The best way to cure a real sore throat in adults is using a gargle. Children are not able to gargle, so a throat compress or a homeopathic medicine is a better sore throat remedy for them.

If you do not see improvement from home remedies overnight, please visit your doctor, especially if you suspect strep throat. A real strep throat may have severe complications like inflammation of the kidneys or heart or joints.

GARGLES

Using gargles should bring improvement immediately, latest in one or two hours. There are loads of gargle recipes, but they have a few common ingredients like:

• Cayenne Pepper
• Lemon

• Vinegar

• Sea salt

• Honey

May be the most effective sore throat remedy is using Cayenne Pepper for a

Hot and Spicy Gargle:

• The most amazing and effective treatment is using 5 shakes of Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum frutescens) Powder in a cup of hot water (or herbal tea or saline solution or lemon juice) and gargle every 15 minutes with the spicy elixir. May swallow each time a tiny bit. Gargling with cayenne can cause a strong burning sensation of lips and tongue. Therefore is good keeping milk or yogurt in your mouth after gargling until the burning disappears.
• If you do not have Cayenne pepper use 10-20 drops of Tabasco sauce in a glass of warm water, the effect will be the same.
• If you do not have access to Cayenne or Tabasco, chili peppers, hot paprika or white pepper are similarly useful. All this pungent spices contain capsaicin, which dulls the pain and has anti-viral properties.
• Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) tea is also a good choice. Simmer 10g grated fresh ginger root or ginger powder in a cup of water for ten minutes. Strain and give optionally fresh lemon juice and/or honey and/or a pinch of Cayenne pepper. Use as a gargle every 30 minutes.

CAUTION: Cayenne pepper is a natural blood thinner, do not take it before surgery or dental treatment!

Read about Throat Compresses for Sore Throat

Homeopathic Remedies

I want to share a very-very effective and well-proved remedy combination for the beginning of a strep throat or a really severe sore throat. Take alternately every 2-3 hours

• Hepar sulphuris C12 and
• Belladonna C30

Massage

Besides using gargles a fine, oil external throat massage can speed up the healing process. Add 2 drops each of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Sandalwood (Santalum album) and Myrrh (Commiphora molmol) essential oils to 1 tbsp of olive oil and massage the external neck area. Wrap a warm scarf around the neck afterwards.

If you are interested in more details about the treatment of sore throat, click here to learn more!