Sore Throat

          A sore throat is a congestion or inflammation in the throat due to tonsillitis, pharyngistis or laryngitis.

Water Treatments:

1.  Hot salt gargle, 3 times a day. Before breakfast, before lunch, and at bedtime.

2.  Heating throat compress at bedtime. Leave it on until morning. Repeat procedure if the patient stays home in the morning.

3.  Steam inhalation, 2 times a day. In the morning before breakfast, and before bedtime after the hot salt gargle.

4.  If possible, rest the voice until the swelling or inflammation subsides.

Procedure (hot salt gargle):

a.  Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt into a glass of hot water. Temperature should be as hot as can be tolerated for drinking. Stir with teaspoon till salt is melted.

b.  Salt gargle should be done in the bathroom sink.

c.  Sip enough water and let it roll freely in the throat for a few seconds before spewing the water out into the sink.

d.  Continue the procedure of throat gargle till all the 2 glasses of salt solution is consumed.

e.  If sore throat is severe with harsh voice, salt gargle may be repeated every two hours when awake.

f.  Throat gargle is best done after meals.

g.  For best result, don’t drink cold drinks until sore throat is healed.

Procedure (heating throat compress):

a.  Soak cloth with tap water. Wring and put around the neck or joint twice. Be sure the wet cloth is neither too wet to drip nor too dry. If medicated compress is applied, rub area with prescribed medication or ointment. Do not wet the cloth with water but wrap the cloth around the area dry after the medication is applied. (In applying a plain heating compress, wet cloth is applied without medication.)

b.  Apply compress smoothly and quickly to avoid chilling.

c.  With the piece of flannel cloth, wrap compress snugly to exclude air and pin securely on the side of the neck or joint.

d.  Leave compress on overnight or at least for 6-8 hours.

e.  Take care that the compress is not too tight so it does not interfere with circulation and joint movement.

f.  Rub area with a cloth wrung out of cold water (tap water) immediately after removing the compress in the morning or after 6-8 hours.

g.  Dry the area thoroughly. Compress may be applied once or twice a day.

Note:  It is best to apply a heating compress at night just before retiring.