The very best ways to kill a sore throat fast are actually DIY remedies you can make quickly at home with common kitchen ingredients.
And I have here a big guide to simple sore throat remedies you can whip us easily without fancy supplies.
They will ease pain all day long and kill a sore throat fast overnight.
I do hope these remedies help. Let me know what works best for you.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This post is not qualified medical advice. Sore throats can be a symptom of serious illness. See a doctor if the sore throat persists.
CONTENTS
- What Kills A Sore Throat Fast?
- Quick Home Sore Throat Remedies : Salt Water, Honey, Yoghurt, Turmeric, Coconut Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Ice Cubes, DIY Cough Mixture, Warm Scarf, Jello
- How To Kill Sore Throats Fast Overnight : Sore Throat Teas, Sore Throat Soups, Steam Shower, Hot Compress, Homemade Humidifiers, Sleep Wedge
- Best Drinks For Sore Throats : Best Juices For Sore Throats, Best Sore Throat Smoothies
- Ice For Sore Throats : Ice Cubes, Popsicles, Slushies
- More Home Remedies For Sore Throats : Sore Throat Sprays, Sore Throat Gummies, Hot Toddies, Best Essential Oils For Sore Throats
What Kills A Sore Throat Fast?
To kill a sore throat fast we need remedies that can:
- Reduce inflammation
- Stop viral or bacterial infection
- Heal mucous membrane
- Lubricate our throat
- AND prevent coughing!!!
It’s a tall order and most OTC sore throat remedies don’t deliver it.
But at home we can easily mix quick DIY relief, overnight remedies and sore throat drinks for real results.
What Kills A Sore Throat Fast At Home?
These quick remedies are the fastest way to kill a sore throat at home.
- Salt Water Gargle
- Honey Water
- Yoghurt
- Turmeric Water
- Coconut Oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Ice Cubes
- Homemade Cough Mixture
- Warm Scarf
- Jello
Salt Water Gargle
A salt water gargle draws out infection and lubricates sore throats.
For instant sore throat relief simply:
- Dissolve 1/2 a teaspoon of salt
- In a glass of warm water
- Gargle for 20-30 seconds
- Spit out.
Honey Water
Real honey is a natural antibiotic and cough suppressant that actually heals our throat lining. And research shows honey is especially effective for overnight sore throat relief.
To kill your sore throat fast:
- Stir 1.5 teaspoons of honey
- Into a glass of warm to hot water
- And sip slowly.
If you don’t usually stock honey, do.
It is also a proven natural remedy for pinworms, sun burn, mosquito bites, wasp, bee & nettle stings, frizzy hair, blackheads, dandruff & heartburn!!
Yoghurt
Plain yoghurt is another anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, lubricant that kills sore throat pain fast.
The coolness helps numb pain.
As a natural antibiotic the yoghurt also helps to keep infection out of our gut and by boosting gut health strengthens our immune response.
Turmeric Water
Turmeric is another DIY antibiotic you probably have at home.
It can kill off infections that cause sore throats and ease inflammation.
For an instant sore throat gargle:
- Add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- To half a glass of warm water
- Gargle for 20 seconds
- Spit out.
Do stock up with turmeric as it can help with gastritis, back pain, athlete’s foot, blackheads and more.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is another super quick way to kill sore throats at home.
Again it is anti-inflammatory and lubricating and sees off bacteria.
During the day when you need fast sore throat relief every hour or so:
- Put 1 teaspoon of hard coconut oil
- In your mouth and hold it there until it slowly softens and melts.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and helps clear mucous congestion.
For fast sore throat relief gargle:
- 1 teaspoon of ACV
- In a small glass of warm water
- For 20-30 seconds
You can combine ACV and salt gargles or alternate during the day.
All in all ACV is another kitchen must have as it can be used for back pain, gastritis, heartburn, itchy scalp, wasp stings, pinworms, dandruff, athlete’s foot and blackheads!!!
Ice Cubes
Simply sucking an ice cube can kill off a sore throat fast as it numbs pain and eases inflammation.
You can easily add a bacteria killing boost to ice cubes by freezing sore throat teas in an ice cube tray.
Homemade Cough Mixture
If the whole family are down with sore throats it is worth whipping up a jar of DIY cough mixture.
It has been shown to be as effective as OTC cough remedies and is sugar and preservative free.
This honey and lemon cough mixture recipe could not be easier.
Warm Scarf
Sometimes the simplest things do make a big difference and wearing a warm scarf around our neck really can help to relieve a sore throat. The warmth keeps air ways open which in turn suppresses coughs.
Jello
Jello – or jelly for us Brits – is another super helpful home remedy for relieving kids’ sore throats.
Unfortunately most bought jello is full of inflammatory sugar which is the last thing our throat needs.
But you can actually make sugar free jello from juice and gelatine pretty quickly and easily …
What Kills A Sore Throat Fast Overnight?
