Soothing a sore throat

Sore Throat

Sore throat is a common dis-ease affecting the pharynx or the area around your tonsils, where dryness and discomforts can lead to soreness. It is one of the most commonly seen symptoms of the cold or flu. In most cases, discomfort in the throat is the first sign that you are getting vulnerable to pathogens. In some cases, sore throat may persist.

Similar to cough, sore throat is a dis-ease caused by external pathogens or internal functional imbalances, mostly related to accumulated body heat. A sore throat originated by external pathogens often has an acute attack, and other symptoms like fever, an aversion to cold, headache and sneezing can be observed. A sore throat caused by internal functional imbalances is often chronic and is associated with different symptoms depending on its root causes.

In TCM, the careful differentiation of the associated symptoms and root causes is important in treating a sore throat effectively. It is advisable that you consult a licensed physician if your sore throat symptoms persist.

Soothing a Sore Throat

TCM focuses on relieving pain, clearing internal heat and replenishing Yin when treating sore throat. Acupuncture and therapeutic massage may also offer quick relief to sore throats by applying pressure to specific acupoints or related regions on the body.

Peppermint (Bohe, 薄荷), Momormica Fruit (Luohanguo 罗汉果), Cicada Slough (Chantui, 蝉蜕), Blackberrylily Rhizome (Shegan, 射干) and Chrysanthemum (Juhua, 菊花) are some of the Chinese herbs that help to ease a sore throat.

Classical formulae such as Ganluyin (甘露饮, Heat Expulsion Granules) and Yinqiaosan (银翘散, Fever Relief Granules) are widely used to relieve the common cold, fever as well as sore throat.

Drink warm water regularly to ease the pain and keep your throat moisturised. Honey is a good alternative to soothe the discomfort. Herbal tea or herbal lozenges with specific indications are also useful if taken appropriately.