Home Treatment for a Sore Throat Caused by Postnasal Drip
- Gargle with warm salt water to help get rid of throat soreness. You can make the saltwater mixture by stirring 1 tsp (5 g) of salt into 8 fl oz (240 mL) of lukewarm water. Gargle as often as you like. The more often, the better.
- Drink more fluids to soothe a sore throat. Honey and lemon in weak tea may help. (Do not give honey to children younger than 1 year.)
- Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to help the pain go away. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of the risk of a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.
Clean the inside of the nose with salt water. This may help reduce postnasal drip. Try this recipe for a saltwater solution. You may also purchase a saline solution at your pharmacy.
Gently squirt the solution into your nose. Aim the water toward the back, not the top, of your head. The water will run through the nasal passages and into the back of your throat. Spit it out through your mouth. It will not hurt you if you swallow some of the water. To squirt the solution, you can:
How Your Clothes Can Make You Sick
By Dr. Amy Wechsler Consider it the worst type of fashion blunder: Your favorite items could be at fault for otherwise-unexplained breakouts and rashes. See how your duds measure up. Metal Awareness: If you’ve ever noticed an itchy, red rash on your earlobes, the nickel in your everyday earrings could be the culprit; nickel can cause flare-ups in people with metal allergies. Like other skin sensitivities, a nickel allergy can develop over the years, and you should know that this...
Read the How Your Clothes Can Make You Sick article > >
- Use an all-rubber ear syringe, which you can buy at a drug store.
- Use a medical syringe without the needle.
- Use a Water Pik, set on "low."
- Pour the solution into your hand and "snuff" it up through your nose, one nostril at a time.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Today in Allergies
WebMD Special Sections
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
©2005-2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.