The Easiest Sore Throat Remedy for Colds

I recently posted this simple sore throat remedy for colds at the Kanelstrand Simple Living blog, and I am happy to reshare it with you all.

There are many sore throat cold remedies that can be made up in the kitchen. The easiest and most accessible is a simple salt water gargle.  A salt water gargle helps reduce painful swelling and may fight infection as well.  It is a great option especially if you are home bound, and not feeling able or up to going  out to the store for cough drops or other remedies and ingredients. Just two ingredients are needed, fine salt and water.

Salt Water Gargle

8-10 oz very warm water 

1/2 - 2/3 teaspoon of fine salt, sea salt is preferable

Notice there is some flexibility with the recipe.  You can dissolve the salt in water and taste it to make sure it doesn't taste overly strong to you.  Swish and gargle with the solution about 4-5 times in a row.  For best results, repeat this every few hours as needed. Older children as well as adults can benefit from a salt water gargle, but it cannot done safely by smaller children. It is dangerous for a salt water solution like this to be swallowed, so make sure your children know how to gargle plain unsalted water before you offer them a salt water solution to gargle.

If you are desperate for a remedy for a young child who can't gargle, here are a few ideas you can try and they are great for adults too in case you have any of these ingredients, or remedies to work with:

Hot water together with Honey and Lemon

Hot water together with Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey

Garlic Honey 

Sage Pastilles: this is a simple recipe from Learning Herbs that you could actually make up with only sage and honey.  

Green Tea with Honey

Elderberry Syrup or Elderberry Tincture

If I have an ear ache together with a sore throat I like to use the salt water gargle together with this Aromatherapy Ear Drop Recipe.