Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn

Five Best Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn

Red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch is the main symptom of sunburn. While there are quite a few natural home remedies for sunburn that can help ease the pain and tenderness, the best thing to do is to prevent it from happening.

Before we go on to look at the best natural home remedies for sunburn, let's learn what sunburn is exactly, what causes it, and how you can prevent it from occurring in the first place.

What is sunburn?

Pink or red skin that feels hot to the touch is the most visible sign of sunburn. You may experience pain or tenderness. There may also be swelling. The skin may develop blisters that break and ooze out pus. There is basically no part of your body that is protected from experiencing the effects of sunburn. Sunburn can affect your earlobes, scalp, and even your eyes.

Signs of sunburn will begin to appear within a few hours of sun exposure and the body will begin to heal in a few days time. The healing is characterized by peeling of the skin's top layer.

There are several natural home remedies for sunburn that can help relieve the pain. Before we go onto these, let's look at the causes of sunburn.

What are the causes of sunburn?

Exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) is the reason for sunburn. UV radiation is a wavelength of sunlight and it can be divided into three bands - UVA, UVB, and UVC. While UVC is not able to reach you, UVA and UVB rays definitely can cause harm.

When your skin is exposed to the UV light of the sun, it increases the production of melanin, a pigment responsible for giving the skin its normal color. This increase in melanin production is what gives you a suntan. However, there is a limit to which your skin can produce melanin when exposed to sunlight and this is determined genetically.

This means that when you are moving around in the sun, the UV light gets to the epidermis (outer layer of the skin) and begins to damage the living cells present there. These living cells are present just below the outer layer of dead skin cells.

Now, during sunburn, these living cells get damaged or killed. So, your body will notice it and react to it. Your immune system will begin to act by increasing blood flow to the exposed area. It does this so that the white blood cells can remove these dead cells from the skin. This increased blood flow makes your skin red and hot. The damaged cells also send signals to the brain which is why your skin is so sensitive and painful.

Most people think that they can't get sunburn on hazy or cloudy days. This is not true. Even on these days, UV rays are passing through the haze and clouds and reaching your skin. This is why dermatologists advise using a sunscreen even on cloudy days and even in winters.

We will take a look at the best natural home remedies for sunburn. However, as mentioned before, the best thing to do is to prevent sunburn. Let's take a look at a few tips on how you can prevent sunburn.

How to prevent sunburn?

·            This might sound funny. However, the best way to avoid sunburn is to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Of course, not everyone can do this. The right thing to do here is to try your best to stay out of the sun from 10 am to 4 pm.

·            Estimate your UV exposure with the help of your shadow. If your shadow is longer than you, it means that UV exposure is low. If it is shorter than you, UV exposure is high. Avoid stepping out when UV exposure is high.

·            If you do have to go out, try to find shade as much as possible. Make sure to wear protective clothing. This means use a wide-brimmed hat which covers your eyes and neck as well. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Clothing should be loose and should cover your arms and legs.

·            If you are fond of using tanning booths, avoid it. These may cause skin damage as well.

·            Always use a sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Sunscreens should have an SPF of at least 15 and should be applied at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun. Don't forget your lips, ears and neck. Keep in mind that sunburn can happen even in these body parts. If you are outdoors, apply the sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours. Take a look at some of these sunscreens that will surely help.

           

·            In the hot summer days, eat foods that are rich in antioxidants. Include foods such as leafy green vegetables, mangoes, melons, and carrots. These are rich in beta-carotene which offers some protection from the damaging effects of the sun. The lycopene in tomatoes can also help prevent sunburn. The polyphenols present in green tea are also compounds that may provide protection from the UV rays.

Now, let's take a look at some natural home remedies for sunburn.

The Five Top Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn

Aloe Vera

We have all heard how good aloe vera is for the skin and this is why it is always good to have it in your own garden. It is also the best natural home remedy for sunburn. It soothes the sunburned skin and relieves the pain and tenderness. The best way to use aloe vera is to use it fresh from an aloe leaf. Just cut a small piece from the top, take out the gel, and apply directly to the affected area. Apply it five to six times daily for as long as you want. It will heal the sunburn in no time and also leave your skin soft and smooth as well.

If you can't find fresh aloe gel, you can buy it at the below link. 

                                                       

Milk and Yogurt

You may love your milk or your favorite yogurt, but did you know that these could actually be one of the best natural home remedies for sunburn!. Milk can be applied directly to the affected area. Slightly cold milk will be the best thing to use here. You probably know that cold compresses are very effective sunburn relief remedies. Instead of using cold water, you can use cold milk here. Do it as often as you want throughout the day.

