Gargle with salt for sore throat

What do we know about salt? It is a spicy-tasting substance of natural origin, sold in the form of small transparent crystals. It must be said that in the kitchen, salt is an irreplaceable food additive used in the preparation of most dishes and canning. Yes, many people know that salt is a well-known preservative, but what are these properties of the food product due to? Because salt is an excellent antimicrobial agent that practically dries out bacterial cells, which causes their death. It is this property of the popular food product that doctors take into account when they recommend using salt for sore throats.

Today we will talk about how salt can be used for inflammatory diseases of the throat and what such treatment provides.

Angina and salt

In order to understand how salt can be useful for sore throat, you need to understand what this disease is. Sore throat, also known scientifically as acute tonsillitis, is one of the inflammatory diseases of the throat localized in the area of the pharyngeal ring. At first, redness of the nearby components (palate, uvula) is observed, but the process very quickly spreads to the palatine tonsils, on which, under the influence of a bacterial or viral infection, blisters and pustules can appear.

Despite the fact that angina usually begins after hypothermia of the body, legs or throat (if a person breathed with an open mouth in the cold or drank a very cold drink), the main cause of the disease is considered to be bacteria and viruses (less often, Candida fungi). These can be stray microbes received by airborne droplets from a sick person, or their own "native" opportunistic microorganisms that have been waiting for their time.

In this case, hypothermia acts as a provoking factor that reduces the body's immune defense. And as soon as the immune system weakens, microbes begin to actively multiply. A weakened immune system that has been holding back the proliferation of bacteria, viruses, and fungi until this point will no longer be able to perform its important function. Microorganisms begin to actively multiply and secrete substances that cause inflammation and suppuration in the throat.

There are several types of angina, which differ in their manifestations and course. But in all cases, the most indicative symptom of angina of any form is considered to be a sore throat, which is especially noticeable when swallowing, as well as eating spicy or hot dishes. In the vast majority of cases, angina is accompanied by a strong increase in temperature, fever, weakness, redness of the palatine arches, tonsils and uvula, a feeling of aches in the body, sometimes the submandibular lymph nodes may increase. In purulent forms of angina, a whitish coating with purulent foci is observed on the tonsils.

How can salt help with sore throat? It would seem that if pathogens, accumulating on the surface of the throat mucosa, cause its inflammation and sore throat, then it is enough to gargle with clean warm water often to remove all this "filth" from the throat and completely heal. Alas, in fact, such gargling does not bring the expected result, because they are capable of removing mainly inactive and dead bacteria, not to mention more tenacious viruses that penetrate into a living human cell, and fungi.

But if gargling with water does not bring any benefit even with ordinary superficial (catarrhal) tonsillitis, then what is the best way to gargle with purulent tonsillitis, pain, and colds?

The name "purulent tonsillitis" indicates that the disease was caused by a bacterial infection, because it is the one that contributes to the appearance of foci of necrotic tissue filled with purulent contents. Most often, the disease is caused by an opportunistic microorganism, which is commonly called Staphylococcus aureus. The danger of this bacterium is that, actively multiplying, it secretes dangerous toxins that cause not only inflammation, but also cell death. Hence the appearance of purulent foci (pus is dead cells mixed with inflammatory exudate).

For the treatment to be more effective, water alone is not enough. It cannot wash away all the bacteria from your hands without soap, let alone your throat. Warm drinks can only slightly reduce the pain and help fight dehydration due to a strong increase in temperature.

In order to remove as many pathogens as possible, water must have special properties so that it creates conditions at the site of the lesion that are unsuitable for the life of bacteria. For example, adding vinegar to water increases the acidity in the throat area, while soda, on the contrary, makes the environment alkaline. Both too acidic and too alkaline environments are unsuitable for bacteria, so they weaken and become easy to remove from the throat.

Salt acts a little differently when used for sore throat. This substance in a solution based on plain water is capable of not only killing microorganisms that have accumulated on the surface of the throat mucosa, but also those pests that have gone deep inside the cells. How does it do this? It simply pulls them to the surface along with the fluid from the tissues inside the oral cavity, and then dries out the microbial cell, disrupting metabolic processes in it and leading to death.

So those who think that saline solution is no more effective than plain water are very wrong about this. It was not for nothing that during the Great Patriotic War, in the absence of antibiotics, doctors washed purulent wounds with salt, thus saving the lives of many soldiers.

