From the Guidelines
Natural remedies such as warm salt water gargles, honey, and herbal teas can effectively relieve a sore throat. When it comes to managing sore throat symptoms, it's essential to consider the most recent and highest quality evidence available. According to the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases guideline for the management of acute sore throat 1, the use of ibuprofen or paracetamol is recommended for relief of acute sore throat symptoms. Some key points to consider when using natural remedies for a sore throat include:
- Staying hydrated with plenty of fluids to thin mucus and keep the throat moist
- Using a humidifier to add moisture to dry air that can worsen throat pain
- Sucking on throat lozenges containing honey, herbs, or menthol to provide temporary relief by increasing saliva production and coating the throat
- Avoiding the use of zinc gluconate, as it is not recommended for sore throat treatment 1 It's also important to note that while these remedies can help manage symptoms, if your sore throat is severe, lasts longer than a week, or is accompanied by difficulty breathing, high fever, or inability to swallow, you should see a doctor as these may indicate a more serious condition requiring medical treatment.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Natural Remedies for Sore Throat
There are no specific natural remedies mentioned in the provided studies for sore throat. However, the studies discuss various treatments for pharyngitis, including:
- The use of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIAs) for pain relief in adults and NSAIAs in children 2
- The use of penicillin as the antibiotic of choice for group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis 2, 3, 4
- The comparison of different antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, macrolides, and carbacephem, with penicillin for the treatment of GABHS tonsillopharyngitis 3, 4
Treatment Options
The studies suggest that:
- Antibiotics provide only modest benefit in treating sore throat, although their effectiveness increases in people with positive throat swabs for group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GABHS) 3, 4
- Penicillin remains the antibiotic of choice for GAS pharyngitis, and resistance has not developed to penicillin 2
- The use of antibiotics should be reserved for cases where the benefits outweigh the risks, and physicians should exercise restraint in initiating antibiotic treatment for pharyngitis 5, 6
Key Points
- Pharyngitis can be caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections, and the approach to diagnosis and treatment should be based on the underlying cause 5
- A thorough history and physical examination are key to diagnosing pharyngitis, and rapid antigen detection tests and throat cultures can be used to identify the inciting organism 5, 6
- Clinical guidelines can help medical professionals choose among available techniques to diagnose and treat strep throat, but there is substantial evidence that most physicians do not follow any published guidelines 6