You can also use yogurt. Homemade yogurt with no added ingredients is one of the best natural home remedies for sunburn. If you are buying it from the store, make sure to get plain yogurt. Just apply it on the skin and leave it on. It will cool the skin and reduce the burning sensation.  

Tea

The tannic acid in tea is quite a wonderful natural home remedy for sunburn relief. You can use tea bags for this. Used tea bags may work as a good cold compress. You just need to place them in the refrigerator and use as often as you want.

However, the best way to do this is to steep a large pot of strong tea. Once the tea is ready, just refrigerate it. Apply this in the burned area using small towels.

Potatoes and Cucumbers

We all know how soothing potatoes and cucumbers are for our eyes and skin. These are also quite useful as natural home remedies for sunburned skin. You can grate the potatoes or cucumbers and apply on the skin.

Another way to use these two wonderful foods for sunburn relief is to blend them in a blender till they are in liquid form. Apply the juice on the sunburned skin and leave it on till it dries out. Take a shower after that. You can add mint juice to your potato or cucumber remedy as well.

Baking Soda

Take a bath in bathing soda for sunburn relief. Add about one to two cups of baking soda to your bath tub and take a soak for about 15 minutes. Avoid overdoing it since it may dry your skin.

If you like taking baths, then just add it to your bath water. Don't dry your skin with a towel after the bath or else you will just remove all traces of the baking soda from your sunburned skin.

Other Tips for Sunburn Relief

While these natural home remedies for sunburn are quite effective, you may want to take an over-the-counter medication for quick pain relief. You can take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin for this.

If you have blisters, avoid opening or bursting these. Do not cover these and avoid wearing clothing that may irritate them. Apply honey or white vinegar on the blisters since these have anti-bacterial properties and may prevent an infection.

What to do if these natural home remedies for sunburn do not work for you?

If the sunburn is severe, use calamine lotion or milk of magnesia to relieve the burning and tenderness. These products may be able to help here.

                                                

If these natural home remedies for sunburn and the above products do not provide relief, make sure to consult a doctor. This is especially necessary if you have fever, severe headache, large amount of blisters, or if you are feeling faint and dizzy.

Read more articles


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Natural Home Remedies for Hair Loss 

Five Best Natural Home Remedies for Acne and Blemishes

© Copyright Roohi Khan, 2012

 

Natural Home Remedies for Hair Loss

The Five Best Natural Home Remedies for Hair Fall

There are quite a few adults who are looking for some natural home remedies for hair loss. Why not; hair loss seems to be becoming a common problem among adults of all ages these days. However, the surprising thing is that hair loss is increasingly becoming more and more common even in teenagers.

Before we look at the top natural home remedies for hair loss, let's have a look at what is hair loss and what are the common causes of hair fall.

What is hair fall?

The first thing that you need to know is that hair is made of a type of protein. This protein is called keratin. Your hair has basically four parts: the shaft, the root, the follicle, and the hair bulb. The hair shaft is what you can see. The root is just below the scalp. The follicle is the part from which the hair root grows. The hair bulb is what gives your hair its color since it produces melanin. It is present at the lower end of the follicle.

If you are losing about 50 to 100 hairs a day, you have no cause to worry. Your hair will grow back in the same follicle. If you are losing more than that, then you need to find the cause and address it.

We will have a look at some wonderful natural home remedies for hair loss very soon. However, as mentioned above you will need to address the cause of hair fall as well for these home remedies to work. So, let's have a quick look at some of the causes of hair loss.

What are the causes of hair loss?

There are can be any number of causes of hair loss in both teenagers and adults. However, these are some of the most common reasons for hair loss, especially in teenagers:

Medical conditions

Hormonal imbalances due to health conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, lupus and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can be a cause of your hair loss. If you think you have a health condition, you will need to consult a doctor for the same. Similarly, pregnancy, surgical procedures and traumatic events can lead to hair loss. However, hair fall caused due to these three situations is usually temporary.

Medications

Diet pills, acne medicines, and medications for mood disorders can lead to hair loss in teenagers and adults alike. You may notice that just by stopping these medications the hair fall tends to disappear.

Alopecia areata

One of the most common reasons for hair loss and baldness is the skin disease called alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system (which is supposed to protect the body from various infections and diseases) begins to attack the body's own tissues, cells and organs. The disease damages the hair follicles and may lead to bald patches in both men and women.

