Treating a Sore Throat - Helpful Tips!

You woke up with a sore throat and you find yourself at the market or drug store, stocking your basket up with throat lozenges, mouth and throat sprays and liquid numbing medications that don't taste any better because of their cherry flavored disguises.

You check out and pay roughly $10.00 to $15.00 dollars for about 16 ounces of liquid and 18 foil wrapped drops and for what? After a day or so, you realize that you'd rather deal with a sore throat than stomach another mouthful of those advertised cure alls!

Here are a couple natural home remedies for treating a sore throat that won't leave you broke and chances are you already have the ingredients in your home. Hopefully you like lemons.

Take one fresh lemon thinly sliced, including the rind. Layer the slices into a small pan and fill the pan with water. Place the pan on the stove and bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and although it to simmer covered, until the lemon rind is transparent. Pour the liquid into a cup add about a teaspoon of honey, stir and drink.

This mixture might burn a bit because the throat is a little raw, but the heal effects offered from the combination of the lemon juice and the oils from the rind work well to quickly soothe the throat.

Another natural remedy to help soothe a sore throat and replace those expensive lozenges requires only fresh lemons and a few peppermint sticks.

Cut a lemon in half and place a peppermint stick in the center. Suck on the lemon with the peppermint stick. Again you are using only natural ingredients and as long as you like lemons, this is another quick and easy remedy. The added bonus-no warning labels to read or directions to follow.

And last but certainly not least, using a tablespoon pour or squeeze a few drops of fresh lemon juice and add a little honey, then open wide and swallow! The honey helps coat the throat and the lemon juice with its many natural healing properties works as an antiseptic.

Why spend money foolishly at the drug store or market, when all natural and inexpensive methods are available? The next time you have a sore throat and are looking for a great alternative to drug and store bought remedies, grab a couple lemons, a jar of honey and a few peppermint sticks and treat yourself!

And remember-sore throats that do not improve after a few days, or that are combined with other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, nausea or cough may be signs of a more serious infection and should be reason to consult your physician.