Gargling with warm water mixed with salt, vinegar, baking soda, and chamomile is easy to prepare at home and can alleviate sore throat symptoms.
Sore throat is often caused by viral or bacterial infections, which stimulate the immune system, leading to swelling and redness. Gargling has antibacterial and disinfecting effects, helping to eliminate microorganisms that may exacerbate inflammation. Gargling reduces sore throat pain through osmosis. The substances that permeate the throat push excess fluids and blood out of the tissues, reducing swelling and pain.
Here are 5 ways to make mouthwash at home that can improve sore throat symptoms according to TuaSaúDe (Spain).
1. Warm Salt Water
When gargling with warm salt water, the osmotic process works more effectively, pushing excess fluids out of the tissues. Dissolve a tablespoon of fine salt in a cup of warm water until the salt is completely dissolved. Then take a sip, gargle for as long as possible, and spit it out. Repeat this process twice consecutively. This mouthwash has been proven to effectively soothe sore throat pain.
Salt water has antibacterial effects. (Photo: Freepik)
2. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea has antibacterial properties that help eliminate inflammatory microorganisms and reduce sore throat symptoms. To prepare this mouthwash, add two teaspoons of chamomile tea to a cup of boiling water, let the mixture steep in a covered container for at least 10 minutes. Next, strain the tea, discard the tea leaves, and gargle with the tea for as long as possible, spitting it out and repeating two more times. Note that you should brew a fresh batch of tea each time you gargle; do not use tea that has been prepared for too long.
3. Baking Soda
You can also mix baking soda into saltwater when rinsing your mouth. This method helps alleviate sore throat pain by killing bacteria and preventing the growth of fungi and yeast in the damaged area causing throat pain. Prepare the mouthwash by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of warm water and stirring until the baking soda is fully dissolved. Take a sip, gargle for as long as possible, and spit it out, repeating twice.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of warm water and gargle for as long as possible before spitting the solution out. This method helps reduce the symptoms of a sore throat. However, you should only gargle with apple cider vinegar 1-2 times and drink plenty of water between gargling sessions. Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties, combats infections, can break down mucus in the throat, and prevents bacteria from spreading.
5. Peppermint Tea
Peppermint is an herb that contains peppermint oil, which has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. It can soothe sore throat pain and support the treatment of potential infections. Brew peppermint tea by steeping a teaspoon of fresh peppermint leaves in a cup of boiling water. Then wait for 5-10 minutes for the tea to cool and use it to gargle throughout the day.
Those suffering from a sore throat should gargle at least twice a day while symptoms persist. If there is pus in the throat, it is likely a bacterial infection, and in this case, it is advisable to consult a doctor to evaluate whether antibiotics are needed.
