Ease your child’s pain and discomfort with these home remedies for sore throat! While a sore throat has many causes, these remedies can offer relief!
One of the most annoying symptoms is a sore throat – it is persistent, irritating, affects your appetite and may even make talking difficult. While sore throats are generally not serious, they are extremely uncomfortable, especially when it comes to children.
What is a sore throat?
Sore throats are also called pharyngitis, and is described as an itchy, painful sensation in the back of the throat. This happens when the throat’s lining, the mucosa, becomes inflamed, making it painful to swallow even liquids. This is generally the immune system’s way of responding to an infection.
The most common causes for a sore throat are viral and bacterial infections, but it can also be due to allergies or sleeping with an open mouth. A regular sore throat is not to be confused with tonsillitis (where the tonsils become inflamed), or acid reflux, where acid from the stomach pops back into the oesophagus.
Since a sore throat can affect your child’s food consumption, sleep and general quality of life, we’ve lined up some easy home remedies for sore throat that are child-friendly and completely natural.
1. Honey
Honey is one of the most effective home remedies for sore throat, thanks to its antibacterial properties. Studies have found that honey is just as effective as cough syrups and antihistamines for respiratory problems. Honey soothes the throat, and since it’s sweet, kids generally don’t make a fuss about it.
You can mix honey in some warm tea or water, or mix it with some lemon to make a homemade lemon honey syrup, which you can then add to tea or water. Please remember that honey is not suitable for babies under 1 year due to the risk of infant botulism.
2. Saltwater gargle
This is one of those home remedies for sore throat that our parents swear by, and for good reason. The salt gets rid of any harmful microbes and reduces swelling in the throat. Gargling with salt water once every hour eases discomfort and clears up the throat.
To make a saltwater gargle solution, mix half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and stir till it dissolves completely. Take a gulp of the solution and gargle it deep down in the throat, tilting the head back. This may not be suitable for young children who may not be able to keep the solution in the throat without swallowing it.
3. Ginger
Ginger is an ingredient you’ll find in several home remedies, as well as for a sore throat. Ginger has been used in traditional medicine for a long time due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which also help in relieving a sore throat.
Besides soothing a sore throat, ginger can also improve oral health, reduce the risk of cavities and treat digestive issues. Our hot ginger milk is made with ginger and honey, and is a good, child-friendly solution for a sore throat.
4. Ajwain
Many traditional home remedies for sore throat include the presence of ajwain, also known as carom seeds. These seeds have antibacterial and antifungal properties, and also fight inflammation and pain, making them perfect to soothe a sore throat.
Besides helping sore throats, ajwain also improves digestive function and eases respiratory issues. To use it as a sore throat remedy, try making an ajwain tea with ginger and turmeric or an ajwain rasam using leaves of the plant.
5. Homemade Cough Drops
![Homemade Cough Drops [Ginger Lemon Honey Cough Drops for kids] is easy to make, good to improve immunity and effectively treat cough and cold. It can be taken by toddlers to adults.](https://i0.wp.com/www.mylittlemoppet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/16-1.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
You’ve seen lozenges for sore throat relief in drugstores and supermarkets – how about trying to make your own? This way, you can ensure that you are using only the very best ingredients, without any unnecessary preservatives or additives.
Our homemade cough drops are made from ginger, lemon, honey and healing spices like cardamom and cloves. While kids generally don’t have an issue with these, please remember that lozenges and cough drops can pose a choking risk for young children. It is recommended to use these only for kids older than 5.
6. Chicken soup
Chicken soup isn’t just great for your soul; it’s also an excellent home remedy for a sore throat! Studies have found that chicken soup can affect the movement of immune cells, improving immune function. Along with soothing a sore throat, it offers relief for other symptoms of the flu or common cold.
Even babies can reap these benefits with our clear chicken soup recipe. To make the most of your chicken soup, add some garlic, which has been proven to have bioactive compounds that speed up healing.
7. Peppermint
Most people associate peppermint with oral health and breath-fresheners, but it’s also one of the top home remedies for sore throat. Peppermint contains menthol, which is what provides its freshening properties, as well as antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Overall, peppermint not only soothes your throat but also thins mucus and eases coughs. You can either use peppermint in tea or make a DIY throat spray. To make a spray, mix a few drops of food-grade peppermint oil with 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil like olive, almond or coconut oil. Always exercise caution when using essential oils for children, and never use an essential oil in undiluted form.
8. Humidity
The reason sore throats tend to worsen during cold weather is due to the dry air, which irritates the passages in the body. Adding some humidity to your environment can fix this problem and reduce the itchiness and irritation associated with sore throats.
You can soothe your sore throat by inhaling steam from a vaporizer or adding a cool-mist humidifier to your space that adds moisture to the air. You can also run a hot shower and close the door so the steam builds up. Then sit inside the bathroom and inhale the humid air.
These home remedies for sore throat are ideal for a typical sore throat, which often comes with a cold or the flu. In such cases, symptoms should reduce in a few days with treatment. However, if you notice any of the following symptoms in your child, you should consult a doctor:
- Extreme throat pain that doesn’t go away
- Sore throat that lasts longer than a week
- Trouble breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Bulge in the back of the throat
- Blood in saliva or phlegm
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