You can feel a sore throat coming on from days away. The tinge or tickle at the back of your throat is just the beginning. Soon it becomes a scratchy feeling, maybe accompanied by a dry cough. Eventually, just swallowing a swig of water feels like a task of Herculean proportions.

When a sore throat strikes, whether or not it’s accompanied by other symptoms, you know you’re in for at least few days of discomfort. At worst, you might be in for a bout of mono, strep throat, or tonsillitis.

Whatever the cause of your sore throat, you will want relief quickly. Herbal remedies for a sore throat can give you instant relief from the discomfort while you wait for the underlying cause to heal.

Herbal remedies for a sore throat can range from simple to complex and vary in their degrees of effectiveness. The best way to choose the most effective home remedies for sore throat is to try several different remedies until you find one that works well for you.

The herbal remedies for sore throat that most of us are familiar with involve sipping mint tea with honey or gargling with warm salt water. These are great remedies that can soothe the pain and scratchiness almost instantly.

Other, less well-known, herbal remedies for sore throat are gargling with warm water infused with various herbs. Ginger, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and thyme have all proven to be effective for reducing the pain of a sore throat.

For the heavy-duty colds with a sore throat, try inhaling steam that includes essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender, or tea tree oil. These herbal remedies for your sore throat will open up your respiratory system, help you breathe, and ease your suffering.

The perennial favorite home remedies for a sore throat are warm tea, lemon, and honey. These are extremely effective - especially together - and should be used as often as you need them. If you’re of legal drinking age and have nowhere to go for several hours, try a hot toddy with the above ingredients and a shot of brandy or bourbon. Take a hot bath infused with lavender flowers while you’re drinking it. Don’t try driving after this treatment - even walking could be a challenge - but it’s guaranteed to ease your sore throat.