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How to treat sore throat with salt?

Treatment of sore throat with salt usually involves frequent gargling with a saline solution or compositions in which salt is one of the medicinal components. If you catch the disease immediately and gargle regularly, you can prevent the spread of infection inside the body and do without antibiotics.

Why are we talking about antibiotics? The fact is that the bacterial form of the pathology is much more common than the viral or fungal one. And such an infection is usually treated with potent antimicrobial agents called "antibiotics".

It should be said that the pharmacodynamics of salt is similar to these same antibiotics, salt also kills microbes, although in a slightly different way. But by rinsing we can only achieve the destruction of microbes in the oral cavity. If they have penetrated deeper into the respiratory tract and blood, salt will be powerless against them.

Scientists did not consider the pharmacokinetics of table and sea salt, since saline solutions are used primarily for local treatment. Consuming large amounts of salt internally can cause harm to human health (increase blood pressure, lead to edema, provoke the development of tumor processes and even cause death if about 250 g of salt is consumed at one time), so it is strictly not recommended to use salt as a medicine for internal use.

But let's get back to the treatment of acute tonsillitis. Gargling with a salt solution certainly helps to combat the sore throat and pain, but not as effectively as we would like. It is common practice to soothe the pain with heat. If we are talking about sore throats, then such effective remedies as compresses (wet and dry) are used.

It is clear that with regard to salt we can only talk about dry compresses. Salt itself cannot penetrate the skin in case of angina to fight bacteria. For these purposes, gargling with a saline solution is used. But salt can retain heat for a long time, so you can heat it up, pour it into a linen bag, tie it up and use it to warm up the sore spot.

But the thing is that with tonsillitis, you need to be careful with various types of warming. What does heat do? It reduces pain, and that's good. But warming also increases the temperature (and with tonsillitis, it is already high, and even harder to bring down) and promotes vasodilation (increases blood flow, which means they accelerate the spread of infection throughout the body). At the first signs of tonsillitis and the absence of fever, heat will help relieve pain and reduce inflammation without causing much harm. But with the development of the inflammatory process, and especially with the transition of tonsillitis to a purulent form, any warming procedures will only worsen the situation.

It is important to understand that the question is not so much about whether it is possible to warm up a sore throat with salt, but rather concerns the very possibility of carrying out warming procedures. It is difficult for a person far from medicine to judge the nature of the disease and the consequences of the procedures carried out, so the possibility of carrying them out should always be discussed with a specialist doctor.

As for gargling, deep cleansing of the throat from pathogenic microflora that has multiplied there will be useful for any form of pathology and at any stage, since it will reduce the likelihood of the infection spreading inside, unlike warming up.

Another way to use salt for sore throat is inhalation. This can be done in two ways. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of salt in one liter of hot water and breathe in the steam for 5-10 minutes (you can use a nebulizer) or inhale the white "smoke" rising from the coffee grinder while grinding salt crystals into flour.

Wet and dry inhalations with salt are not a specific treatment for tonsillitis, although they help fight bacteria in the throat and nose. Such procedures are usually prescribed for inflammatory diseases of the lungs and bronchi, because this is the only way to help salt penetrate deep into the respiratory system. By the way, inhaling microparticles of salt is a good preventative measure for many respiratory and bronchopulmonary pathologies. It is not for nothing that doctors recommend going on holiday to the sea in the summer, because even the air there is saturated with salt. And its inhalation itself is considered healing.

And one more thing. When inhaling, it is preferable to use sea salt instead of table salt, for which you do not necessarily have to go to seaside resorts. Sea salt is actively sold in pharmacies and stores today (not to be confused with bath salt!), so getting an effective medicine for inhalation is not difficult.

The same can be said about gargling with sore throat. If possible, it is also better to do it using sea salt. In this case, you should always pay attention to its quality. The most useful salt is considered to be grayish in color (which indicates a rich mineral composition) without any additives.

Why sea salt, and how is it better than table salt? In principle, salt is salt (scientifically sodium chloride), and antibacterial properties are characteristic of this substance regardless of where it is mined. It's just that sea salt also contains many other useful minerals: magnesium, potassium, bromine, selenium, etc., which are necessary for our body to function normally and maintain immunity at its best.

