I like to use Chloraseptic Spray for a sore throat relief. Unfortunately the airline security confiscated my 6 fluid ounce spray bottle (even though it had less than 4 ounces left in the bottle).

Then I got the worst sore throat of my life while on a cruise ship recently. Ship doctor gave me prescription strength throat lozenges (dual action to kill bacteria and relieve pain). Got no relief whatsoever. It was close to a number 10 pain to swallow tiny sips of water. Tried eating ice cream and yogurt to no avail.
Then at 1:20 am (on the second day of the sore throat) I remembered that 40 years ago while in an Army Hospital with the flu, I was directed to gargle with warm salt water. I got out of bed and went to the cruise ship’s bar (apparently open all night) and asked for warm salt water. I got instant pain relief gargling it. I repeated the warm salt water treatments a few more times over the next day and a half and soon recovered.

I’ve read that the warm salt water also has a dual action of killing bacteria and easing throat pain. I haven’t heard it mentioned in 40 years. Seems like it is a forgotten treatment.

How about you?
Do you gargle with warm salt water when you get a sore throat?
Have you even heard about this?

Topics: throat, pain relief, sore throat, kill bacteria, warm salt water, gargle, dual action