Salt Water for a Sore Throat / myLot

United States

February 6, 2016 12:20pm CST

Sometimes the simplest remedies are the best. I came down with a sore throat yesterday and suffered all day. Before I went to bed, I remembered what we used to do when we were young and had a sore throat. We gargled with salt water. I thought I'd give it a try, so I put about a teaspoon of salt in a half of a glass of warm water and gargled. I rinsed my mouth out afterwards to get rid of the taste. When I woke up this morning, my throat wasn't sore. It worked! Now if I can only do something about this cough.

19 people like this

19 responses

Judy Story

@jstory07 (139996)

• Roseburg, Oregon

6 Feb 16

Try half lemon juice and half ho9ney for the cough/

2 people like this

Dalane

@Dalane (691)

• United States

6 Feb 16

Thanks for the suggestion. I would try that but I don['t have any lemon in the house right now.

Jabo

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

6 Feb 16

We used to do that too, before all the fancy cures came along.

2 people like this

Michelle

@infatuatedbby (94914)

• United States

6 Feb 16

Good to hear salt water works for sore throat. Every night after I brush my teeth ~ I rinse with salt water.

1 person likes this

Dalane

@Dalane (691)

• United States

6 Feb 16

Salt kills bacteria, so that would be a very thorough way to clean your teeth.

1 person likes this

Marsha

@MarshaMusselman (38865)

• Midland, Michigan

6 Feb 16

We did that too, gargle with salt water. I'm surprised it worked though because once you rinse your mouth you negate the benefits quite a bit.

1 person likes this

Dalane

@Dalane (691)

• United States

6 Feb 16

Really? I was careful not to swallow any water. I should try gargling a couple times a day.

1 person likes this

Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20364)

• Fairfield, Texas

7 Feb 16

Hot green tea and honey usually helps with the cough @Dalane . @AnneEJ also has a good idea. Just blend the cinnamon & honey til it looks like chocolate frosting. You can make quite a bit of it and keep it in a container with a lid on it.

1 person likes this

Anne Johnston

@AnneEJ (4917)

• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec

6 Feb 16

I am glad that worked for you. Have you tried mixing honey and cinnamon, and taking a spoonful for your cough?

1 person likes this

Dalane

@Dalane (691)

• United States

6 Feb 16

I have both of those in my pantry. I'll give it a try.

freak369

@freak369 (5113)

• United States

7 Feb 16

I use a salt water rinse to get rid of the aftertaste if I vomit; it's better than brushing your teeth because it actually cleans the inside of your mouth with the mint flavor or possible gag reflex from a toothbrush. It's also great if you have a toothache or a sore / wound in your mouth.

1 person likes this

scheng1

@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

7 Feb 16

if you have ginger at home, you can boil the ginger and drink it. It works especially for the kind of cough we term as "wind" cough. That means when the wind blows, you will cough badly.

1 person likes this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16790)

• China

7 Feb 16

I have done it before,it did it work.Here some brush teeth with salt to safeguard against toothache .

1 person likes this

amnabas

@amnabas (14685)

• Karachi, Pakistan

6 Feb 16

Yes it surely works for sore throat.

1 person likes this

rakski

@rakski (126114)

• Philippines

7 Feb 16

yes, old ways and medicines still work! it is just that there are too many invented and re-invented medicines nowadays.

1 person likes this

Kristen Howe

@KristenH (33393)

• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

7 Feb 16

Feel better. Glad it worked!

As for a cough, maybe have a cough drop or take some coffee medicine. Drink plenty of liquids and get plenty of rest.

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Kristen Howe

@KristenH (33393)

• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

8 Feb 16

@Dalane I agree. It does work like a charm.

Dalane

@Dalane (691)

• United States

8 Feb 16

Fluids for sure. That's really the best way to loosen congestion.

1 person likes this

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brendamarie

@whiteream (8567)

• United States

7 Feb 16

you have to love those home remedies. I hope, you are feeling better.

1 person likes this

Kewkumber

@Ladypeace (2028)

• Singapore

7 Feb 16

Didn't know that, I will certainly try out your remedy next time I've caught a sore throat.

1 person likes this

marcyaz

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

7 Feb 16

I remember doing that as a child something my mother always had us do. Sometimes the older remedies can be the best. Hope you get rid of that cough soon.

Morning Girl

@salonga (27775)

• Philippines

8 Feb 16

I've proven several times how effective salt water to sore throats, tonsillitis and even to prevent cough from progressing.

paigea

@paigea (36315)

• Canada

7 Feb 16

Salt water works well. My doctor recommended it too.

fishtiger58

@fishtiger58 (29820)

• Momence, Illinois

7 Feb 16

Salt draws out infection, salt water rinse in your mouth for an infected tooth works as well. Salt is amazing.

Scindhia H

@Scindhia (1906)

• India

7 Feb 16

Have pepper powder mixed with honey. It will bring down the cough. My mother used to give me that as a kid when I had cough. Salt water is the age old remedy for sore throat. Glad you are better.

Dalane

@Dalane (691)

• United States

8 Feb 16

I never heard of that one before. I have both in my pantry.

1 person likes this