Sea salt is more effective for sore throats due to its ability to heal wounds in the throat, reduce allergic reactions (and inflammation can be considered as a reaction of this kind to an irritant, which is substances produced by pathogenic microorganisms), strengthen body tissues, and improve cell nutrition. It is believed that gargling with sea salt will not only destroy pathogenic infections, but also promote rapid recovery of the mucous membrane after it has been damaged by pathogens. And those salt particles that are swallowed, due to their rich mineral composition, will bring additional benefits to the body.

Salt for clearing the throat

Gargling is a very important procedure for such a disease as tonsillitis, because the bulk of pathogenic microorganisms accumulate in the tonsil area. If they are actively removed from there, the disease will pass much faster and easier. The fewer bacteria in the body, the weaker the symptoms of intoxication, which is usually associated with a strong deterioration in well-being: headaches, general and muscle weakness, rapid fatigue.

We have figured out the necessity of the rinsing procedure and considered the question of why it is better to use saline solution for rinsing rather than clean water. It remains to figure out what will be the effective and safe proportions of salt when gargling with sore throat, because saline solution is a general concept, and for different purposes, compositions of different concentrations are used.

To gargle a sore throat, you can use either regular salt (rock, extra, iodized) or sea salt, which is considered even more effective, because such a procedure will not only cleanse, but also strengthen the body. When preparing the gargle, you need to make sure that there is at least 1 glass of water, otherwise the effectiveness of the procedure is reduced.

How to prepare a medicinal solution for rinsing the throat? Take 1 glass of water, heat it to a slightly hot state (about 45 degrees) and throw in 1 teaspoon of any salt. After thoroughly mixing the composition until the grains dissolve, check that its temperature is about 38-42 degrees, and begin gargling, which can be done every 1-2 hours.

A distinctive feature of sea salt is that it is enriched with iodine. This microelement is also a strong antiseptic (it has a negative effect on proteins, which are the building material of bacterial cells) and promotes the healing of microscopic wounds on the inflamed mucous membrane of the throat. This additionally speaks in favor of gargling with sea salt.

If you don't have good sea salt at home and no one to go to the store to get it, you can make a composition similar to the gift of the sea, but, admittedly, not as rich in microelements. To gargle with salt and iodine for sore throat, add 3 or 4 drops of iodine to the ready-made salt solution, the preparation of which we have already discussed, and mix thoroughly before use.

There is no need to add a lot of iodine. It is unlikely to increase the effectiveness of the procedure, but it may well cause a burn of the mucous membrane, which will only increase the pain and sore throat. But we use gargles precisely to remove these unpleasant symptoms, and not to increase them.

Alternatively, instead of water, you can take strong brewed and well-strained natural tea (remember that strong brewing can also exhibit antiseptic properties, while it has a beneficial effect on the mucous membrane, which makes it possible to use it even on sensitive eye tissues). Tea with salt for sore throat is used for rinsing identically to a regular saline solution, taking the components in the same proportions. But to get the best effect, you can advise taking loose leaf tea, and not tea bags with a questionable composition.

Quite often, soda is used instead of salt, which is also an antiseptic, plus it softens the throat, relieving symptoms of irritation and pain. Soda is taken in the same proportions as salt. But gargling with a soda solution often is not allowed, so as not to disrupt the microflora of the oral cavity. Soda rinses can be done 3-5 times a day.

Gargling with soda and salt at the very beginning of the disease helps to remove up to 2/3 of pathogenic microbes. Doctors recommend combining these two components in one recipe for gargling. Salt in the medicinal composition will be a natural antibiotic, and soda will create an alkaline environment in the throat, which will prevent the proliferation of the remaining bacteria.

For the "soda + salt" composition, we need to take 1 glass of heated water and add half a teaspoon of soda and salt. Some sources say that you can take more salt - 1 teaspoon, but this composition is more suitable for treating adult patients.

Any gargling composition containing salt will be effective for both superficial (catarrhal) and purulent forms of tonsillitis. But in the latter case, it is better to use a complex composition based on sea salt and soda or its more popular version: table salt + soda + iodine.

