I’m sure you’ve had or are currently suffering from a sore throat; in severe cases, you may have both a sore throat and ear pain.
A throat infection caused by inflammation of the pharynx is a common disease that happens to most people at least once a year.
There are many home remedies for getting rid of pharyngitis that result in pain, irritation in the throat, and several other physical discomforts. Most people with pharyngitis treat it at home by drinking tea, which is often mixed with other herbal ingredients.
In this article, we will discuss the best teas you can use for a sore throat as a natural remedy.
Before we go into the details of the best tea blends which help to soothe a sore throat, let us briefly understand the major facts connected to pharyngitis.
What Causes Sore Throats?
Pharyngitis, or the inflammation of the pharynx, occurs because of viral or bacterial infection, allergies arising from environmental pollution, hypersensitivity to certain foods, smoking, or contaminated air and water.
Pharyngitis-causing viruses are most active in cold weather, the rainy season, and dampness in the building or surroundings.
A sore throat can also happen because of the common cold, measles, flu, chickenpox, croup, or mononucleosis, all caused by viral infections. Bacterial infections that cause whooping cough, strep throat, or diphtheria can also lead to pharyngitis.
According to a news report based on a study by the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), more than 100 different viruses can cause the common cold and throat inflammation.
When any of those viruses that cause colds or flu get lodged on the back walls of the throat, called the pharynx, the virus causes inflammation, which results in a sore throat, earache, fever, body pain, headache, etc.
A common sore throat issue usually lasts up to three days.
As antibiotics do not respond to these viruses, it may take up to a week to overcome the infected throat until the efficacy of those viruses subsides. The antibiotics prescribed for pharyngitis are mostly meant to suppress the symptoms of this viral/bacterial infection.
Symptoms Of Pharyngitis
All types of throat pains and earaches are not because of pharyngitis; they could also be due to tonsillitis, overstressed polyps, strep throat, mononucleosis, or food allergies.
The most common Pharyngitis or sore throat symptoms are:
- Ear pain
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Fatigue
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Body ache
Not all of these symptoms must be present in every case of pharyngitis.
Ear Pain And Sore ThroatÂ
Earaches and sore throats occur to many individuals simultaneously, especially in children. This may appear quite strange since the viral infection in the throat can also result in ear pain.
The Eustachian tube runs from the back of the throat (pharynx) to the ear. Any viral infection that occurs in the pharynx area of the throat can also infect the Eustachian tube.
When you suffer from a common cold or flu, the excess fluid (mucus) in the pharynx enters the Eustachian tube, and this causes infection and irritation, leading to pain in both the throat and ear.
For a second reason, a sore throat almost always blocks the Eustachian tube, which results from swelling of the tube, which, in turn, results in increased pressure in the ear, causing ear pain.
In adults, the viral infection of the throat may not result in ear pain every time. It is also possible to have a one-sided sore throat and ear pain.
Knowing that the ears, nose, and throat have a strong connection that links all three is important. Any viral or bacterial infection that affects one of them affects the other two.
6 Best Teas For A Sore Throat Relief
Hot tea is the most popular beverage in the world; coffee, fruit juices, or soda do not come anywhere near tea in terms of popularity.
Today, you’ll find in online stores numerous types many tea bags for treating various ailments. Tea with lemon and honey is often used especially during the cold and flu season.
We have heard a lot about green tea’s health benefits. The brewed tea is high in antioxidants (flavonoids) that reduce inflammation. It is precisely the antioxidants in tea that work well for relieving a sore throat.
Some say that gargling green tea can help relieve sore throats.
Traditionally, peppermint tea, cinnamon tea, turmeric tea, or slippery elm tea are common herbal remedies used to provide relief from viral infections.
It’s nice to try natural remedies first before resorting to antibiotics for every silly disease. However, you should see a doctor if your health problems persist for longer than expected.
Let us look at a few of the best teas to soothe a sore throat.
1. Traditional tea
Tea is derived from the Camellia Sinensis plant and comes in various flavors and types, such as green tea, black tea, white tea, pu-erh tea, and oolong tea.
Every type of tea contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea and oolong tea have the highest natural antioxidants among the different tea variants.
Drinking hot tea may also instantly produces a soothing effect that reduces throat pain and congestion.
Drinking warm tea also helps to loosen the mucus and stifle the infectious activity of a virus that causes a throat infection.
2. Ginger tea
The root of the ginger plant, or Zingiber officinale, is a well-known natural remedy for the common cold, flu, and sore throat.
Ginger tea is the most effective tea for sore throats.
According to a study published in the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, the aromatic properties of ginger roots trigger the release of secretions that help clear throat congestion.
The ginger root’s antibacterial and antioxidant elements help decrease throat inflammation and clear laryngitis.
There is no scientific evidence that ginger roots can help treat pharyngitis. However, the results of treating pharyngitis with ginger tea speak for themselves.
Ginger tea can be made by boiling 2 teaspoons of grated fresh ginger root in the water used to brew the tea or by pouring 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger and the right amount of tea leaf granules into a cup of boiling water.
The soothing results from drinking this tea can be enhanced by adding two teaspoons of honey to it.
Three or four cups of ginger tea per day are recommended for soothing sore throats.
3. Lemon tea
The Mayo Clinic’s patient care manual recommends a high intake of fluids to relieve the sore throat infection.
Dripping warm tea mixed with a few drops of lemon juice and two teaspoons of honey is one of the best soothing drinks for reducing earache and throat pain associated with pharyngitis. This is also helpful for relieving congestion in the nasal passages and throat.
Lemon juice helps expel mucus and honey from a thin layer of a protective coating over the walls of the throat, preventing the spread of viral infection.
Add honey to your organic tea to keep your throat moist and reduce the pain of a sore throat.
4. Spicy tea
According to the UCLA History and Special Collections Department of the Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, spices contain antiviral, antibacterial, and mucus-loosening properties.
Aromatic, spicy tea that contains spices like cinnamon, ginger root, garlic, and cloves is excellent for soothing a sore throat. They have antiviral and antibacterial elements that suppress the infectious activities of the virus.
The spice mixture must not exceed more than one tablespoon per cup of tea, as they have strong inclinations that might lead to gastric issues.
5. Herbal tea
Several types of herbal teas are traditionally used in different cultures for relief from throat congestion, pain, and other health concerns.
Herbal tea is made with different herbs known to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and mucilage that coats the mucous membranes.
Chamomile tea is the most commonly used herbal tea which has several health benefits.
According to a research report published by the University of Maryland Medical Center, the herbs that work best for treating a sore throat are slippery elm, eucalyptus, marshmallow root, licorice root, and peppermint.
For instance, peppermint contains menthol, a fantastic decongestant, and expectorant.
Many traditional medical systems highly recommend a warm cup of tea for instant soothing relief from the symptoms of a sore throat.
Gathering all herbs and preparing the herbal tea may not be easy. However, you can purchase the ready-to-use herbal tea mixture easily available at your nearest supermarkets or online shops.
6. Licorice root tea
Licorice root tea is a highly popular herbal tea that can heal a sore throat.
The licorice root is rich in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which are excellent for reducing irritation and swelling in the throat and loosening the mucus.
You should have at least three cups of licorice root tea daily to get the best results.
You can purchase the licorice tea kits at your nearest supermarket or from online vendors. Different licorice tea recipes contain other herbal ingredients, such as peppermint and marshmallow.
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