A sore throat (pharyngitis) is an extremely common condition, if it spreads further down the airways laryngitis can develop.

What causes sore throat?

It is normally a symptom of a bacterial or viral infection, such as the common cold. It can be accompanied by various other symptoms, such as a running nose, a headache, a hoarse voice, difficulty speaking or swallowing, a cough, aching muscles, or inflammation. In some cases the condition will resolve itself within 24 hours, and in any event the majority of sore throat clear up within 3 to 7 days without any need for treatment.

A sore throat can often be triggered by a reaction to certain foods. I myself had this experience some years ago with oranges, which I had bought from a supermarket. I noticed the discomfort within 24 hours after consuming the oranges, but did not make the connection until I suddenly noticed that eating more oranges made the situation worse. What was interesting was to note that I did not have the problem when I ate organic oranges from my garden. I have subsequently noticed that some of my patients who have been suffering with a sore throat have turned to oranges as a source of vitamin C, and have found that this has made the problem worse. It is my belief that the very long-term storage of the oranges in warehouses, using chemicals to preserve the fruits, is the main culprit – a fruit which was once an excellent source of vitamin C has now become a toxic food. A wide variety of processed foods are capable of creating similar problems.

Ayurvedic treatment of sore throat

An accumulation of mucus in the throat encourages bacteria to grow.  Ayurvedic sore throat treatment utilises Kapha (mucus) reducing medicines to treat the problem, but these have to be matched to the individual. There are a number of sore throat remedies which can be very effective in giving quick relief, such as gargling with Ayurvedic salt, chewing celery seed slowly or drinking lime and honey with hot water. Certain teas can also be very beneficial, such as those made with thyme, peppermint, lemon grass and turmeric.

Some people are affected with sore throats frequently, particularly in certain seasons. In such cases proper treatment is essential; current thinking discourages the repeated use of antibiotics, and there is no doubt that these can seriously affect the immune system and harm the gut flora. In addition to individually tailored Kapha reducing medicines Ayurvedic treatment for sore throats makes use of Yoga practices such as Indian Push-ups, Bhrahmari Pranayama, the Cobra Posture and Bhastrika Pranayama (refer to the book ‘Yatan Yoga Therapy’)

For further help and advice on how to get rid of a sore throat please contact the Yatan Holistic Ayurvedic Centre on 1300 552 260.