Q Dear Auntie Pearl, since this icy weather has kicked in, I’ve been struggling with a sore throat.
I don’t really want to go to the doctor unless it’s really necessary, but I’ve been using Strepsils from the pharmacy.
Isn’t there some old huisraadjies for a sore throat and so on that you can tell me about?
From Gevaarlike Jason.
A Shame Jason, ja nee, kyk a sore throat is niks lekker nie nuh, and this time of the year every outjie on the corner has a seer keel, a stuffy head and a snotneus, so it’s important to not get sick. And that when you do get sick, to know how to kick that bug in the bum.
A sore throat is a scratchy pain in the throat that can make it difficult to swallow or speak.
This can be a symptom of many things: flu, dehydration, allergies, and even muscle strain. But the most common causes of a sore throat (especially this time of the year in Cape Town) are viral and bacterial infections like the flu.
So what can you do Jason? Look here for some gevaarlike natural home remedies:
Auntie’s go to remedy is gargling with salt and water.
Gooi 1⁄4 teaspoon salt in one cup warm water. Use the hottest water you can comfortably drink without burning.
And don’t swallow the gargle, spit it out. This remedy neutralises acids in the throat, relieves that burning sensation and promotes faster healing.
Not so keen for the saltiness? Then go lemony by mixing one teaspoon of lemon juice in one cup of water.
This remedy will help shrink swollen throat tissue that’s making your keel so seer.
Have a sweet tooth? Then the following yummy ingredients will help your sore throat... ginger, honey, and lemon in water.
For this remedy, mix one teaspoon each of powdered ginger and honey, ½ cup of hot water, and the juice of ½ squeezed lemon.
Pour the water over the ginger, then add the lemon juice and honey, and gargle.
The sweet honey will coat your throat and also has mild antibacterial properties.
And sweetness, if you’re still dealing with a sore throat in a week or so, then it’s better to gooi down to the clinic or doctor.
No point in getting sicker.
Stay warm, stay dry, and hou jou voete en jou kop warm en toe.