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Sore throats are miserable, and cough drops aren’t cutting it. You need rest, liquids, and silence. Here’s what actually works.
1. Rest, Rest, Rest
Your body can’t fight off what’s making your throat hurt if you’re running around depleting energy. Stay in bed or on the couch. Skip the gym, skip the errands, skip anything that involves moving more than necessary. Resting isn’t optional advice here, it’s the foundation everything else builds on.
2. Hot Tea
Hot liquids soothe inflamed throat tissue. Green tea’s your best bet (it’s got antioxidants and doesn’t taste like punishment). Let it cool to warm, not scalding. Add a teaspoon of honey if you want extra coating and relief.
Hot chicken noodle soup works too. Alternate bites with saltine crackers. Chew slowly and swallow carefully. Nothing irritates a raw throat like rushing food down.
3. Give Your Voice A Break
Don’t talk. At all. Every time you speak, you’re vibrating already-inflamed vocal cords and making things worse. Text people. Write notes. Mime if you have to.
4. Throat Lozenges
If you need to cough, cough. Holding it in just builds pressure and makes you cough harder later. Keep a bag of Halls or similar lozenges on hand to suppress the urge between necessary coughs. Follow package directions. Don’t pop one while eating or drinking (choking hazard and it’s a waste of the lozenge).
Two more things: Don’t drink ice-cold liquids. They’ll shock your throat the same way scalding ones will. Stick to warm or room temperature until the soreness is gone.
