-IBIS-1.7.6-
tx
eyes/ears/nose/throat
Pharyngitis
Integrative Therapies

Home Care

A sore throat can occur with or without a cold. The throat is often red and swollen. The lymph glands in the neck can be easily felt and are tender. Like a cold, a sore throat can bring about symptoms of fever, tiredness, nausea, and headache. Sore throats are often viral in nature.

Symptoms can occur as the result of poor diet, stress, or lack of rest. Irregular or infrequent bowel movements can aggravate the problem by a buildup of waste materials that should be expelled from the body.

A sore throat often requires that a culture be taken and tested for the possibility of strep throat. General measures for all sore throats are:

• Rest
• Plenty of fluids
• Reduced sugar intake (such as candies and pastries)
• Reduced intake of milk and dairy products


THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS ARE USED FOR SORE THROATS AND CAN BE TAKEN UNTIL SYMPTOMS IMPROVE:

• Beta-carotene – 100,000 Units twice daily. Caution: Pregnant women (or women who may become pregnant) should not take more than 15,000 Units of Beta-carotene a day.

• Vitamin C – For adults, 1,000 milligrams every 2 hours. For children, 250 milligrams every 2 hours. Cut back the dose if diarrhea occurs.

• Bioflavonoids – These can be used to improve the action of Vitamin C. For children – 100 milligrams per day. For adults – 1,000 milligrams per day.

• Zinc – 15 milligrams every 2 hours while symptoms are present for adults. For children – 2.5 milligrams times age per day. Zinc lozenges can also be used for their soothing effect. Zinc gluconate and zinc gluconate-glycine are the forms which have demonstrated the greatest effectiveness in studies.

• Thymus – Take 1 tablet every 2 hours for adults, once a day for children.

• Garlic – Take 2 capsules with each meal.


HERBS FOR THE SORE THROAT:

• Gargle with salt water or diluted 3 percent hydrogen peroxide every 3 hours. You can also make a tea with 1 teaspoon of Golden Seal or 1 tablespoon of Calendula per cup of water. Simmer 1 minute. Steep 15 minutes. Gargle with it every 2 to 3 hours.
» Take a mixture of the following herbs:

1 part Golden Seal
1 part Myrrh
2 parts Echinacea

Also add 1 part Phytolacca or Poke Root if there are swollen tonsils or lymph glands.

If used as a tincture, which is a liquid herbal extract, take 1 teaspoon every 2 hours. Or, make a tea of the dried herbs in the same proportions. To do this, simmer 1 tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water for 5 minutes, steep for 15 minutes, and cool. Take 1 cup every 2 hours.


THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL THERAPY MEASURES CAN ALSO BE USED:

• Apply a steaming hot towel to the neck and throat for 5 minutes, followed by a cold wash cloth for 1 minute. Repeat this 2 more times, ending with cold. Do this twice a day.

• You can also use a mustard plaster. Make a thick paste of dried mustard plus a little water. Smear onto a wash cloth and place over the skin of the neck for about 15 minutes. Remove sooner if there is a burning sensation or the skin turns red. The skin should turn pink but should not turn red or blister. Wash well afterwards. Repeat twice a day.


HOMEOPATHY
From the following homeopathic medicines choose the one that best matches the symptoms. Dissolve 3 pellets under the tongue, 3 times a day.

• Belladonna 12C: For a bright red sore throat with fever.

• Mercurius sol. 12C: If the person perspires, drools, or salivates or has a salty or metallic taste in the mouth. The throat is painful, especially at night.

• Phytolacca 12C: For a dark red colored throat and pain that shoots to the ears when swallowing.

• Hepar sulph 12C: For whitish yellow spots on the throat and tonsils. The pain may feel like a splinter in the throat.

• Lachesis 12C: When the left side of the throat is painful and swollen and hurts when swallowing.

Note: A wide range of homeopathic medicines can be helpful for individuals experiencing particularly severe or recurrent sore throats. Consultation with and examination by a qualified health care professional trained in homeopathic prescribing will usually be the best way to select the correct medicine.

Clinic

Footnotes

BarShalom R, Soileau J. (eds.) Natural Health Hotline. Beaverton, OR: Integrative Medical Arts, 1991-1999.