What Causes Sore Throats
A sore throat can occur for a few different reasons. The two main causes are viral infections and bacterial infections. Of these two, viral infections such as a cold and the flu are the most common cause. The viral variety may have other symptoms that accompany them, such as a runny nose or a cough.
Next to viral infections, bacterial infections are the second most common cause of a sore throat. Examples of bacterial infections that cause a sore throat include:
- Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria
- Diphtheria
- Whooping cough
While viral infections and bacterial infections are the two most common causes of a sore throat, there are also other factors. Environmental factors like allergies, dry air, smoking, and yelling too much can cause your throat to become scratchy, strained, inflamed, or irritated. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease causes stomach acid to flow into the esophagus, which can also cause discomfort in the throat.
Best Teas For Sore Throat
We do not have the medical expertise to make any recommendations on the use of tea or herbal products for the treatment of any medical or health condition. What we can do is provide you with evidence-based information on a specific tea or tisane and its direct relation to helping a sore throat.
Its always best to consult with your healthcare provider before consuming tea or tisanes for ailments of the throat. Various conditions such as tonsillitis, strep throat, mononucleosis, and other infections or diseases require careful monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment by a physician, all of which should never be replaced by tea or tisanes.
So, what are the different types of tea good for sore throat?
Best Sore Throat Remedies To Make You Feel Better Fast According To Doctors
Some home remedies only mask painbut these solutions can help you get rid of your sore throat completely.
Sore throat symptoms can be rough. Your saliva goes down like sandpaper, every cough makes you wince, and the only thing you can think about is making that lump in the back of your throat go away.
But to ease the pain, you need to understand whats causing your sore throat in the first place: dry air, smoking, acid reflux, viral infections like the flu or common cold, and bacterial infections like strep can all lead to a sore throat.
In general, a viral infection usually comes with other symptoms, like muscle aches and fatigue, along with your sore throat, says Chester Griffiths MD, an otolaryngologist at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. With a bacterial infection, on the other hand, the pain is usually more focused on your throat and the soreness tends to be pretty severe, Dr. Griffiths says. You may also have intense pain when you swallow, along with a high fever.
Exposure to smoke, breathing in dry air, and having acid reflux tends to feel very different from an infection, says Jason Abramowitz, MD, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at ENT and Allergy Associates. Usually patients do not feel as sick overall the pain is also usually not as severe, he says.
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Does Tea Make Sore Throat Worse
- Teas that are low in caffeine are recommended by Long and Sardesai, who note that caffeine may induce an increase in acid production and make the throat irritation even worse.
- According to Long, the use of honey to treat throat discomfort is something that should be considered truly highly speculative. The study done so far has not been able to determine whether or not honey is effective as a natural anti-coughing agent.
What Type Of Tea Is Best For A Sore Throat
Black and green teas are nutritional powerhouses that fuel our bodies with immune boosters, antioxidants, and more. Pair those elements with the intake of fluids, and you have some of natures best home remedies to help heal and soothe a sore throat.
In addition to black and green tea, some tisanes are widely consumed by those seeking a natural remedy to help a sore throat. Tisanes are herbal teas and not considered a true tea. To qualify as a true tea, the tea must come from the tea plant Herbal teas are made from other plants and are typically consumed for medicinal purposes. Eastern medicine and ayurvedic practitioners prescribe tisanes to treat various ailments.
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How Earl Grey Tea Affect People With Diabetes
Earl gray tea is one of the perfect tea for diabetics. It is best taken without milk or sugar. The black tea helps to reduce blood sugar and accordingly several studies confirmed that it can also improve insulin sensitivity which causes type 2 diabetes.
It reduces the risk of cardiovascular and heart diseases because the bergamot oil in it helps to reduce bad cholesterol and blood fat which increases the risk of developing high blood pressure/hypertension.
Although the black tea goes through processes of fermentation, it contains polysaccharides that have a similar effect like some of the diabetic drugs. This polysaccharides block alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that converts sugar to glucose. It also has anticancer and antiviral properties.
Diabetics are prone to oral infection, periodontitis. Earl Grey tea contains florid, which helps to fight tooth decay and also black tea contains a high amount of catechin which helps to fight oral infection.
Stress can affect the blood sugar level. The bergamot in Earl Grey tea has a calming effect which can help to relieve anxiety, depression and stress and by reducing the stress level, one can have better control of the blood sugar level.
Diabetic patients are at higher risk of a few kinds of cancer such as liver cancer, pancreatic cancer and endometrial cancer. Some studies suggest that black tea can reduce the risk of cancer because of its antioxidant properties.