All 3 components: salt, soda and iodine are very useful for sore throat due to their ability to fight pathogens, relieve inflammation, accelerate the regeneration of tissues of the throat mucosa, it is only important to observe safe but effective proportions when preparing throat-cleansing solutions. Usually, for 200-250 ml of warm water, it is recommended to take 1 teaspoon of bulk components and 2-4 drops of iodine. It is recommended to gargle the throat with a well-mixed composition without grains of salt or soda 3, and if necessary, 4 times a day.

It is important to understand that the effectiveness of the gargling procedure depends not only on the concentration of the medicinal solution, but also on many other factors that should always be remembered. The procedure will bring noticeable benefits only if it is performed correctly and, most importantly, regularly.

Rules for preparing and performing the procedure for clearing the throat with medicinal compounds for sore throat

How, according to doctors, should you gargle with salt and other antiseptic solutions for tonsillitis correctly:

• Let's start with water. This is an important component of gargling solutions, the effectiveness of which depends on the quality of the water. Tap water can contain a lot of different additives that will reduce the effectiveness of other components of the solution and promote the proliferation of bacterial microflora. For gargling, it is better to use distilled, purified, mineral (still) or at least boiled water.
• In addition to the quality of water, its temperature is also important. Angina is an inflammation of the throat tissues, which as a result become more sensitive to various irritants. Hot and cold water also belong to the category of such irritants. Cold water reduces the local immunity of the throat mucosa, and hot water can cause a burn. Ideally, the water should have a temperature of no more than 45-50 degrees. But the most pleasant for a sore throat is considered to be water heated to 38-40 degrees. It will gently moisturize the drying mucous membrane of the throat and soothe irritated tissues.
• Based on clean water heated to a warm state (220-250 ml), we prepare a medicinal solution, which we use completely in one procedure. If the composition remains, it must be poured out, and a new one must be prepared immediately before rinsing.
• If you have to choose between table salt and sea salt, it is better to choose the latter. But in this case, it is better not to add iodine to the solution.
• When the solution is prepared and has the right temperature, it is time to start rinsing. To do this, after inhaling, take a small amount of the rinsing solution into your mouth (about 1.5-2 tablespoons) and tilt your head back so that the water does not spill out, but gets deep into your throat. Now hold the solution in your throat for half a minute, but do not just hold it, but try to make sure that the medicine irrigates the tonsils affected by the disease, the uvula, and the palate. To do this, while gradually exhaling, pronounce the sound "Ы", the pronunciation of which allows the water to pass deep into the throat. It is perceived by ear as "ры" in French.
• You need to try to hold the water in your throat for at least 30 seconds, which will allow you to rinse your larynx and throat well. And the salt, soda and iodine will begin their healing effect during this time. As you exhale, spit out the solution and repeat the procedure again until you empty the entire glass.
• If you are rinsing a child and he/she cannot stand it for 30 seconds, do not force the child. Let him/her spit out the water earlier. If necessary, you can also reduce the amount of solution used. It will be worse if the child develops a gag reflex or an aversion to rinsing.

Dose adjustment is a kind of compromise. The procedure will simply have to be performed more often.

• Even if the mouthwash does not contain harmful components, you should try not to swallow it. Firstly, the body needs soda, salt and iodine in limited quantities. And secondly, pathogenic microorganisms also enter the stomach along with the solution, and this is the opposite effect to what was expected and not at all useful for recovery. After all, by rinsing, we want to prevent the spread of pathogens into the body.
• To prevent swallowing the liquid composition, you need to inhale enough air beforehand to last at least 30 seconds, and while rinsing, exhale little by little, which will not allow water to enter the esophagus. You should also avoid being distracted or talking while rinsing.
• Once the glass is empty, the rinsing procedure can be considered complete. But for another half hour, the components of the composition remaining on the walls of the throat will have their healing effect, so during this period it is not recommended to drink water and food.
• The number of gargles per day, depending on the composition used, is best discussed with your doctor. It is only necessary to say that there is no point in doing less than 2 procedures per day. With angina, doctors advise gargling more often, 5-6 times a day with an interval of 2-3 hours. At the very beginning of the disease, gargling with a salt solution for angina can be done every 30 minutes.

It seems there is nothing complicated, and if you are not lazy, the fight against the disease with the help of gargles will be more effective, and recovery will come faster. Regular gargling in the first days of tonsillitis will help prevent the transition of the catarrhal form to purulent, which is much more difficult to treat and gives dangerous complications.

