Sore Throat

Upon inspection, a sore throat looks red and irritated. If your sore throat is called tonsillitis, there may be white spots of infection. However, sometimes a sore throat just feels sore and there is nothing to see at all.

Symptoms

• Sore and irritated throat.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• If there is an infection present, swollen and tender lymph glands in jaw and neck.

What causes it?

• A sore and inflamed throat is one of the common symptoms of a cold or flu.
• Glandular fever nearly always presents with a sore throat.
• Tonsilitis is the mother of all sore throats. Tonsils are an aggregation of lymphatic nodules forming a ring around the back of the throat. Lymphatic nodules are also found in the armpits, groin and abdomen. Their purpose is to act as a line of defence, the sentry stations of your immune system, filtering out bacteria and germs.
• If you wake with a sore throat every morning, it could be due to a dust-mite allergy, as dust mites lurk in mattresses and pillows. If you have a tendency to sneeze, have a dripping nose and itchy eyes at the same time, these are also pointers to a dust-mite allergy.
• Actors, teachers and singers often get a sore throat from overusing their voice.
• Breathing in pollution or smoky air can cause a sore throat.
• Stress. While everyone responds differently to stress, we all have our Achilles heel. For some people, they know they are stressed when their eczema reappears, for others it’s a headache, for you it may be a sore throat.
• Snoring. If your mouth is dry and your throat is sore when you wake, you could be a snorer. Another clue is finding your bed companion on the couch in the lounge room.
• A sore throat may be a symptom of acid reflux. Sore Throat
• A sore throat could be caused by a food allergy. Suspects include dairy, gluten and eggs.
• Globus hystericus isn’t hysterically funny. It is the feeling of a lump or something lodged in the throat. Globus hystericus is often a symptom of anxiety or stress.

What to do

Diet

• Drink plenty of fluids including herbal teas, water, broths and soups.
• If there is infection present, avoid sugar.
• Avoid alcohol as it can further swell the mucous membranes lining the throat. The exception to this rule is a therapeutic hot toddy. To a cup of hot water, add the juice of half a lemon, a teaspoon of honey, a clove and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon. The final touch is the addition of a shot of brandy, whisky or rum.

Remedies

• Gargling can help a sore throat. The old-fashioned and readily available salt and water gargle is effective. Add ¼–1/2 a teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water. Dissolve the salt and gargle several times. Spit out the water.
• Gargle with a teaspoon of colloidal silver to a cup of water. Spit out after gargling.
• If there is an infection present, a herbal gargle works like magic. Gargle strong herbal tea or a tincture diluted in water. Choose from sage, myrrh, echinacea, propolis, marshmallow, calendula and/or poke root (particularly effective for tonsillitis). Swallow after gargling, as these herbs will help on the inside as well.
• For an infection, suck on lozenges containing zinc and vitamin C for rapid healing.
• Propolis lozenges are also very helpful for soothing and healing.
• If you are getting frequent infections, follow the advice for colds and flu. Colds and Flu

Other

• If you rest in the early stages, there is a good chance that your sore throat will go away without doing anything else.
• Change your toothbrush every month, as an idle toothbrush may fester. Every couple of days, put a drop of tea-tree oil on it to disinfect, then rinse the brush.
• If your sore throat is from teaching or singing, ask a voice coach for advice. You may need to follow a different breathing pattern, or you might need a microphone.
• If you have globus hystericus, Buteyko breathing can help. This style of breathing helps anxiety and relaxes smooth muscle that lines the throat. A relaxed throat will melt away any hysterical lumps.
• If you have a dust-mite allergy, cover your mattress and pillows with cotton protectors. Wash often. Spray the mattress and pillows with weak black tea, diluted tea-tree oil or colloidal silver. Leave in sunlight if possible.
• Does your sore throat mean you are not speaking your truth?

Aromatherapy

Blend the following oils into 10 g of aloe vera gel, an unscented balm or 10 ml of sweet almond oil/unscented cream. This blend can be rubbed on the throat and chest areas to remove those razor blades. Use as needed.

• 4 drops of sandalwood oil – antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, bactericide, sedative
• 4 drops of eucalyptus or peppermint oil – antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, antiviral, analgesic
• 3 drops of thyme oil – antiseptic, bactericide
• 3 drops of geranium oil – antiseptic, anti-inflammatory