Sore throat remedies

[whatmakesuhappy]

It's flu season again and I have a sore throat. I would like to try a natural remedy to help soothe the pain faster? Any advice from my fellow mumnetters?

Honey and lemon

Gargle with salt water.

Gargle with salt water to text your gag reflex, and some honey will soothe in the short term. If you enjoy suffering then stick with just that routine, or you can take oral painkillers and local anaesthetic (spray or lozenges) to deal with the pain. The cause of the sore throat will be viral or bacterial and probably as a result of rhinovirus (cold) rather than flu, so fairly unavoidable for most people even if you have a flu jab. Drinking lots of fluids helps (in my family a hot toddy with a garlic clove in it is standard prescription for adults- very little scientific evidence to suggest it tackles either symptoms or causes but it certainly diverts one's mind).

Great minds Jane! (and of course that ought to be "test" not "text"- stupid new phone).

My go-to is a pint of honey and lemon and boiling water and rum or whisky if it's evening time.

Or a lemsip and strepsils. Definitely paracetamol, anyway.

The only cure is waiting a week or two for your immune system to do its job. Yay for common colds and their amazing evolutionary speed.

Crush some garlic, mix with honey and smear it on the back of your throat. It works so fast!

gargle with sage tea (infuse teaspoon of dries sage in boiling water for 5mins, strain and gargle)