To prevent treatment from resulting in new problems

So far we have talked about effective saline rinses for sore throats, mainly in adults. It should be said that such procedures have virtually no contraindications for use and side effects.

Salt and soda are considered hypoallergenic components of solutions for gargling with sore throat. But you need to be careful with iodine. In some people, this component can cause allergic reactions. Plus, an overdose of iodine in the composition for washing mucous membranes is fraught with a burn of delicate tissues and an increase in pain.

What should alert you during and after the rinsing procedure? The appearance of small red itchy spots on the body (hives), runny nose, coughing, sneezing. Watery eyes and swollen eyelids can also be evidence of an allergic reaction to the components of the rinsing composition.

If after rinsing the pain in the throat does not decrease, but on the contrary increases, dryness of the mucous membranes and severe irritation are noted, the reason is most likely in the wrong proportions of the medicinal components of the solutions: excess iodine, salt or soda. Highly concentrated solutions will not relieve the symptoms of irritation, but on the contrary, cause them, irritating the sensitive mucous membrane of the throat. If the palate and tonsils are very red after the rinsing procedure, you must definitely consult your doctor, who will suggest remedies that will help relieve irritation.

Is it possible to use saline solutions for gargling during pregnancy? Gargling with soda and salt will definitely not harm either the mother or the child in her womb. But regarding iodine, it can be said that it can be used in solutions for gargling only if the woman is sure that the substance will not cause allergic reactions, which are especially dangerous during pregnancy.

Moreover, some doctors advise to refrain from using iodine even in local solutions during the first 3 months of pregnancy. It is believed that it is during this period that the endocrine system of the future human being is actively formed.

Can children gargle with salt when they have a sore throat?

Salt is an excellent antiseptic that effectively fights streptococcal and staphylococcal infections, which are usually associated with tonsillitis. These opportunistic microorganisms settle in the tonsil area and, under suitable conditions, begin to actively develop there, causing an inflammatory process.

These are the types of sore throat that we are talking about when a child is sick. Bacteria are brought into the oral cavity along with unwashed hands, and the immature immune system, additionally weakened in cold, damp weather, cannot prevent their reproduction. And who is our great fighter against impudent streptococci and staphylococci? Of course, salt, which means that it should act as an effective auxiliary medicine for sore throat.

But isn't gargling with salt dangerous for children? It isn't dangerous if the child learns to do the procedure correctly, without swallowing the gargling solution. It's hard to say when this will happen. Some children can gargle their throats by themselves even at 3 years old, spitting out the water, while others need 5-6 years to learn.

Table salt itself is not dangerous for a child. The use of salt for treating children is identical to the procedures for adults. The rinsing composition is made from 200-250 ml of water and ½-1 teaspoon of salt, taking into account the child's age. Even if a child swallows a little of this composition, it is unlikely that there will be much need to worry about it.

Children with tonsillitis are also allowed to rinse their throats with compositions containing not only salt, but also soda. The recipe remains unchanged: take half a teaspoon of soda and salt for one glass of warm water.

But iodine can be included in solutions for irrigation or rinsing the throat of children, if you follow the instructions, no earlier than the child turns 5 years old. At the same time, the child should already have mastered the rinsing technique well in order to exclude swallowing the components of the solution. After all, swallowing iodine is fraught with problems with the thyroid gland.

In order to supplement the treatment options for a child's sore throat with such an effective procedure as gargling, the child needs to be taught in advance, first in the form of a game, and then seriously, explaining that in this way the disease can be expelled from the throat faster.

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Salt analogues for the treatment of sore throat

Treating angina in adults and children is a rather labor-intensive process. But it is impossible not to treat the disease, because angina is famous for its complications on the heart, kidneys, joints, lungs, eyes and ears. And the faster the pathogen is removed from the body, the less likely complications are.

Fortunately, salt for angina, used for gargling, helps prevent dangerous complications by removing pathogens at the very entrance to the body - in the throat. But who said that salt is the only antiseptic that can be used to effectively cleanse a sore throat. We already know about the beneficial properties of soda and iodine, but there are other compositions for washing the site of localization of pathogenic microflora in angina, and they use completely different components.

