Medicine

• Sore throats are almost always accompanied by mucus in the nasal cavities, causing a postnasal drip into the throat. Naturally, your body and your mind want to get rid of the mucus in your throat, so you try swallowing it which only aggravates the swelling and pain you are experiencing. To try to combat the mucus, take an over-the-counter decongestant as soon as the sore throat starts. Oral decongestants (pills) tend to be more effective and longer-lasting, but also tend to cause more side effects. Nasal sprays work well as a decongestant. but do not last long at all. If they are overdone, they can actually work against you and give you an even runnier nose.
  
  For the pain of the sore throat, use an over-the-counter throat lozenge or a throat spray. They contain a local anesthetic and will numb the throat and soothe the pain.
  
  

Saltwater

• One of the most well-known at-home remedies for soothing a sore throat is gargling with saltwater. Once you feel the soreness setting in, mix one teaspoon of table salt into a glass of warm water and gargle it every hour on the hour. This will help reduce swelling and relieve the discomfort.
  
  

The Cayenne Treatment

• Another well-known treatment is to gargle with a cayenne-pepper mixture. Mix one-half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper into one cup of boiling water. You must drink it as hot as you can stand it. It will help blood circulate to the area and draw out the infection. You can also add four parts echinacea, one part garlic bulb and two parts peppermint leaves to the cayenne pepper in this mixture.
  
  

Further Treatment

• To prevent the soreness from worsening, keep yourself adequately hydrated. Hot liquids, such as soup or tea, work especially well to hydrate you and soothe the soreness. Use a humidifier in your bedroom to keep the air moist and the dryness out of your throat. If you do not have a humidifier, a shallow pan of water in the room will work just as well.