What stops a sore throat?

Are you feeling the unmistakeable scratchiness at the back of your throat? Feeling like someone took sandpaper to your delicate vocal cords? Well, well, well. Looks like we’ve got ourselves a sore throat on our hands! Fear not, for I am here to guide you through the intricately tangled web that is this pesky ailment.

The culprits

Before we dive into cures and remedies (brace yourselves), let’s first examine what causes sore throats, shall we?

Bacterial infection

Ah yes (cue ominous music). Perhaps one of the most notorious reasons behind sore throats: bacterial infections. This is when nasty little bacteria – such as streptococcus pyogenes (AKA group A strep) – decide to set up shop in your upper respiratory tract…uninvited.

Viral infection

On the other hand, you may have caught some sort of dreaded virus (shudder). From influenza to rhinovirus (“common” cold), these jerks can also cause varying levels of inflammation and pain in your throat.

Pollution/allergies/dry air/mold/etc.

Oh sure, blame it all on humans again why don’t ya! But yes folks, environmental factors can certainly contribute to dryness and irritation in our precious throats. Whether it be inhaling mold spores or experiencing extreme differences in temperature/humidity (oh hai winter heating systems!), these can all cause an unwanted hoarseness and discomfort.

Prevention/remedies/time travel

Now that we have identified some possible causative agents/situations/quasi-realms there are quite a few things one could do about their irritated trachea passage. Behold!

Good ‘ol H2O

Expecting something high-tech from me already?! Pfft amateur hour ended five minutes ago! Hey kiddos, it’s time for a reminder that staying properly hydrated can do wonders to help prevent and alleviate sore throats. Drink up!

Slippery elm

Now you’re ready for a #fancyninja rememdy to soothe your throat! No its not an herb nursery or some elusive medicinal root humans counterfit – slippery elm is the inner bark of Ulmus rubra which when soaked in hot water becomes leaky sticky gel-like substance. This “gel” lined your throat coating and easing overworked vocal cords and gradually reducing irritation.

Marshmallow root

Not just dessert ingredient anymore folks! The mucilage nature of marshmallow roots provides the same slip-and-slide-as-slippers benefits for our dry inflammations prone throats as slippery elms. Did someone say CANDY???

Saltwater gargle

For those who enjoy almost torturous thrills? Perhaps you consider yourself into old fashioned antidotes…Well this one is mince-meat pie whilst solving all sorts of medieval infections too: dissolve half teaspoon salt (sea salt plz) into warm water, gargle three times per day until symptoms weaken just like knights kneecaps after pot-holes-riddled forest journeys.

Resting

You know what they say: treat yo’ self (not really). If you’re feeling run down, tired from lack-of-sleep or even worse – spreading disease unto others; please stay home/don’t go around handling doorknobs!!! Give your own system time to recover by resting more frequently than usual so that healing process can kick-in against nasty viruses/bacteria such as mono/sinus infection/tonsillitis/what have you.

When should I actually see a doctor though?

If my silliness hasn’t convinced yet these cons about certain supplements may leave clearer notion towards taking serious medical advice:

1- Difficulty breathing/swallowing

2- Keep or worsening for over 4 days straight

3-Fever rising at 100°F

4-Recurrent recurrence problems (silent reflux people beware!)

5-Trouble opening mouth/protruding jaw

…and so on, basically severe symptoms.

In conclusion, sore throats kinda suck. But with a bit of foresight and awareness you can make them suck slightly less! And who knows? Maybe with time-travel becoming mainstream one day we – uh wait what are those men in black doing outside my window hold [redacted] please send help security breach imminent.

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