How to Use Turmeric for Sore Throat: 6 Remedies That Bring Relief

You may know turmeric as the golden spice that gives curry its distinctive yellow color and sharp taste. But did you know that turmeric has also been used in traditional Eastern medicine for centuries?

From preventing wound infections, relieving arthritis pain, to treating everyday dermatological conditions such as acne, this spice can be used to treat a variety of health conditions. In addition to its host of health benefits an active compound in Turmeric, Curcumin, makes it an effective remedy for a sore throat (1)

Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound that has powerful antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, & is also responsible for turmeric’s beautiful golden color

A review published in BioMed Research International attests to the strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, along with its efficacy in treating gastric disorders (2)

The potent anti-inflammatory and pathogen-fighting properties of curcumin make turmeric an excellent remedy for treating a sore throat caused by a cold or the flu. You can also use turmeric to reduce inflammation that causes laryngitis and drink turmeric-based concoctions to treat tonsillitis. (3)

Use Turmeric for Sore Throat Relief

We bring you 6 ways to use turmeric to get relief from a sore throat.

Method 1: Turmeric Gargle

You can mix turmeric and salt in warm water to make a highly effective gargle solution that will relieve a sore throat. (4)

Things you’ll need:

• Organic turmeric powder (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – ½ teaspoon
• Table salt (kills bacteria and reduces swelling) – 1 teaspoon
• Warm water – 1 cup

Single-Step Treatment: Add turmeric and salt to warm water & gargle with it

• Pour 1 cup of warm water into a container.
• Add ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon of common table salt.
• Mix well and gargle with this solution the first thing in the morning.

You can gargle with this solution twice daily, such as once in the morning and again in the evening, for at least 2 to 4 days to successfully treat and cure your sore throat. Just make sure that you do not eat or drink anything for at least 30 minutes after you gargle in order to let the salt and turmeric work unhindered.

Method 2: Turmeric Milk

Turmeric milk is an old Ayurvedic remedy that helps in healing a sore throat. In fact, it is often consumed on a regular basis during the winter months to keep coughs and colds at bay.

This recipe for turmeric milk also contains black pepper that helps the body absorb curcumin, thus enhancing the benefits of this golden drink. (5)

Things you’ll need:

• Organic turmeric powder (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – ½ teaspoon
• Black pepper powder (fights infection and enables absorption of curcumin) – ½ teaspoon
• Milk (soothes the throat and nourishes) – 1 cup

Single-Step Treatment: Mix turmeric and black pepper into hot milk & drink it

• Bring a cup of milk to a boil, and let it cool down a little before pouring it into a glass.
• Add ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder.
• Add ½ teaspoon of black pepper powder as well.
• Mix well and drink slowly to get relief.

Drink turmeric milk twice daily for 2 to 3 days to get rid of a sore throat and cough.

Method 3: Turmeric Tea

You can also brew a cup of turmeric tea to soothe your sore throat. Mix in raw honey and lemon juice for added benefits. (5) (6)

Things you’ll need:

• Organic turmeric powder (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – ½ tablespoon
• Raw honey (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – 1 tablespoon
• Lemon juice, freshly squeezed (kills bacteria) – ½ lemon
• Water – 2 cups

Step 1. Boil turmeric in water and strain it

• Bring 2 cups of water to a boil on medium heat.
• Once the water starts boiling, add ½ tablespoon of organic turmeric powder and stir it well.
• Let the turmeric and water boil for 4 to 5 more minutes before turning off the stove.
• Let it cool down a bit, strain and transfer it into a cup while it is still hot.

Step 2. Mix in honey and lemon & drink the healing concoction

• Add 1 tablespoon of raw honey.
• Squeeze in the fresh juice of ½ lemon.
• Mix well, and your turmeric tea is ready for consumption.

Drink the turmeric tea 2 or 3 times daily for at least 3 days to use turmeric for a sore throat relief. You will feel better after drinking the very first cup.

Method 4: Turmeric Soup

Turmeric soup is a highly beneficial concoction. It provides relief from the relentless discomfort of a sore throat and also prevents it from developing into a cough.

This soup contains traditional Ayurvedic ingredients like holy basil, also called tulsi. Holy basil contains natural oils like camphene, octane, citronellal and others that give the herb strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also strengthens the immune system. (7) (8)

In fact, a 2017 pharmacological evaluation of tulsi or Ocimum sanctum published in the Journal of Bioequivalence & Bioavailability attests to the antimicrobial, anticancer and various other disease-fighting properties of holy basil. It also acknowledges its soothing effect on a sore throat and its ability to fight throat infections. (9)

Things you’ll need:

• Organic turmeric powder (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – 1 tablespoon
• Ginger, sliced (antibacterial and anti-inflammatory) – 1-inch piece
• Garlic, chopped (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – 2 to 3 cloves
• Tulsi or holy basil leaves (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – 7 to 8
• Peppercorns, whole (fights infection and enables absorption of curcumin) – 4 or 5
• Raw honey (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – 1 tablespoon
• Water – 1½ cups

Step 1. Heat water & add turmeric and ginger

• Pour 1½ cups of water into a pan and turn the heat on low.
• Add 1 tablespoon of organic turmeric powder.
• Add the ginger slices as well.

Step 2. Add garlic, peppercorns and holy basil & bring it to a boil

• Next, add in the chopped garlic.
• Add 4 or 5 whole peppercorns.
• Add 7 to 8 holy basil leaves as well.
• Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil. Cover it with a lid and let it simmer until the water is reduced to half its original quantity.

Step 3. Strain it and add honey to finish off the soup

• Once the soup is done, turn off the heat and let it cool a little before straining it into a soup bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of raw honey and mix well.
• Slowly sip the soup.

