The weather has been really changeable lately with cold mornings, cooler days and the occasional blast of a lingering summer.
Research has shown that the change of seasons often brings with it an increase in the Rhinovirus, which causes colds. As a result many people have succumbed to one bug or another.
Despite my best intentions, I, too recently had a cold and a nasty throat infection. As most sore throats are caused by a virus, there are many simple measures you can take to shorten the duration and relieve the symptoms.
Here are 5 Easy ways to treat a Throat infection and beat the bugs!
- Rest! This can’t be emphasised enough. Your body needs time to heal and your immune system works best when you allow your body to rest and recover from the virus. Doing too much puts an extra load on a body that is already depleted. If you keep working, your energy is being used to do the work and not to fight the infection. Listen to your body and give it time to heal.
- Fluids! Increase your intake of fluids, particularly warm drinks such as tea. Chamomile tea is particularly soothing and acts as an anti-inflammatory to reduce throat swelling and pain. Add honey, especially Manuka honey to soothe the throat and help with healing. Manuka honey is a very potent antibacterial, antiviral and an anti-inflammatory agent. Other teas that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are Slippery elm, Licorice root, Tumeric or Green tea. You can also buy blends of teas specifically for sore throats at Health food stores. Increase your water intake too, to help flush out toxins from your body.
- Vitamins and supplements! Increase Vitamin C and Vitamin D if you have a cold or sore throat. Vitamin C boosts white blood cells and the function of the immune system. Vitamin D protects against acute respiratory infections and helps boost natural antibiotic-like substances in the lungs. Other supplements that will support the immune system are zinc, echinacea, olive leaf extract or a combination supplement such as Armaforce or Immune Defence which contains many of the mentioned ingredients in one pill.
- Gargles! Gargling is a very effective way to treat the infection and reduce the pain of sore throats. Use a mixture of warm water and salt every few hours. Colloidal silver is another very effective remedy. It has a unique ability to control antibiotic-resistant superbugs and is also a powerful antiviral and anti-inflammatory agent. Essential oils such as Tea tree and Lemon are powerful antibacterials however they need to be used with care as they can be quite irritating. Only use one or two drops in water or combine with coconut oil before gargling and definitely don’t swallow. You can also diffuse oils such as lavender or thyme to help fight infections.
- Reflexology! Reflexology is a very powerful weapon in the fight against all types of infections. It helps boost the immune system, balances the body and helps the lymphatic system to remove toxins. I regularly worked points on my face to help me recover quickly and treat my symptoms. If you have a sore throat, this chart will help. Here’s the link: https://solevitality.com.au/sore-throat-handout/
If a sore throat persists or worsens, always see your doctor and have it assessed. Most times it will be from a virus and hopefully the above suggestions will help.
Take care,
Warmest wishes,
Judy xxx
References: www.mayoclinic.org, www.aurorahealth.org, www.healthline.com, www.sciencedaily.com, www.draxe.com, www.tipsbulletin.com, The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Ann Worwood.
Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.