Traction alopecia

If your hair is tied too tightly and for a long time, you will be putting unnecessary tension on the scalp. This will damage your hair follicles and lead to permanent baldness. This condition is referred to as traction alopecia.

Trichotillomania

If you are in the habit of pulling your hair out, you have trichotillomania. This is a psychological disorder and you will need treatment for it. Otherwise, you will end up with bald patches on your hair.

Improper Diet

If your body is not getting enough vitamins, minerals and proteins, your hair will find it difficult to survive. Iron, protein, calcium, vitamin B complex, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids are especially necessary for health hair. If you are not getting these nutrients in your food, you should consider getting some healthy hair supplements to stop hair loss. Take a look at some very useful hair supplements that can help your here. 
 
                                             

Hair treatments

These days, chemical treatments are quite commonly used to style the hair. You are coloring your hair, bleaching it, straightening it, drying it and what not. Although these treatments make your hair look gorgeous for a little while, these are not doing any good to your hair. So, if you are overdoing these, stop it immediately.

Androgenetic alopecia

The most common cause of baldness in both males and females is androgenetic alopecia. This is caused due to a combination of genetic factors and hormonal factors. Androgen is the main hormone involved in this condition.

Now that we have had a look at what is hair loss and what are its causes, let's have a look at some of the best natural home remedies for hair loss.

The Top Five Natural Home Remedies for Hair Loss

Honey, Cinnamon and Olive Oil

The combination of these three ingredients can give you a potent natural home remedy for hair loss. You can buy cinnamon powder from your nearest store or order it online. A tablespoon of honey, a teaspoon of cinnamon is what is needed here. Just add a little bit of warm olive oil to this and massage the paste into your hair. This should be left for about 15 to 30 minutes. Wash the hair with a mild shampoo. The treatment should be done on the hair at least once a week.

Fenugreek Seeds and Coconut Oil

Another very effective natural home remedy for hair fall involves fenugreek seeds. These are called methi in Hindi. Add these seeds to warm coconut oil and store it in an airtight container. Just massage the oil gently into the scalp every night before going to bed. Wash it off in the morning. Do this daily or at least once every two days and you will notice a difference.

You can also grind the fenugreek seeds and make a paste of it. Apply this paste to the scalp and the hair. Leave it on for about an hour and then wash it off with plain water. Do this once a week. It will arrest hair fall and also add shine and luster to your hair.

                                                     

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is considered to be wonderful for nourishing the hair scalp and promoting hair growth. You can easily buy coconut milk at your nearest herbal store. Just massage the scalp gently with coconut milk. Leave it on for about an hour. Do this for about twice or thrice a week and see your hair become thick and long in no time!

                                                      
   


                                                           

Henna and Mustard Oil

Boil about 250ml of mustard oil and add about 60 gm of henna leaves to it. If you can't get your hands on henna leaves, you can use henna powder as well. This mixture should be stored in an airtight container. Massage the scalp regularly with this oil, preferably every other day. Applying it at night and washing the hair in the morning will give you thick and lustrous hair.

                                    

Homemade Shampoo for Hair Fall

It is quite possible that your chemical shampoo is not doing much good to your hair. It could actually be the cause of your hair fall. If you are not using the right type of shampoo for your hair, you will notice hair fall. The best way to combat this is to consult a hair specialist to find out which is the best shampoo for your hair.

You can also make your own shampoo by boiling 100 gm of Indian gooseberry (amla), soap nuts (reetha), and Acacia concinna (shikakai). Add these to 2 liters of water. Boil it and strain the liquid. This shampoo is known to reduce hair fall, prevent dandruff as well add shine to your hair. If you can't find the real thing, these three ingredients can also be obtained in powdered form. 

                                

What to do if none of the natural home remedies for hair loss work for you?

If nothing works, you may want to try some over-the-counter products that are safe to use. Consider taking the hair supplements mentioned above to promote the growth of strong hair by boosting the strength and immunity of your body internally. Also use hair treatment products that contain ingredients known to arrest hair loss. Here are some hair care products for hair loss that are proven to arrest hair fall. 

                                               

If nothing works, it may the right time to consult a hair care specialist or trichologist. He or she may be able to ascertain the cause behind your hair loss and prescribe the right kind of treatment for you. Keep in mind that if you have an underlying health condition, it is important for you to get treatment for it. If you don't, these natural home remedies for hair loss will not be as effective as they can be. 