Other Home Remedies For Sore Throats
Hot tea isn’t the only home remedy that may help soothe a sore throat. The Mayo Clinic notes that other warm liquids, such as broth, may help ease your symptoms. Gargling with salt water, using a cool-air humidifier and sucking on lozenges can also provide some relief.
It’s important to note that not all sore throats can be treated with home remedies alone. If your sore throat is severe, lasts longer than a week or comes back frequently, you should see your doctor right away. The Mayo Clinic also recommends seeing a doctor if your sore throat is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, such as joint pain, earache, facial swelling or difficulty swallowing or breathing.
When you don’t feel well, home remedies such as drinking hot tea for a sore throat may help you feel better. Herbal tea, green tea, black tea and tea with lemon and honey are all good options. If these home remedies don’t seem to work, or if your sore throat gets worse, see your doctor.
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Is Too Much Tea A Bad Thing
While tea and herbal teas are in general pretty safe, herbs may possess some underlying side effects and drug interactions. These side effects are not usually apparent when consumed in moderate amounts, but can cause serious injury to your health if consumed in higher doses. Be careful before using any herb at a very high dose if you are under any long-term medication to prevent complications like treatment failure.
Caffeine-containing tea leaves have their own set of side effects like anxiety, insomnia, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. This might be a good reason to choose a decaffeinated version.
Also, keep in mind that herbs may cause allergic reactions in some people. If you have a known allergy to any of the herbs or if consumption of even a small amount of herbal tea causes discomfort, discontinue the use of that herb immediately.
Can I Use A Different Milk
If youre worried about the fact that milk may increase mucus , again, feel free to use plant-based milk, as it works great!
There are so many kinds of milks that taste good coconut, cashew, rice, almond, soy, dairy milk, cream, use what you like, and what you feel comfortable with.
Ive made this with all kinds of milks, and a whole bunch of brands of milks. Please note that a thinner milk may make the taste of the drink a bit spicier than a thicker creamier milk.
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Best Tea For A Sore Throat
“Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help soothe a sore throat,” says Brad DeSilva, MD, an otolaryngologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, as to why licorice root tea in particular is an especially good one to brew when you have a sore throat. Dr. Nasseri confirms the connection, explaining that licorice has natural antiviral and antimicrobial properties that are both great to help the pain and irritation of a sore throat. “It soothes and coats a sore throat and can help to improve the symptoms of phlegm and mucus in the throat and lungs,” he says. Dr. Nasseri adds that it’s long been used in Ayurvedic medicine because of these healing properties.
But Dr. Nasseri emphasizes that you don’t want to overdo it. “The Food and Drug Administration recommends no more than two to four ounces of licorice root per day as it can have a variety of side effects if overdosed,” he says. He also adds that it’s important to be careful about mixing different herbs together to avoid unwanted side effects. “I definitely recommend medicinal teas be under the watchful eye of a solid naturopathic practitioner,” he says.
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Ginger Candy Chew Or Lozenge
A less intense way to consume ginger is to suck on a ginger lozenge. You can purchase these from your local grocery store or pharmacy. Theyre also available .
Read the directions and warnings on the package closely, and follow the directions regarding serving size.
Also, make sure the product you purchase contains real ginger. Raw ginger is best.
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What Tea To Make For Sore Throat
As mentioned previously, it can be challenging to decide exactly what drink is best when it comes to searching for sore throat remedies.
In this case, the best thing you can do is focus on something that you already enjoy and a taste that you favor. This means that you know youre going to enjoy the beverage ahead of time – instead of trying out some age-old remedy that tastes less than fantastic and boasts little results. Despite what you may already think, you shouldnt have to sacrifice flavor in order to get better – as there are plenty of delicious yet effective sore throat remedies out there.
However, you should also research the drinks thoroughly ahead of time to find out more about the health benefits they offer – especially in relation to sore throats. As no one person experiences the same symptoms, it may well be that certain drinks are better for you than others. Taking time out of your day to do the appropriate research can help you combat your sore throat at a quicker rate – while stocking your cupboard up with the materials you need when the cold and flu season rolls around again. Once youve figured out which tea works best for you, youll never look back!
If youre still a little unsure, here are some great suggestions to get you started!
