Home remedies for sore throat

Most sore throats are mild and viral, and home care is the main treatment while the body clears the infection. These steps are safe for most people.

Soothe the throat

• Gargle with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) several times a day.
• Sip warm fluids: water, soups, herbal teas or warm water with honey and lemon (honey only over 12 months of age).
• Suck lozenges or hard candy (not for young children, due to choking risk).
• Cold treats like ice chips or a popsicle can numb the pain for some people.

Rest and comfort

• Rest your voice; avoid shouting and long talking.
• Rest the body and sleep enough.
• Use a humidifier or a bowl of water in the room if the air is dry.
• Avoid smoke, including second-hand smoke, and strong fumes.

Simple pain relief

• Paracetamol or ibuprofen in the correct dose for age and weight eases pain and fever.
• Never give aspirin to children or teenagers.

Food and drink

• Soft, easy-to-swallow foods: khichdi, soups, mashed potato, yogurt, scrambled eggs.
• Avoid very spicy, sour or rough foods that scratch the throat.

For children

• Fluids, rest and paracetamol in the correct dose.
• No honey under 12 months, no steam, no lozenges for small children.

Ayurvedic view (interpretive) Warm fluids, gargling and rest match traditional Kapha-Pitta calming advice. This is supportive care, not a cure.

When to see a doctor High fever, severe pain, rash, breathing or swallowing difficulty, drooling in a child, or symptoms over a week. Call 112 for breathing trouble.

Remember Warm salt-water gargles, fluids, rest and paracetamol are the best home care for a common sore throat.