Take a look at these articles to find out what else is good for your hair

The Best Supplements for Hair Fall

The Best Hair Oils for Healthy Hair

The Best Vitamins for Hair Loss

The Best Herbs for Hair Loss and Growth

 © Copyright Roohi Khan, 2012

Natural Home Remedies for Acne

The Five Best Natural Home Remedies for Acne and Pimples

If you are a teenager, the chances are that you are here looking for a natural home remedy for acne and pimples. Of course, you don't like the look of that zit on your face and you want to get rid of it as fast as you can. No one likes a pimple on the face and it doesn't matter whether you are a teenager or an adult.

Before we go and look at some fantastic natural home remedies for acne and pimples, let's have a brief look at what is acne and what are its causes.

What is acne?

Acne refers to those bumps on your face. If you are a teenager, these bumps are mostly caused due to hormonal changes characteristic of puberty. You are also more likely to get acne on the face if your parents had it when they were teenagers. So, blame it on your genes!

Most teenagers and even adults get acne in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts on their face, neck, upper back, chest and shoulders. If you have consulted a skin specialist for your condition, you probably have heard the name 'acne vulgaris'. The word 'vulgaris' means 'of the common type' and it is exactly as it means, that is, this is the most common type of acne.

Now, let's have a look at how acne occurs.

What causes acne?

The pores or the hair follicles that you see on your face contain oil glands. These oil glands are medically called the sebaceous glands. These oil glands produce a substance called sebum. This substance moisturizes your skin and hair and is quite useful for the skin. However, when you are a teenager, the hormones stimulate these glands, thus, increasing sebum production.

As more sebum is produced, the pores tend to get clogged. These pores get infected with bacteria. The result is quite obvious on your face. There is swelling and redness indicating that acne has just hit your face.

Now, before we have a look at some natural home remedies for acne and pimples, let's find out the difference between whiteheads, blackheads and pimples.

What is the difference between blackheads, whiteheads and pimples?

As mentioned above, increased sebum production causes the pores to be clogged. A whitehead occurs when the pore closes. However, you can still see it in the form of a white bulge on the skin.

When the same clogged pore stays open, it gets darkish in color. This is a blackhead.

A pimple occurs when the pore is open and bacteria, dead skin cells, and sebum enter the skin. These pimples are sometimes filled with pus.

If the pores open up too deep into the skin, it can take the form of cysts and boils. These are often quite painful and much larger than the usual small pimple.  

Now that we know a little bit about acne, let's move on to how to treat pimples.

Here is a look at the five best natural home remedies for acne and pimples.

The Top Five Natural Home Remedies for Acne and Pimples

Honey

Since it has anti-bacterial properties and also quite gentle on sensitive skin, honey can safely be used by anyone as a treatment for acne. You can apply honey as a face mask once or twice a week.

Alternatively, you can even mix it with a little bit of cinnamon powder. Cinnamon is also known for its antibacterial properties. Just mix cinnamon powder and honey and apply it on your pimples before going to bed at night. You will surely see a difference within a week. 

Sandalwood

Another very effective natural home remedy for acne and pimples is sandalwood powder. This has a cooling effect on the skin and also has anti-bacterial properties. The best way to reap the benefits of this home remedy is to make a paste of sandalwood powder and rose water. Apply it on the face and wash it off after about 20 minutes. This is not only effective for the treatment of pimples but is also an effective remedy for treating acne scars.

                                                   

Turmeric

Known for its antibacterial properties, turmeric is a well-known spice used in Indian cuisine. However, not many people know that it is also quite effective as a natural home remedy for acne and pimples. It is also quite useful in removing acne scars.

Turmeric should not be applied alone since it will leave a yellowish color on your skin. A pinch of turmeric should be added to your face mask. You can add it to your sandalwood powder acne mask or even your honey mask.

                                                          

Tea Tree Oil

You have probably heard about the benefits of tea tree oil. However, did you know that it is quite effective in treating pimples as well? This is an essential oil which needs to be diluted before being applied on your pimples. It is known to kill the bacteria that cause acne lesions, Propionibacterium acnes. So, once the bacteria are gone, the pimples will disappear as well. 

                                                          

Orange Peel

You may love to eat your oranges but don't throw away the peels if you have acne! Dried orange peels are quite an effective natural home treatment for acne and pimples. Just allow the orange peel to dry out in shade and grind it into a powder. Store it in an airtight container. If you don't want to go through the hassle of drying and grinding it, you can buy also buy it.

Take as much as you want and mix it with plain water or rose water. Add a pinch of turmeric and apply it on the affected areas. Instead of water, you can also add plain yogurt to make a paste. Just let it stay on the affected area for about 15 minutes and then wash it off by scrubbing it gently. 

