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A sore throat can be caused by bacteria or viruses. If the infection is bacterial, it’s tonsillitis (strep throat), for which doctors prescribe antibiotics. Most often, however, a sore throat is caused by a viral infection. In those cases painkillers, fever reducers and anti-inflammatory medications can help. A pleasant aid in these unpleasant times can always be the recipes of our mothers and grandmothers.
Caraway water
Water boiled with caraway can bring relief within a few hours. Prepare:
- 200ml of water
- 80mg of ground caraway
Boil the water with the caraway for 15 minutes. The water will evaporate; stir the mixture occasionally. After a quarter of an hour the mixture should have reached a thick consistency. Strain through a coffee filter. Boil the caraway caught in the filter once more in 50ml of the caraway water already obtained. Let the mixture cool.
Take a teaspoon of this syrup every half hour. After 6 to 7 teaspoons you should already feel significant relief. Store the syrup in the refrigerator and reach for it at the first signs of a sore throat.
Honey and lemon are fundamental
These two companions see us through every flu and cold. There are many ways to consume them. Try heating a shot of slivovitz with honey and lemon in the microwave and drinking it quickly. If you prefer teas and herbs, black tea is suitable for acute sore throat. The miraculous clove works as an analgesic and antiseptic. It can be taken internally – boiled or even simply chewed and sucked. It helps not only with sore throat but also with aching teeth and gums. For skin sores we use clove infused in Alpa or high-proof alcohol. Other suitable herbs include plantain, sage, echinacea and ginger.
Garlic is a cure-all
It is said about garlic — and it has even been proven — that it acts similarly to antibiotics. It has beneficial effects on our whole body – the cardiovascular system, digestion, and in both systemic and local infections. It is best consumed raw. Bite and swallow, or with a sore throat try sucking it like a lozenge.