One of the well-known components of a medicinal solution for gargling is hydrogen peroxide. An aqueous solution of a pharmacy drug is quite an effective remedy, but at the same time it is not safe. In high concentrations, peroxide will destroy not only pathogens, but also our own cells.

Probably all adults know about the good antibacterial properties of hydrogen peroxide. It is not for nothing that it is regularly used to disinfect wounds and scratches. But the skin on the body and the mucous membrane of the throat have different density and sensitivity. And what is quite safe for the skin of the hands can harm the mucous membrane.

Gargling with hydrogen peroxide requires a certain amount of caution and maintaining a safe concentration of the solution. A solution with a concentration of only 0.25 percent is considered safe.

Since the pharmacy solution of hydrogen peroxide usually contains 3 percent of the active substance, then for rinsing it must be additionally diluted with water to the desired concentration, which we obtain by diluting 1 tbsp. (about 15 g) of peroxide in 165 grams of purified water.

If we take the drug not in the form of a solution, but in tablets, to prepare a medicinal composition for the rinsing procedure, we need to take 1 hydroperite tablet for the same amount of water.

It is important to understand that hydroperite is not a relatively harmless kitchen salt and you should not leave its remains in the throat, not to mention that you cannot swallow such a composition. Thus, cleaning the throat with peroxide should be done in 2 stages. First, gargle with a solution of peroxide in water (hydroperite), and then thoroughly rinse the throat and oral cavity with decoctions of anti-inflammatory herbs (you can use sage, chamomile, calendula and other medicinal plants).

If we are talking about purulent tonsillitis, cleansing procedures can be combined with treatment of the tonsils with a more concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide (1.5 teaspoons of 3% solution per ¼ cup of water). Only the tonsils should be treated with a match with a bandage wound around it, soaked in the solution. Such treatment should be carried out only after consultation with a doctor and for a very short time (twice a day for a couple of days).

Hydrogen peroxide for rinsing the throat can be used to treat children, as well as during pregnancy and lactation. But doctors still recommend giving preference to safer means during these periods, useful for sore throat, for example, using the same table or sea salt or using a furacilin solution (2 tablets or capsules diluted with hot water, after dissolution the composition is cooled to the desired temperature).

Chamomile infusion is used as an anti-inflammatory agent, alternating rinsing with this infusion and cleansing procedures using antiseptics.

Another popular remedy for sore throat is chlorophyllipt. Along with furacilin, "sea water" (and this is what a solution of salt, soda and iodine is often called), hydrogen peroxide and other effective antiseptics, it is often prescribed for gargling with purulent sore throat.

"Chlorophyllipt" is a preparation based on eucalyptus leaf extract, which is produced in the form of an antiseptic two-percent oil and one-percent alcohol solution, spray or lozenges. All these forms can be used to treat tonsillitis, since they have antibacterial (against staphylococci, and the causative agent of purulent tonsillitis is considered to be Staphylococcus aureus), anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating and other beneficial effects.

The tablets are used as an antiseptic only for resorption. The medicine cannot be swallowed whole or chewed. The tablets are used to treat adult patients for 1 week. The daily dose is 5 tablets.

The spray is used to irrigate the throat affected by the disease. The procedure is carried out 4-5 times a day. The course of treatment is usually 5 days.

A 1% solution of chlorophyllipt for sore throat can be taken orally, diluting 1 teaspoon of the preparation in 25 ml of water. The frequency of administration is 3 times a day.

The same solution is used for gargling. Gargling with chlorophyllipt involves using a diluted solution. Take only 1 teaspoon of 1% alcohol solution per glass of warm water and gargle with the solution 2 or 3 times a day.

A 2% oil solution can be used to treat tonsils and remove purulent plaque using a cotton swab or match with a piece of bandage wound around it soaked in the solution, or for oral administration (one teaspoon of undiluted solution 4 times a day). Additionally, the solution can be instilled into the nose.

Chlorophyllipt can also be used to treat children and pregnant women, but it is necessary to test for allergies.

