Drinking tea provides various health benefits. It helps maintain cardiovascular health, ease cognitive issues, manage diabetes, prevent strokes, fight off inflammation, boost the immune system, and treat sore throat.
Tea is rich in antioxidants which help protect against various diseases and relax the body. Drinking tea every day is considered a healthy habit as it promotes overall wellness and is low in calories.
Many people drink tea to ease common unwellness like cough, cold, and sore throats. Some studies state that sipping tea can help treat sore throats, and this article shall discuss if this is true.
Benefits Of Drinking Tea When You Have A Sore Throat
A sore throat or pharyngitis is a painful, burning, and scratchy feeling in the back of the throat, especially when swallowing. A sore throat has many symptoms like cough, bad breath, redness in the back of the mouth, hoarseness, runny nose, and swollen neck glands. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergies, or certain diseases.
There are plenty of natural remedies to treat a sore throat and sipping tea is considered to be one of them. Drinking warm fluids is always great for sore throats as they help soothe inflamed tissues and increase blood flow to the area.
Also, staying hydrated can ease swallowing, clear mucus, and keep the throat tissues moist. Since tea is rich in antioxidants, it can help fight viruses and colds and boost immunity. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce pain and swelling.
Best Teas To Soothe A Sore Throat
Some of the teas good for sore throats are;
- Ginger tea:
Ginger is packed with health benefits. It can help fight off sickness at its root. Also, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help soothe an irritated throat and airways caused by coughing.
- Honey tea:
Honey has been widely used to relieve cold symptoms. Many studies prove that honey helps ease a sore throat and improve cough symptoms.
- Licorice root tea:
Licorice root is considered effective in treating various conditions like coughs, infections, and digestive problems. It helps eliminate the growth of fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and its compounds act as an expectorant, which helps loosen mucus.
- Green tea:
Green tea is said to have plenty of medicinal properties and it can help relieve headache and cough.
- Marshmallow root tea:
Marshmallow root helps ease coughs, colds, and skin problems. It acts as an enzyme that helps loosen mucus and inhibit bacteria. Also, its anti-inflammatory properties can decrease the swelling in mucus membranes and relieve cough.
- Peppermint tea:
Peppermint is a member of the mint family and has antimicrobial, antioxidant, and pain-relieving properties. It can ease clogged sinuses and make it easier to breathe. Peppermint has been widely used to treat digestive problems, the common colds, and heacghes.
- Chamomile tea:
Chamomile is a herb that is rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and pain-relieving properties. It can help ease sore throats and its symptoms.
- Turmeric tea:
Turmeric has compounds that can help treat infection, reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and relieve pain by numbing the throat. It helps treat sore throat by promoting healing and easing inflammation.
- Slippery elm tea:
Slipper elm contains mucilage which can help coat the throat. It also soothes throat pain and inflammation.
- Fenugreek tea:
Fenugreek has been widely known to treat sore throat as it helps clear mucus, cleanse the throat, and stimulate the immune system. Also, its antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acids can reduce pain and inflammation.
Other Methods To Manage And Treat Sore Throat
Other methods to manage and treat a sore throat include;
- Gargling- Gargling with warm salt water is the most effective way to soothe a sore throat.
- Humidifier- Using a humidifier or cool-mist vaporizer to moisten the air can ease a sore throat.
- Rest- Getting plenty of rest and sleep is important for faster recovery.
- Lozenges and hard candies- try sucking on lozenges or hard candies as they can soothe a sore throat.
- Pain relievers- You can take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
- Avoid smoking.
- Cold beverages- Drinking cold beverages like ice water or popsicles can help relieve a sore throat.
Seek immediate medical help if a sore throat is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, rash, difficulty breathing or swallowing, pus or blood, or swollen tonsils. Get treatment if you notice that the symptoms or discomfort lasts longer than one to two days.
Conclusion
Drinking tea provides various health benefits and drinking it every day is considered a healthy habit. Since tea is rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and pain-relieving properties, it is said to be one of the effective ways to soothe a sore throat.
A sore throat can be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergies, or certain diseases. Drinking warm fluids is always great for sore throats as they help soothe inflamed tissues and increase blood flow to the area. Also, staying hydrated can ease swallowing, clear mucus, and keep the throat tissues moist.
Some of the best teas for a sore throat include ginger tea, chamomile tea, peppermint tea, honey tea, licorice root tea, turmeric tea, and marshmallow root tea. There are other ways to relieve a sore throat like gargling, using a humidifier, sucking on lozenges or hard candies, and taking pain relievers. Seek immediate medical help if a sore throat is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, rash, difficulty breathing or swallowing, pus or blood, or swollen tonsils.
Frequently Asked Questions
Herbal tea, green tea, and tea with lemon and honey are the best options for sore throats.
Chamomile tea is considered the most effective drink to get rid of a sore throat.
You can try drinking peppermint, lemon, chamomile, ginger, or licorice root tea when sick.
Gargling, drinking warm liquids, and getting plenty of rest can help get rid of sore throats quickly.
Drinking plenty of warm fluids is recommended to stay hydrated and heal a sore throat.
