Easing a Child’s Sore Throat Naturally

Natural Sore Throat Remedies

Sore throats can be aggravated by excessive coughing, nasal drainage, and other cold symptoms because the throat tissue becomes inflamed and irritated. While many sore throats are mild and heal themselves in a couple of days, it’s always wise to consult your pediatrician when your child has a sore throat to be sure it’s nothing more serious, such as strep throat (especially if the sore throat has lasted more than a couple of days). If it’s just a mild case, there are several natural remedies that can be used to ease the soreness and are safe for children.

Lemons

Combine the juice of 3 lemons with a tablespoon of honey and store in a glass. Take 1 tablespoon of this mixture every 3-4 hours to help sooth an irritated throat.

Oranges

Cut an orange in half, scoop out the white center core and discard. Sprinkle the orange flesh with salt and microwave for about a minute. Eat the flesh part of the orange and discard the rind. This can be repeated every couple of hours for sore throat relief.

Ginger

Ginger tea is a natural soother. Begin by peeling and slicing the ginger root. Boil the ginger slices in water until the desired strength is reached. Let it cool to a warm temperature and drink whenever needed.

You can also offer your child a long, cold drink to ease a sore throat. Ginger ale works well for this, as long as you let it go flat first. Do not offer carbonated beverages as the carbonation will burn the throat and cause additional irritation.

Ice Cream

Ice cream or other cold foods can help to ease a sore throat. While these may be more temporary, your child is likely to agree that ice cream makes good medicine!

Humidity

Keeping the air moist will help to keep the throat from getting dry and more irritated. Running a vaporizer or humidifier in the room will help achieve this.

Salt Water

For children who are old enough to gargle, mix a mild saltwater solution (about 1 teaspoon salt with 1 cup warm water). Have your child gargle the solution and then spit it out. This will offer temporary relief and can be repeated every couple of hours.

Fluids

Drinking plenty of fluids is always a necessity for anyone who is feeling ill and a sore throat is no different. Be sure to keep your child hydrated with plenty of liquids. Cold liquids can be very soothing on a sore throat. You may also want to consider giving your child liquids in a bottle, even if they have outgrown a bottle. The bottle helps move the liquids right to the back of the throat which keeps it moist and helps ease irritation.