                                                         

Tips to Cure Acne and Pimples

While the above natural home remedies for acne and pimples are surely going to help clear up your face in no time, there are certain other things that you should keep in mind. Here are these tips:

• Avoid touching your face.
• Make sure to keep you face clean. Wash it with a mild soap or face wash twice a day.
• Don't overdo the washing! It will only further increase sebum production and lead to more clogged pores.
• Don't scrub your face with the wash cloth or any harsh substance. Be gentle while washing or drying your face or the other acne affected areas.
• Keep your hair away from your face, especially if you use hair oils or hair sprays.
• Make sure to wash your face after you get back home from your school or office or when you get back from exercising.
• The most important, never ever squeeze or pick or touch your pimple. If you do so, you will end up with more inflammation, more clogged pores, and the acne will leave scars on your face.

What to do if none of the natural home remedies for acne and pimples help you?

While the above home treatments for acne and pimples are quite effective, sometimes you may need a stronger product for getting rid of these bumps on your face and back. In this case, you may want to try out some over-the-counter medications for acne treatment. Look for products based on benzoyl peroxide, retinol, and salicylic acid since these are especially effective as a treatment for acne and pimples.

Here is a list of some of the most popular acne treatments.

      

If these acne treatment products do not work, it is time to consult a skin specialist or dermatologist. This specialist will look at your skin condition and prescribe a topical medication as well as an oral medicine to help you get rid of the acne.

Read more articles


Natural Home Remedies for Hair Loss 

Natural Home Remedies for Eczema 

Five Natural Remedies for Acne and Blemishes 

© Copyright Roohi Khan, 2012

Natural Home Remedies for Sore Throat

Five Best Natural Home Remedies for Sore Throat

Are you feeling an irritation, scratchiness and pain in your throat? Do these troubling sensations get worse when you swallow? If yes, you are down with a sore throat. While it is always easy to go for a non-prescription medication, you may also want to try out some natural home remedies for sore throat.

A sore throat can really be irritating. It makes your feel sick. You just don't feel like getting out of bed and doing your activities. Furthermore, it also does not let you sleep if you just want to curl under your blanket and get two winks. No wonder, at the first sign of that pain, people tend to go for some or the other medication. However, in most cases you could easily take care of a sore throat with the help of some home remedies.

Before we take a look at some natural home remedies for sore throat, let's have a look at some of the causes of this health problem.

What are the causes of a sore throat?

Viral infections

It is most likely that you sore throat is due to a viral infection. The most common viral infections include the common cold and influenza (flu). Mumps, chicken pox, and mononucleosis ("mono" for short) are some other viral infections that may give you a sore throat. In children, croup is a condition that can lead to a sore throat. Croup is characterized by a harsh, barking cough. If your voice box gets infected, it means that you have laryngitis.  

Bacterial Infections

While viral infections are the most common cause of a sore throat, it is quite possible that you have a bacterial infection. Strep throat is the most common bacterial infection. It is caused by a bacterium known as Streptococcus pyogenes. Whooping cough and diphtheria are other likely bacterial causes of your sore throat. Often, an inflammation of the tonsils is also bacterial in nature. In some cases, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhea could be the cause of your sore throat. However, it is highly unlikely unless you tend to engage in high-risk sexual behavior.

Allergies

If you are allergic to molds, dust, pollen, pet dander and other such things in your environment, you are likely to get a sore throat whenever you are exposed to these allergens.

Pollution

Constant exposure to air pollutants whether indoors or outdoors is another reason for a sore throat. People who live in close vicinity of a busy road or a smoke-chugging factory are likely to often get a sore throat. Tobacco smoke is possibly the most common indoor air pollutant that can lead to throat irritation.

Dryness in the air

Some people notice that they tend to get a sore throat in dry season. This is why most people develop throat irritation in the winters. Use of room heaters indoors in the winter season often dries the air and can cause throat pain. For such people using a humidifier may help. 

                                                           

Breathing through the mouth

If you are in a habit of breathing through your mouth especially while sleeping, you are likely to experience throat dryness. Often, people with nasal congestion breathe through their mouths and this can dry the throat.

Overstraining the vocal chords

If you have just been to a game where you were cheering your favorite player or team way too loudly, you are likely to feel that pain in the throat when you get back home!

Acid reflux

In some people, the acids and other content in the stomach back up into the food pipe. These people often experience heartburn, hoarseness, and a lump in the throat. This medical condition is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid reflux for short. If the contents of your stomach back up into the food pipe too often, your throat is going to be constantly irritated.

