What’s best to gargle for bad throat?

[Cloud44]

Got a bad throat, tonsils are swollen and feeling pretty rubbish, had tonsilitis earlier in the year, not sure if it’s that again or just a general lurgy. Feeling sorry for myself, what’s the best thing to gargle for a bad throat? Difflam? TCP? Salt? Colgate Peroxyl mouthwash? Been told various things just want to use what will work quickest?! Does steaming your face help a bad throat?

Try manuka honey, good for throats/chests

I find aspirin - in 300mg dissolvable tablets a really effectice gargle and if you swallow after it's an added pain relief. A doctor told me that one

@Shopalolic i do have some Manuka honey in actually. Do you know how many teaspoons you can take a day? I can’t remember what strength it is, maybe 270.

Listerine purple mouthwash is a great throat gargle imo. I'd probably try a few and see what works best for you- hope you feel better soon x

I take one tablespoon, an hour before eating is best I believe, hope you feel better soon!

I've always used Tcp to gargle and found that very effective
I used to steam my face using Vics when mucus was causing a problem. That was also helpful but if you aren't having a problem with mucus I don't know if there's any point.
Sorry you are feeling rotten.

Soluble aspirin reduces inflammation and acts as a pain killer.

Then the throat numbing spray.

Thank you everyone. Is it just me or are there more viruses around this year?!

Another vote for soluble aspirin. A spoon of ordinary honey in a warm drink can also be soothing.
Hope you soon feel better. 🤒

Thyme.

Does anyone know if white spots appear if you definitely need antibiotics? I want to try and avoid them if possible. Will gargling get rid of any white spots in the end?

I had white spots OP & told GP but they didn’t think it was tonsillitis as I don’t think I had a fever (can’t quite remember). Anyway I didn’t take antibiotics & it did clear. I second Manuka honey but also you can get bee propolis tincture which tastes a bit odd but really helped when I had a sore throat.

Spot on!
Honey may be soothing but with full on sore throat you need analgesia.
Make sure its the 300mg soluble tabs.
The granules linger in the throat, giving local pain relief to that area, and the rest is absorbed and gives an extra dose of systemic pain relief. Try to have it with food or milk if possible. Poor old you. Miserable.

Saw a post on Instagram yesterday about sore throats.

boil onion peels and let it sit until the colour looks like a normal tea and add honey.

many comments about it working and said it doesn’t taste of onion.

I'd get someone to look at your throat if possible since you've got white spots; it could be the beginning of Bacterial Tonsillitis.You may need antibiotics.
Steaming won't help, but won't do any harm.
Look out for deterioration like finding swallowing difficult, drooling, escalation in temperature.

Gargling by itself won't get rid of the white spots. Either it'll resolve by itself or you'll need antibiotics.

Saltwater. A teaspoon full of salt in the bottom of a glass, fill with cold water then stir, and... gargle, 5 or 6 times. There is no scientific evidence it cures anything, but it definitely reduces inflammation and pain. Hope you're better soon @Cloud44

I had antibiotics earlier in the year for bacterial tonsilitis. Really frustrated that it seems to have come back again. Also got a headache and just not feeling great.

If you're using Manuka honey, you need to hold the honey in your mouth without swallowing for as long as possible. That way, the anti-bac/viral properties get a chance to work.

I gargle with tea-tree oil. It is brilliant at stopping a sore throat in its tracks. Water in glass, 2-3 drops of pure, organic tea-tree oil, more water in glass to agitate the oil. Gargle.

We find coral mouthwash really good. You can also buy numbing sprays at the pharmacy.

I currently have a throat infection and sinusitis.

I'm using throat numbing spray (incredibly good) from Amazon.

Salt water gargle (no drugs so can do as often as you want)

Sterimar sinus spray (also no drugs)

I feel like I've been ill constantly for the last three months.

My brother swears by this method.

@Octavia64 do you have white spots on your tonsils? Is it making you feel generally rubbish? Thank you everyone.

I was the same and it was Covid. I've still got a bad throat nearly two months on.

I had tonsillitis earlier in year and had white spots and antibiotics. My sore throat was so bad I went to doctors again but no white spots so no anti biotics. Just had to soldier on. But they felt worse than when I had tonsillitis.