4 natural remedies to help soothe sore throats

At this time of year, a sore throat is not unusual. To help alleviate the discomfort, here’s a list of natural remedies to support you during the cooler season.

As temperatures drop and viruses surface, scratchy and sore throats can become an unwelcome companion.

A sore throat¹, or pharyngitis (to give it its technical name), is when your throat is swollen, red and painful – you will especially notice it when you swallow.

Even if it doesn’t warrant a visit to your GP, it can prevent you from getting on with your day-to-day life and getting a good night’s sleep.

Here are some natural remedies that may bring relief

Get your gargle on

Mix a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and gargle it at the back of your throat to support healing – simple and easy (just don’t swallow it).

Soothe with steam

Steam is a great natural alternative to help loosen up mucus and ease a sore throat.

Breathing steam from a warm shower, using a vapouriser or simply opting for a bowl of hot water with a towel draped over your head are all suitable ways to make use of this natural remedy.

Sip, settle and snuggle

Sipping on soothing drinks can help you stay hydrated and keep your throat moist.

Try herbal tea, broth, soup or warm water with lemon and honey.

Rest is important too, so snuggle up with a book or movie.

Try Manuka honey

You might have heard the buzz about Manuka honey.

It is renowned for its antibacterial activity, attributable to the naturally occurring chemical Methylglyoxal (MGO).

The MGO number on Manuka honey refers to the milligrams of Methylglyoxal per kilogram of Manuka honey.

The higher the MGO number, the greater the potency and activity level of the honey.

Simply select the MGO strength that best meets your needs – here are some suggestions:

• Opt for 100+ to 300+ for everyday use.
• Power up to 400+ or 550+ to help soothe a sore throat.
• Go straight to the top with 850+ or 1050+ for targeted care.

Research² has found honey may be better than the usual natural remedies for easing upper respiratory tract symptoms.

A top Manuka honey choice

Barnes Naturals Australian Manuka Honey is available in a range of strengths to suit all health and wellbeing needs.

And there is a multitude of ways you can take it to help soothe your sore throat – including straight off the spoon, mixed with apple cider vinegar for a DIY health tonic, or added to tea, smoothies or other foods as a better-for-you honey.

Fun fact: it can also be applied topically to cuts and wounds to help the healing process.

Barnes Naturals Manuka Honey is the only Australian Manuka honey sold at Chemist Warehouse.

It has a gently whipped, velvety, creamed texture, making it perfect for the whole family.

Not only that, but it’s also independently tested to guarantee MGO levels and proudly carries the AMHA Mark of Authenticity as a demonstration of its authenticity.

Choose Barnes Naturals for bee-utiful relief from your scratchy sore throat!

This article is brought to you by Barnes Naturals Australian Manuka Honey.

¹ Health Direct, Sore throat (pharyngitis), retrieved April 2024 from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/sore-throat

² Abuelgasim et al, 2021, Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis, BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, 26(2), 57-64, retrieved April 2024 from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32817011/