Other causes

Eating spicy foods, chewing tobacco, smoking, and drinking alcohol may also be the cause of throat pain in some people. Sometimes, a sore throat is the first symptom of an HIV infection as well. Cancer of the throat, tongue or voice box may also be a likely cause of a sore throat.

So, now you know the likely causes of sore throat. Let us have a look at some wonderful natural home remedies for sore throat now.

Top Five Natural Home Remedies for a Sore Throat

Apple Cider Vinegar

One of the oldest natural home remedy for sore throat is apple cider vinegar. For this, boil a cup of water. Add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to this hot water. You should also add a pinch of cayenne pepper, one teaspoon of honey, and the juice of half-a-lemon. Drink this hot tea slowly, preferably about four times a day. You can even add it to your salt water and gargle every half and hour or so. 

                                                           

Turmeric

One of the lesser known natural home remedies for sore throat is turmeric. An Indian spice, turmeric is known for its anti-bacterial properties. The ideal thing to do is to add the turmeric to your salt water mixture and gargle with it. For this, just add half-a-teaspoon turmeric and half-a-teaspoon of salt to warm water. Gargle at least four times a day.

Another way of using this wonderful home remedy for throat pain is to add half-a-teaspoon of turmeric to one cup of milk. The milk should be boiled and then the turmeric should be added to it. Drink it at night before going to bed and you will surely notice a difference in your throat irritation. 

                                                          

Cayenne Pepper

Gargling with cayenne pepper can help you get rid of throat pain in no time. It may sting your tongue and throat a little, but it just means that it is working its magic! Just add a little bit of cayenne pepper to warm water and gargle with it. You can, of course, add it to the apple cider vinegar tea mentioned above if you cannot handle gargling with it.

However, if you can handle it, do go ahead and gargle with it. About four times a day will do the trick. If you cannot handle it, just boil some tea leaves, add the cayenne pepper and some honey and sip it slowly. 

                                                           

Ginger

A very effective natural home remedy for sore throat is ginger. Ginger has antibacterial properties which make it quite useful for throat pain. Just peel the ginger root. Pound it or slice it. Boil about two cups of water and add the ginger root to it. Let it boil for some time. Ideally, you should allow it to reduce to about one to one-and-a-half cup. Take it off the stove and add a little honey. A little bit of lemon juice added to this tea would give you a good dose of vitamin C, which will help fight the infection. If you cannot find fresh ginger root, you can always buy dried ginger root powder. 

                                                           

Clove

Not many people know this but cloves can be a really useful natural home remedy for sore throat. You can easily add two cloves to your ginger tea to reap the benefits. However, you can also replace your favorite lozenges with a clove! Bite on the cloves a little bit. You will feel the oils being released into your throat. Just keep these at the back of your throat, biting it every few minutes. Sucking on cloves will soothe your throat pain and you will notice a difference within a day. 

 

                                                         

Tips for Relieving a Sore Throat

Just using one or two of the above natural home remedies for sore throat will be enough to bring relief. However, there are a few other simple things that you should keep in mind when you are down with a throat infection.

·            Get plenty of rest for a couple of days or at least till the time you feel better.

·            Drink plenty of liquids, especially warm liquids since these will promote healing. Warm liquids help in reducing the inflammation in the throat and are soothing as well.

·            A Vitamin C tablet will boost your immunity and help get rid of the sore throat quickly.

·            If dry air is a problem, consider using a humidifier in the bedroom.  

What to do if these natural home remedies for sore throat do not work?

If these natural home remedies do not work, you may want to consult a doctor. Make sure to consult a doctor

·            if your sore throat or hoarseness lasts for more than a week,

·            if there is blood in the sputum,

·            if you have a temperature of more than 101 degrees Celsius,

·            if there is severe pain around the nose and the eyes,

·            if there is pus at the back of the throat,

·            if rashes appear.

You may also want to consider taking some homeopathic medicines for relieving a sore throat. These are perfectly safe to use for children, adults, as well as the elderly. Take a look at some of these homeopathic medicines right here.

          

While these natural home remedies for sore throat are generally quite effective, make sure not to use these if you are allergic to any of the ingredients or if you notice that you throat pain is getting worse. Of course, if it goes out of control, a visit to the doctor is the best thing to do. 

Read more articles:

Five Useful Herbs for Asthma

What Causes a Morning Sore Throat

Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn

 © Copyright Roohi Khan, 2012