Symptoms:
The throat becomes sore and scratchy. This is often the first sign of an infection.

Cause:
A variety of bacterial or virus infections can cause sore throat. Those which are of Streptococcus Group A origin tend to produce a higher fever than viral sources (upper respiratory infections, cold viruses, flu, etc.).

Anything irritating to the throat can initiate the problem (such as chronic coughing and loud talking). Other irritants include smoke, dust, fumes, very hot foods or drinks, abrasions, tooth and gum infections, loud talking, or chronic coughing.

Smoking is a major cause of sore throats.

Bacteria on toothbrushes can cause sore throats. Buy a new toothbrush or boil the old one at least once a month. Between uses, store the toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide—but rinse it well before using.

If a sore throat continues or recurs, it might be the onset of mononucleosis (especially if the sore throat lasts more than 2 weeks). Do not dally; go to bed and get well. A sore throat can be the first sign of something more serious: a cold; the flu; mononucleosis; herpes simplex; Epstein-Barr virus; or several childhood diseases, such as chickenpox or the measles. Sometimes a sore throat can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome, gingivitis, epiglottitis, diphtheria, laryngeal cancer, or an abscess around the tonsils.

A continual throat tickle could be an indication of a food allergy.

Treatment:
• Sip liquid vitamin C. Let it drip down the throat slowly (all the while trying to keep the acid C off the teeth, so it will not melt them). Coat the throat with raw honey mixed with lemon juice. Gargle with salty water (½ tsp. sea salt in a cup of water).

• Drink plenty of fluids—fruit and vegetable juices and lots of water. Go to bed, rest, trust in God, and get well.

• Use a mixture of raw honey and lemon juice, to coat and soothe the throat.

• Gargle alternately with chlorophyll liquid and sea salt (one half tsp. in a glass of warm water) every few hours.

• Enemas are very helpful.

• Herbs include eucalyptus, flaxseed, garden sage, German chamomile, and myrtle. Both goldenseal and echinacea fight bacterial and viral infection. (But do not take goldenseal over a week at a time, or during pregnancy.) Gargling with fenugreek tea will help relieve a sore throat. Marshmallow root tea soothes a scratchy, itchy throat. Hot mullein poultices soothe sore throats.

• An old herb doctor makes these suggestions: Gargle the throat with cayenne pepper tea, a half tsp. to a cup. Put an onion poultice on the neck over night, for 2-3 nights. Rub kerosene on the outside of the neck and cover it with warm flannel.