Drink this soup at least twice daily for 3 days to successfully get rid of a sore throat, cold and cough. You can also prepare turmeric soup in bulk, and heat a bowl every time your throat gets worse.

Method 5: Turmeric with Ginger, Pepper & Honey

You can also prepare an herbal remedy to use turmeric and soothe your sore throat by mixing it with ginger, pepper, and honey. (10)

Things you’ll need:

• Organic turmeric powder (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – 1 teaspoon
• Black pepper powder (fights infection and enables absorption of curcumin) – ¼ teaspoon
• Raw honey (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – 1 tablespoon
• Ginger, grated (antibacterial and anti-inflammatory) – 1 teaspoon
• Milk (soothes the throat and nourishes) – ½ cup
• Water – ½ cup

Step 1. Heat water, turmeric, black pepper and ginger in a pan

• Pour ½ cup of water into a pan and heat it on low heat.
• Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder.
• Add ¼ teaspoon of black pepper powder.
• Add 1 teaspoon of grated ginger as well.
• Stir the ingredients well.

Step 2. Bring it to a boil and add milk

• When it starts boiling, add ½ cup of milk.
• Stir and bring it to a boil again.

Step 3. Strain, add honey and drink it

• Next, turn off the heat and remove the pan from the stove.
• Let the concoction cool down a little, then strain it into a cup.
• Add 1 tablespoon of honey and mix well.

Drink this remedy twice daily for pain relief until the cold or flu symptoms are completely gone.

Method 6: Turmeric with Coconut Milk & Pepper

This recipe for a coconut milk-based remedy comes from Southeast Asia and is another natural cure for a sore throat. The coconut milk makes this remedy much more nourishing and gives your body the required nutrients to fight off the cold or flu. (11)

Things you’ll need:

• Organic turmeric powder (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – 1 teaspoon
• Black pepper, crushed (fights infection and enables absorption of curcumin) – ⅛ teaspoon
• Raw honey (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) – 1 tablespoon
• Coconut milk (soothes the throat and boosts immunity) – ½ cup
• Water – 1 cup

Step 1. Heat water, turmeric and crushed black pepper in a pan

• Pour 1 cup of water into a pan.
• Add 1 teaspoon of organic turmeric powder.
• Add a ⅛ teaspoon of crushed black pepper as well.
• Bring it to a boil on medium heat.

Step 2. Strain it, add coconut milk and honey & drink it

• Once the turmeric mixture comes to a boil, turn off the heat and let it cool down just a bit.
• Strain it into a cup while it’s still hot.
• Add ½ cup of coconut milk.
• Add 1 tablespoon of raw honey as well.
• Mix well and drink it.

To use turmeric for a sore throat relief, drink this concoction 2 or 3 times a day until your symptoms are completely gone.

Tips to use turmeric for a sore throat

• Try drinking soup with every meal when suffering from a sore throat. You can add a pinch of turmeric and black pepper powder for additional flavor and health benefits.
• You can also make homemade lozenges to get rid of a sore throat fast.
• If you want to go all organic, you can learn how to grow your own turmeric in a pot. You can use the technique to easily grow turmeric, even in an apartment. Then, dry and grind the roots to use turmeric for a sore throat and other remedies.

Resources:

1. S P, B AB. Turmeric, the Golden Spice: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine. Taylor & Francis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22593922. Published 2011.
2. Moghadamtousi SZ, Kadir HA, Hassandarvish P. A Review on Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antifungal Activity of Curcumin. BioMed Research International. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2014/186864/. Published April 29, 2014.
3. Jurenka JS. Anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, a major constituent of Curcuma longa: a review of preclinical and clinical research. Alternative Medicine Review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19594223. Published June 2009.
4. Krup V, L HP, A H. Pharmacological Activities of Turmeric (Curcuma longa linn): A Review. Journal of Traditional Medicine & Clinical Naturopathy. https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/pharmacological-activities-of-turmeric-curcuma-longa-linn-a-review-2167-1206.1000133.php?aid=18775. Published September 12, 2013.
5. Prasad S, Aggarwal BB, Benzie IF, Wachtel-Galor S. Turmeric, the Golden Spice: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine. Taylor & Francis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22593922. Published 2011.
6. Nanda MS, Mittal S, Gupta V. Role of honey as adjuvant therapy in patients with a sore throat. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy, and Pharmacology. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312104274_Role_of_honey_as_adjuvant_therapy_in_patients_with_sore_throat. Published December 25, 2016.
7. Cohen MM. Tulsi - Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296439/. Published 2014.
8. Mehreen A, Waheed M, Liaqat I. Phytochemical, Antimicrobial, and Toxicological Evaluation of Traditional Herbs Used to Treat a Sore Throat. BioMed Research International. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304617295. Published June 2016.
9. N B, A A, M T. Pharmacological Evaluation of Ocimum sanctum. Journal of Bioequivalence & Bioavailability. https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/pharmacological-evaluation-of-ocimum-sanctum-jbb-1000330.php?aid=88092. Published April 24, 2017.
10. Thakur R, Yadav K, Khadka KB. Study of antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of cinnamon ( Cinnamomum tamala), ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) and turmeric ( Curcuma longa ). Semantic scholar. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Study-of-antioxidant-,-antibacterial-and-activity-(-Thakur-Yadav/fa44f344db45f373888ea9c1b87012452c033a89. Published 2014.
11. Intahphuak S, Khonsung P, Panthong A. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities of virgin coconut oil. Pharmaceutical Biology. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/13880200903062614. Published December 29, 2009.

Summary of How to Use Turmeric for Sore Throat

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