To kill sore throats overnight and avoid aggravating them we need to keep our throats relaxed and lubricated and our airways clear.
So the best homemade overnight sore throat remedies are simple:
- Sore Throat Teas
- Sore Throat Soups
- Steamy Shower
- Hot Compress
- DIY Humidifiers
- Sleeping Aids.
Sore Throat Teas
You can make your own overnight sore throat teas very easily with:
- Thyme
- Lemon
- Ginger
- Chamomile
- Cinnamon
- Green Tea
Fresh and dried herbs work well.
And you can freeze teas as ice cubes or in larger blocks for slushies.
Thyme Sore Throat Tea
Thyme can help kill off common causes of throat infection so is a great basis for a sore throat tea.
To make your own fast just:
- Pour boiling water over:
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- 4 or 5 sprigs of fresh thyme
- Steep for 5 minutes
- Strain into a cup
- Optionally add:
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- And/or lemon juice
Lemon Sore Throat Tea
Lemon is an antiseptic that keeps our throat lubricated overnight as it triggers saliva production.
It is also a decongestant and can help break down mucous if you also have sinus congestion or a bad cold.
You can make your own lemon sore throat tea at home fast with:
- Fresh lemons
- Frozen lemon slices
- Frozen lemon pulp cubes (v. worth keeping in your freezer!!)
Simply boil up lemons with a few cups of water for 5 minutes, strain and stir in a teaspoon of honey.
Ginger Sore Throat Tea
Ginger sore throat tea is antibiotic and anti-inflammatory but also eases pain so helps us sleep better.
To make quick DIY ginger tea:
- Add to a pan :
- 1 inch or so of unpeeled ginger
- Or 2 teaspoons of dried ginger
- With 2 or 3 cups of water
- Bring to boil
- Simmer well for 10 minutes
- Strain into a cup
For extra umph add lemon to the simmer and stir in a teaspoon of honey as you pour it out.
Chamomile Sore Throat Tea
Chamomile is a great overnight sore throat tea as it is lubricating as well as inflammatory. It also aids deep sleep so we don’t keep waking.
You can make the tea with tea bags or – if you have – chamomile flowers:
- Pour boiling water over:
- 1 teabag
- 2 teaspoons of fresh flowers
- Or 1 teaspoon of dried flowers
- Steep for 5 minutes
- Strain
- Stir in 1 teaspoon of honey for an extra antibacterial kick.
Chamomile is also a good remedy for constipation, headache, heartburn, blackheads & mosquito bites and is a natural antihistamine.
Cinnamon Sore Throat Tea
Cinnamon is another anti-inflammatory, natural antibiotic with analgesic – pain killing – properties sitting in your kitchen cupboard.
You can add it to lemon or ginger teas or make pure cinnamon tea:
- Add to a pan :
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon bark
- Or 1 teaspoon of dried cinnamon
- With 2 or 3 cups of water
- Bring to boil
- Simmer well for 5 minutes
- Strain into a cup
- Stir in a teaspoon of honey.
Green Tea
Green tea is full of anti-inflammatory antioxidants that can help reduce infection and pain.
Green tea can also be used as a gargle for quick sore throat relief throughout the day.
More Sore Throat Teas
I’m a big believer in easy remedies from basic kitchen ingredients.
We don’t need fancy, pricey extras.
But if you are a fan of traditional remedies these sore throat teas can also kill sore throats fast overnight:
- Marshmallow root : may also help heal acid reflux & gastritis.
- Licorice root : can relieve stomach pain, heartburn & perimenopause.
- Slippery elm bark : eases IBS, constipation & UTI problems.
Sore Throat Soups
Homemade soups are great when eating is painful and provide anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, lubricating sore throat relief all night long.
And soups don’t need to be fancy.
You can whip up sore throat soup for supper in just 8 steps:
- Gently fry onion, celery & garlic
- Add turmeric, ginger & cinnamon
- Add broth or stock and simmer
- Then add chicken bits or chickpeas or drop in an egg for protein
- PLUS some smashed noodles
- And green leaves e.g. spinach
- Then season with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, thyme & salt
- Keep simmering until noodles soft.
Or try one of these recipes …
Steamy Shower
A steamy shower for 10-15 minutes before bed can help lubricate your throat and break down congestion if your sore throat is tied to a chesty cold or blocked sinuses.
Hot Compress
If you’re too exhausted even to get in the shower a quick hot compress will also relieve your throat.
Just dampen a clean hand towel or dish cloth (tea towel) with warm to hot water and wrap round your neck like a scarf for 10 minutes or so.
If your sore throat is tied to congestion and a chesty cough apply the compress to your chest.
Homemade Humidifiers For Sore Throats
A humidifier in your bedroom can help relieve a sore throat overnight by keeping your throat lubricated.
