How to Deal with a Scratchy Sore Throat

A scratchy sore throat, also known as pharyngitis, can be more than annoying; it can ruin your whole day. These symptoms send many people to the doctor each year when simple over the counter medicines and home therapies may hold a simple easy cure.

An extract made from the Slippery elm plant was once a popular drugstore remedy in the US. The herb was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia, a dictionary of drug standards, until 1960.

A member of the elm family, the slippery elm tree grows primarily in the eastern region of North America up and down the Atlantic seaboard. For scratchy throats; herbalists utilize the inner bark of the tree.

The inner bark contains mucilage, a gel-like substance that expands when it is mixed with water. The mucilage is thought to coat the irritated lining and reduce inflammation.

Slippery elm is often the primary natural ingredient in herbal lozenges found in health food stores or in the natural food section of your local grocery stores and drug stores. A popular brand of lozenges is called Thayer’s.

The safety of slippery elm in pregnant women has not been determined, so it’s best to be safe and use doctor approved medicine for the health of your unborn child.

There are many herbal cures thought to sooth this condition, more will be posted. Remember, if your symptoms do not ease up after a few days you should go ahead and see a doctor to make sure things are ok.