Witchcraft's blog: "Witchwerks"

A sore throat is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the lower pharynx, tonsils or soft palate. Common symptoms include pain when swallowing, sometimes accompanied by a burning sensation or dryness and tightness in the throat. Mouth-breathing, alleries and pollen can cause sore throats, but catching a cold is the most common reasons why sore throats develop, although they may also be a sign or symptom of another disease.

I think it's important to have available the tools and skills to treat many common problems. Not everything warrants a trip to the doctor, but at the same time, not everything needs to simply be ignored. I believe the more natually one can cure and treat ailments, the better the outcome. Natural remedies often work the best, with almost never a negative side-effect. Of course I recognize that not everyone has access to things like hyssop, licorice root, myrrh, marshmallow root, pomegranate or slippery elm bark, so one needs to be able to work creatively and effectively with what one has. Here I've gathered some of the best recipes that make use of commonly-available ingredients - things anyone could find in a local suermarket or health-food store.

Salt. This is an age-old recipe. Mix a teaspoon or two of salt in eight ounces of very warm water. Gargle the whole mixture several times a day. This will increase the blood supply to the area by washing away mucus and dilating capillaries, thereby enabling better circulation of infection-fighting antibodies.

Lemon. Another timeless remedy, simply add the juice of one lemon and one teaspoon of salt to one cup of rather warm water. Gargle three times a day for one minute.

Apple Cider Vinegar. One of the best remedies to use to get rid of a sore throat is to gargle with apple cider vinegar. Be sure to use the PURE vinegar - the kind with the "mother" in it. You'll recognize it readily by the dark flakes floating around in it. It's not contaminated.. That's THE vinegar you want to buy! It's acidity should kill most oral bacteria quickly. Mix a tablespoon (or more) in a 6-8oz glass of water. Take a sip, swish it around, and gargle with it. Spit it out. Then, continue to gargle, swallowing afterward, until it's all gone. This treatment is known to cure a streptococcic sore throat within 24 hours. 
The acid in ACV is very helpful in soothing and minimizing a sore throat. Just be sure to rinse your mouth with water afterward to prevent the acid from eroding the enamel on your teeth!

Honey. To soothe a sore throat, mix ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar and ¼ cup of pure clover honey. Take one tablespoon every 3-4 hours, or as needed, for pain relief.

Thyme. Thyme has antiseptic properties, and can easily be made into a tea. Lightly crush five fresh or dried leaves. Place these in a cup and fill with boiled water, cooled to just below the boiling point. Cover this and let it infuse for five minutes. Remove the leaves and use as a gargle or as a drink.

Grapefruit Seed Extract. This is a powerful all-around antimicrobial product and is an excellent disinfectant and antiseptic. Add five drops to a glass of water to create a soothing gargle.

Cayenne Pepper. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to 1 cup of boiling water; stir well and gargle while mixture is very warm. This brings more circulation to the area and helps draw away the infection. For a more creative recipe you can also add 2 tsp Echinacea, 1/2 tsp garlic bulb, and 1 tsp peppermint leaves to the cayenne.

Ginger. Peel the skin from a small ginger root, and slice the root into into coins and place them into a small pot of water, and bring to a boil. The tea should become a straw or tan color. To it, add three tablespoons of pure clover honey to sweeten. Sip the hot tea slowly. After sipping, gently clear your throat. The tea will cause a tingle in the throat. This particular tea is also very effective at restoring your voice after a cold.

Please note that using these recipes is not considered dabbling in the occult. It doesn't make you a witch or a pagan, and despite the fact that the main ingredients weren't crafted in the sterile laboratories of one of the major pharmaceutical companies, they actually work. And they're safe and healthy for you.

Good luck with these.. I wish you well!