What Are Sore Throat Symptoms
Before we head on to the teas, we should first watch out for sore throat symptoms such as:
- Painful or scratchy sensation in the throat
- Pain while you talk or swallow
- Swollen, red tonsils
- A hoarse or muffled voice
- Swollen glands in your neck or jaw
- White pus or patches on tonsils
Here’s what the infection that caused your sore throat might also lead to:
- Cough
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Is Turmeric Tea Good For A Sore Throat
According to Dr. Patel, drinking turmeric tea is an excellent remedy for soothing a sore throat since turmeric has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and most significantly, anti-inflammatory characteristics. These compounds help calm your throat and improve your immune system. If you do not enjoy the flavor, you may make it more pleasant by using some honey, ginger, or stevia in the recipe.
Black Tea Improves Glucose Levels May Help Prevent Diabetes
Although green tea has been getting most of the attention lately for its myriad health benefits, accumulating research shows that black tea offers advantages, too. The latest revelation: black teas ability to blunt increases in blood sugar. 1
A new study has found that black tea significantly reduces rises in blood glucose levels among both healthy and pre-diabetic adults, in this case after consuming a sugary drink. 1
We demonstrated that black tea reduced incremental blood glucose after sucrose consumption at 60, 90 and 120 minutes compared with placebo, wrote the authors of the study, which appears in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1
The data confirm that polyphenols lower glycemic response and may be responsible for the lower rates of diabetes observed with tea and coffee consumption, said Peter Clifton, M.D., PhD., professor of nutrition at the University of South Australia in Adelaide, who recently conducted a review of the role of dietary polyphenols in regulating glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity, published in Nutrients. 2, 3
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When Is Peppermint Tea Bad To Diabetics
So much as peppermint tea is one of the best choices for a diabetic, it must be moderately drunken. It is recommended that 2-3 cups per day is needed to reap the benefits. Drinking too much of peppermint tea could pose adverse effects to its consumers.
Furthermore, peppermint tea is recommended to be taken unsweetened by diabetic patients. It remains a task to control their sugar intake so as to keep their blood sugar level in check. And so, for this tea to be effective in controlling diabetes, it must be taken unsweetened, without sugar or any form of sweetener.
More so, it is important that before peppermint tea is consumed from its tea bag, its content is duly checked and approved by medical personnel. It is a known fact that some herbs have the ability to alter medications. And so if the tea bag contains such ingredients that alters the medication of a diabetic patient, it would rather be of harm to the patient.
Furthermore, a lot of patients while growing these herbs in their gardens would prefer to make these tea themselves. Still, there are ways with which these tea leaves could be prepared which would alter its components and make it useless or harmful to the body, and so, it is best to stick to recommended and healthy ways of preparing this tea, so as to retain its nutrients and flavor.
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What Are The Benefits Of Drinking Tea When You Have A Sore Throat
Even if youre not typically a tea drinker, a warm cup of tea might make a comforting addition to your day when you have a sore throat. It has several potential benefits.
For example, many teas contain antioxidants. These compounds can help your body fight off illnesses, such as colds and other viruses. They may boost your immune system and promote healing. Antioxidants also help with healing tissue. Some teas and herbal blends provide anti-inflammatory effects that may help reduce pain and swelling.
Drinking fluids can keep your throat moist and reduce your risk of dehydration. This may help reduce irritation and pain in your throat. According to the Mayo Clinic, warm liquids in particular can help soothe a sore throat.
Tea also provides a perfect vehicle for honey, a natural antibacterial and soothing sore throat agent. According to information published in Canadian Family Physician , honey might help ease the symptoms of a cold. It might even work better than diphenhydramine , an antihistamine used to treat cold and allergy symptoms. Honey should not be given to children under a year because of the danger of infantile botulism.
What types of teas and herbal infusions are the best to drink when youre trying to soothe that sore throat? There are many varieties that may provide relief and comfort. Consider trying one of these options.
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Does Hot Tea Help Sore Throat
When you are dealing with a sore throat, you may feel tempted to stick to cold drinks or even frozen snacks such as ice pops – as they can help lower your temperature and produce a distinctive cooling effect. However, there are many well-documented benefits of drinking hot or warm beverages such as tea when you have a sore throat. For example, warm drinks can help to reduce the amount of mucus in your throat and sinuses, thus easing any of the symptoms you may be facing – while simultaneously soothing the pain you are feeling. If caffeinated, they can also provide you with a much-needed boost of energy, which is particularly useful if your sore throat has left you feeling lethargic.
However, it is essential to note that if your chosen beverage is too hot – this could exasperate your sore throat further, reducing some of the associated benefits. Therefore, as always, you should ensure that your drink is at a comfortable temperature before taking that first sip. Furthermore, some studies show that iced tea is also a great way to reap the benefits of drinking tea without risking the heat. You can make your iced tea at home by adding ice cubes and allowing the beverage to cool in the fridge!