Home Remedies for Sore Throat

Methods to Get Rid of Throat Pain    
                                                                                                                                                                         Salt water gargle, apple cider vinegar, ginger and honey are some of the home remedies for sore throat.
                                                                                                                                                               

When you have a sore throat you feel extremely uncomfortable. You experience throat pain and difficulty to swallow. Some of the major causes of sore throat are virus, bacteria or fungus. A variety of illnesses like laryngitis, pharyingitis, and tonsillitis can also cause sore throat. It is a very common problem. Several home remedies for sore throat are available.

Salt Water Gargle

Salt water gargle very common home remedy for sore throat. Add a tbsp of common salt to a glass of warm water. Gargle this once every two hours. Salt is a disinfectant and warm water helps to get rid of phlegm in the throat.

Turmeric and Milk

Turmeric and milk is another good home remedy for sore throat. You can add a tbsp of turmeric and honey to hot water and drink it quickly. The water should be sufficiently hot but should not singe your throat. You can drink this 3-4 times a day.

Licorice Root

Tea made from licorice root has been used as home remedy for sore throat for a long time. Add 5 gm of licorice root to a glass water and boil it. Drink it several times a day. Licorice root helps to soothe the mucous membranes of the throat. It also has the properties of an expectorant and helps ease the symptoms of cough and congestion.

Cinnamon and Milk

Take a glass of milk and add

1 tsp of honey

1 tbsp of sugar

2 pinches of baking soda

Boil the mixture. And drink it when it is hot but not hot enough scald to your throat.

Instead of baking soda Cinnamon can be added to the combination of milk, sugar and honey. It is also very effective in providing relief.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Take a glass of water. Heat it till it become warm. Add

1 tsp Powdered black pepper

2 tsp Honey

2 tsp Apple cider vinegar

You can gargle with this liquid once every 2 hours till you get rid of the sore throat.

Ginger tea

Ginger is a very good remedy for sore throat. Take a glass of water. Add

4 slices of fresh ginger

1 tbsp of honey

1 tsp of lemon juice

Boil the water. You can drink the concoction several times a day or use it for gargling.

Slippery Elm

Slippery elm bark is another good home remedy for sore throat. Slippery elm is a tree that grows in North America. The bark of the tree can be powdered and added to water.  Drinking this liquid helps to soothe the inflammation of the mucous membranes.

All these remedies are quite safe and effective. Avoid smoking when you have sore throat. Also avoid cold food and drinks. You should have plenty of rest which helps to fight infection. Even if you are on antibiotics these home remedies will help to speed up the healing process.

These are some of the home remedies for sore throat. 

What are the Causes of Dry Skin: Natural Remedies

There are several causes of dry skin. Dry skin could cause itchiness and irritation. Other factors include aging, overall heath condition and heredity. In the winter, low temperatures and humidity cause dry skin. Several natural remedies are available to cure the condition. 

Causes of Dry Skin

Bathing

Bathing results in removal of oils from the skin which may cause dryness. If you feel that your skin is tight after the bath it could be due to the excessive removal of natural skin oils. 

Harsh Soaps

One of the major reasons of dry skin is the frequent application of harsh soaps. Soap acts as an emulsifier and removes the natural oils from the skin. More oil is removed from the skin, if you take bath more frequently. This results in dry skin. 

Drugs

Certain drugs for hypertension, allergies and asthma may cause dry skin. Diseases like eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriases and hyperthyroidism are the other reasons.

Inadequate use of moisturizers and certain types of clothing may also result in dry skin. Synthetic materials and wool are the main culprits. 

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol without drinking enough water can cause dry skin. Alcohol is a diuretic which drains the body of its water content. 

Remedies for Dry Skin

- It is essential to keep the body hydrated. Drink lots of water. It is advisable to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day.

- Add a teaspoon of almond oil to a glass of water and drink it before going to bed.

- Honey is a very good natural moisturizer. Apply honey all over your body and take bath after 15 minutes.              

- Cleopatra used to take bath in donkey’s milk. As donkey’s milk may not be available, apply cow’s milk generously all over your body and let it soak for a while, before taking bath.

- Petroleum jelly (vaseline)is a very good moisturizer. You can apply it to your face, hands and feet. 

Vaseline:Wikimedia Commons

- Glycerin is one of the best known moisturizers. 3-4 tbsp of glycerin can mixed with water in the bathtub. 

- Avocado oil is also a very good remedy. You can even make avocado paste and apply it all over your body. 

- Use mild soaps. Glycerin soaps would be better. 

- Hot water dries up the skin. So take bath in warm water.

- Omega 3 fatty acids are very good for moisturizing the skin. Include a fish like salmon which is rich in omega 3 fatty acids in your diet.

- Apply mashed banana all over your body and take bath after 15 minutes. It can also be used as a face pack. 

- For cracked heels banana skin is a very good remedy. 

These are some of the causes and natural remedies for dry skin. 

Do You Burn Calories When You Sleep?

There are several foods that burn calories even when you sleep. They burn more calories than they contain. Including these foods in your diet will help you to burn calories faster. These foods are called negative calorie foods. To get better results include exercise in your daily routine.

Most of these negative calorie foods consist of fruits and vegetables. They do not burn calories in the exact sense of the term. They speed up metabolism or break the components of fat.  These foods are rich in fiber and contain more water. It is better to eat most of these foods without cooking in the raw state.  These foods burn calories when you sleep.

Burn Calories with Green Tea

Green tea is a very effective metabolism booster. Green tea contains catechin polyphenols which are said to aid the fat burning qualities of the herb. It is said that the strongest of these catechins called EGCG reduces the calories that are absorbed from the diet and helps to burn fats faster. It also prevents the storage of fats.  It has thermogenic properties which help to burn off the calories.

Vitamin C

Citrus fruits contain vitamin C.  They help to dilute the fats and push them out of the body. They also speed up metabolism. Some of the citrus fruits that aid weight loss are lemon, orange, sweet lime, grape fruit and tangerines.

Legumes

Legumes have large amounts of protein and very high fiber content. Examples of legumes are soya beans, brussels sprouts, French beans, kidney beans and lentils. Some of them can be included for breakfast. Bean soup or salad for dinner will help to burn calories when you sleep.

Diary Foods

Milk, yogurt and other dairy foods contain calcium which breaks down fat cells and aid weight loss. Milk has an abundance of complex carbohydrates which helps to keep the insulin levels low. Low insulin levels help to boost the metabolism rate. Human body requires about 1200 to 1300mg of calcium daily. Drinking skimmed milk will help to burn fat without the addition of any unnecessary calories.

Whole Grains

Whole grains have carbohydrates in abundance. They are also rich in fiber. They increase the rate of metabolism and help to burn more calories and fat. Eating oatmeal for breakfast in the morning will boost your energy levels and also help to burn more calories. Some of the whole grains that would help to burn off fat are brown rice, wheat bran, whole wheat, barley and wheat germ.

You should include in your diet some of these foods that help to burn calories when you sleep.