey one of the most sought-after remedies for a sore throat. Honey's antibacterial properties help fight the cold-causing bacteria. Honey forms a thin protective layer on the sore throat and speeds up the healing process.

• Lemon water can help

Astringent properties of lemon help to maintain a swollen throat. Lemon's acidic nature doesn't let viruses thrive and drinking lemon water keeps the body hydrated; hence, it's a popular home remedy for cold and flu.

• Humidifiers

Using humidifiers in your room help moisten the air and minimize your throat hoarseness. Breathing moist air can helps to soothe swollen tissue in your throat, thus effectively relieving the pain.

When to See a Doctor

Although these home remedies help to combat sore throat and cold, it's important to consult a health care provider in some situations. If a sore throat is accompanied with these symptoms, seeing a doctor is strongly advised:

• Hoarseness in throat lasting more than a week or progressively getting more severe
• Difficulty in breathing or swallowing
• Developing a fever or rash
• Pallor (for children) and weakness in case of adults
• Swelling in the throat, tonsils, adenoids, or lymph nodes
• Developing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or joint pain

The Takeaway

Sore throat, though extremely uncomfortable, can be treated with the previously mentioned remedies. This article aimed at discussing the best tea for sore throat to help people fight common cold with minimally invasive procedures. However, you have to consult a doctor in some cases because unexpected symptoms could lead to more serious conditions.

Here's a video guide to help you make some tea for a sore throat: