Homeopathy for Sore Throats

A sore throat has to be one of the most distressing ailments for both adults and children.

A bad sore throat is horrible, partly because the usual suggested medicines like paracetamol are often very ineffective.

If you are able to look at the sore throat, it is worth noting how it looks. Is it just red? If the tonsils are swollen, are there spots or ulcers visible? And think carefully about how it feels. Is the pain worse on one side? Is it more painful to eat or drink, or just to swallow saliva? And are there other symptoms that indicate a more widespread virus, or a specific throat infection?

Take a look at the remedies I describe here, and see if there is one that fits the symptoms you are feeling or seeing.

Aconite

Again this remedy is most useful at the very early stages of a sore throat. The throat will look dark red and angry and the pain will feel sharp or burning, worse on swallowing. Tonsils can be swollen and dry. There may be hoarseness, fever and restlessness. Complaints are often triggered by cold, dry air.

Apis

Sore throat with much swelling. Looks fiery red and is painful swallowing, better for cold drinks. Swallowing food is worse than liquids.

Belladonna

A sore throat that comes on suddenly with fever and swollen glands. Looks, glazed, red and angry. Often worse on right side. Ususally very painful, especially swallowing food and drink. Tonsillitis, worse on right side. There may also be a throbbing quality to the pain, and an aversion to being touched.

Bryonia

Sore throat with sharp pain when swallowing. Hoarseness - worse in open air. Dry throat and mouth with desire for cold drinks.

Hepar Sulph

Sore throat with infection. There will usually be pus or mucus in the throat. Sensation of a splinter or hair in the throat. Stitching or splintering pain in throat extending to ear on swallowing. They may have smelly breath from the mucus, and will feel irritable and chilly, and worse for any form of cold. Throat is better for warm drinks.

Lachesis

Very painful sore throat. Worse on left side and worse swallowing saliva and liquids, food hurts less. Pain may extend to ear on affected side. Cannot bear anything around their neck. Feeling of lump in the throat. In tonsillitis the throat looks reddish purple. The pain is worse for hot drinks and better for cold drinks.

Lycopodium

A dry throat with sharp pain on swallowing and coughing. Sore throat that starts on right side and moves to left. Opposite to Lachesis – this sore throat is better for warm drinks and worse for cold drinks. It is also worse after sleep. Tonsils become ulcerated on the right side first.

Mercury

This sore throat is ulcerated and very painful. It will feel raw and burning. There may be loss of voice. There is frequently increased saliva and a bitter or metallic taste in the mouth. Pain spreads to ears on swallowing. Constant desire to swallow. Tonsillitis with ulcers and swelling of the tonsils. Symptoms may be brought on by any change in the weather.

Phosphorus

This remedy is for painful, dry sore throats with associated hoarseness. The pain is a raw, rough, scraping sensation, that is worse for speaking and in the evening. It can feel as if the soreness is moving downwards towards the chest. The soreness may come from coughing. There may also be loss of voice as the day goes on. Symptoms feel better for very cold drinks or ice cream.

When choosing a homeopathic remedy, try to find one that matches the symptoms as closely as possible, but be aware that it is not always possible to find an exact match. Try the closest remedy in a 30c for up to 6 doses a few hours apart, and if things have not improved in that time, try another remedy.

If you are struggling to decide on a remedy, or for recurrent sore throats it is well worth booking an appointment with me to boost your immunity and address the underlying susceptibility to these infections.

Click here to book.