What other remedies can be used for local treatment of sore throat, along with saline solutions:

• A light pink solution of potassium permanganate (manganese) is used to gargle (it can dry out the mucous membrane, so you will also need to lubricate the throat with sea buckthorn oil).
• Boric acid (1 teaspoon per 1 glass of water). You can add soda to the composition.
• Natural apple cider vinegar is also considered an effective remedy for gargling with sore throat, if you follow safe proportions: 1 teaspoon of vinegar per glass of water (it is better not to take table vinegar, it can harm the mucous membrane and cause a burn, as can an overdose of apple cider vinegar).
• Garlic infusion is a rather harsh composition, which is unlikely to be suitable for treating children. For 1 glass of boiling water, take 2 small, coarsely chopped cloves of garlic, leave for an hour and use for gargling.
• Beetroot juice with apple cider vinegar (2 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 glass of freshly squeezed beetroot juice) is used for rinsing 3-4 times a day.
• To relieve pain and sore throat, you can also use freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 parts water to 2 parts juice).
• Infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, linden, calendula, plantain, sage, wormwood, elderberry, mallow, etc.), as well as herbal mixtures can be used for gargling and internal use for sore throat.
• Medicines can also be replaced for rinsing in accordance with the instructions:

• "Rotokan" - 1 teaspoon of the preparation per 1 glass of water,
• "Miramistin" - 1 tbsp of undiluted preparation per procedure (1 tsp is enough for children, for children under 3 years old the medicine is diluted with water 1:1),
• "Chlorhexidine" - 0.05% solution is used by adults for gargling in pure form, for children it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2 (up to 6 years) or 1:1. It should be remembered that the drug is not used together with other antiseptics and can cause darkening of tooth enamel.

Preparations used for gargling in undiluted form in small volumes should be used at the second stage of the procedure. After all, a small amount of liquid cannot wash out the bacterial plaque accumulated there from the throat. The first stage should be a thorough gargling with clean water or herbal infusion, which will remove some of the pathogens from the affected area. The rest of the work will be done by effective pharmacy antiseptics.

When choosing the most effective gargle for sore throat and other diseases, you also need to remember about its safety, especially if the drug is used during pregnancy and lactation or is used to treat a child. The safest and most effective are considered to be products based on sea salt, Chlorophyllipt, Rotokan and Miramistin in the absence of allergic reactions to the components.

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Reviews

Table salt is a remedy that has been used to treat sore throats since time immemorial. This is how our parents were treated, how we were treated, and we treat our children with salt. And we treat them successfully, without worrying that salt will harm our child.

What is so popular about this remedy, whose place is on the kitchen shelf? Probably, its availability and effectiveness. Many readers note that if a sore throat suddenly catches you, and there is no opportunity to run to the pharmacy for specialized drugs, salt always helps out, because it is the main assistant in the kitchen, which means it is always at hand.

There is no need to doubt the effectiveness of salt against microbes and fungi, because every housewife knows that salt is the best preservative, i.e. it kills microbes that cause spoilage of food and the formation of mold (fungus). The same effect is also exerted by a saline solution (water and salt), used to clear the throat during sore throat. It kills (dries out cells) microbes and does not prevent the spread of infection in the throat, where it is warm and humid, which is what attracts pathogens.

As for the effectiveness of rinsing the throat with salt-containing solutions, you can even find reviews where people claim that the saline solution helped them more than pharmacy antiseptics. In addition, this remedy is ideal for those who have a very sensitive body with a tendency to allergic reactions.

Many mothers use solutions based on salt (it doesn't matter whether it's table salt or sea salt) to gargle their children's throats, considering them the safest means. The main advantage of such means is the minimum of side effects. Many doctors recommend various compositions with salt for treating children and adults.

When it comes to purulent tonsillitis caused by staph infection, there is hardly a more effective and safe remedy than "sea water", which includes salt, soda and iodine. It is not difficult to prepare such a remedy at home, but its benefits are obvious. The composition kills bacteria, moisturizes the throat, removing irritation and pain, softens and helps remove purulent plugs, promotes a more effective fight against the disease and prevents complications that arise if the infection penetrates inside or multiplies excessively (especially streptococci), causing failures in the immune system.

If there are negative reviews claiming that the saline solution did not help in treating tonsillitis, then the reason is most likely the irregularity of gargling and the absence of the main treatment. It is important to understand that salt for tonsillitis is not the number one remedy or a panacea for the disease. The fact that it helps prevent the spread of infection in the first days of the rampant infection does not mean that treatment should be limited to salt gargling alone. Treatment of tonsillitis involves a comprehensive approach, and gargling with antiseptics is only one of its components.