If you don’t have one, you can easily make a homemade humidifier:
- An hour or so before bed
- Dampen a towel, cloth or t-shirt
- Hang it on a warm radiator
- Re-dampen at bedtime.
This will ensure the air is moist as you are trying to get to sleep.
Sleep Wedge
A simple sleep wedge can also help relieve a sore throat overnight.
It helps keep a swollen throat and your wind pipe open and suppresses coughing during the night.
Sleep wedges can be a good buy as they also help heartburn at night. But if you don’t have one raise the bed head by 4 or 5 inches.
Best Sore Throat Drinks
DIY juices and smoothies are some of the best drinks for sore throats.
They are anti-inflammatory and lubricating and also help heal throat damage but we need to keep an eye out for less helpful ingredients.
Sore Throat Juices
Fruit juices are full of healing nutrients but also high in inflammatory free sugar and acid which can aggravate sore throats.
So some of the best sore throat juices are made with low acid fruit and vegetables:
- Pineapple
- Water Melon
- Celery
- Papaya
Pineapple Juice
Pineapple contains bromelain which is great for a swollen throat. But it is acidic so may aggravate a sandpaper sore, damaged throat.
Water Melon Juice
Water melon juice is one of the best sore throat drinks as it is anti-inflammatory and lubricating but less acidic than most fruit so less aggravating for a throat lining damaged by infection and coughing.
Celery Juice
Celery juice can be one of the best sore throat drinks as it is very lubricating and can heal a damaged sore throat without the aggravation of sugary, acidic fruit juices.
Papaya Juice
Papaya juice is one of the best drinks for sore throats tied to sinus congestion as it is an anti-inflammatory decongestant. Papaya is also rich in healing anti-oxidants.
Papaya is neither acidic nor gassy so is a good sore throat option for anyone with reflux, gastritis or IBS.
Sore Throat Smoothies
Smoothies are great drinks for sore throats as they let us combine a whole load of ingredients that kill a sore throat fast including:
- Yoghurt, coconut oil
- Pineapple, papaya
- Ginger, thyme, cinnamon, sage
- Lemon juice
- Honey
- A pinch of turmeric
You can simply use what you’ve got.
Or if you do want a recipe try this herbal sore throat smoothie …
Or this pineapple smoothie with ginger, lemon and honey …
Ice For Sore Throats
We’ve seen that the heat of sore throat teas and soups can kill sore throat pain fast, especially overnight.
But ice is also a good way to numb severe sore throat pain and kids with sore throats really appreciate:
- Sore Throat Ice Cubes
- Sore Throat Popsicles
- Sore Throat Slushies
Sore Throat Ice Cubes
Simply sucking an ice cube can kill sore throat pain fast but for an extra impact try freezing some of these:
- Lemon juice
- Pineapple juice
- Water melon juice
- Papaya juice
- Yoghurt
- Coconut oil
- Cucumber water
- Any of the sore throat teas.
Then if you are stuck at home with a sore throat you can just pop an ice cube every hour for fast relief.
Sore Throat Popsicles
Sore throat popsicles are awesome when kids have super sore throats, e.g. when they have tonsillitis.
Sucking them over a longer period than an ice cube helps produce saliva to keep our throat lubricated whilst really numbing pain.
These all make great naturally antibiotic and anti-inflammatory combos you can whip up fast:
- Thyme & honey
- Lemon & honey
- Thyme, lemon & honey
- Ginger & honey
- Lemon, honey & coconut
- Ginger, honey & coconut
- Chamomile & honey
Simply make as a tea to infuse flavour into water, then strain, stir in extras & pour into popsicle moulds.
Sore Throat Slushies
If you or the kids have a horrible sore throat which is so painful you can’t eat or drink, try a sore throat slushie to really numb the pain.
You can quickly blend up a slushie with a loads of ice plus any of the:
- Sore throat teas
- Sore throat juices
- Or popsicle combos above.
Alternatively, try this sore throat slushie recipe with lemon & ginger:
More Fast Home Remedies For Sore Throats
I strongly believe in simple home remedies we can make quickly.
We truly don’t need faff & bother when the family is sick but if you are good in the kitchen you could also try these DIY sore throat remedies:
- Sore Throat Spray
- Sore Throat Gummies
- Hot Toddy
- Essential Oils
Sore Throat Gummies
Sucking a sore throat gummie can give fast relief but most are full of sugar and preservatives.
You can make your own full of super healthy ingredients pretty quickly and easily with this recipe …
Homemade Sore Throat Spray
Homemade sore throat sprays can target pain relief at our throat.
The quickest way to make a DIY sore throat spray is with cloves & honey as cloves are a natural antibiotic with analgesic powers …
Alternatively, try these homemade sore throat spray recipes:
- Sore throat spray with herbal teas
- Sore throat spray with tinctures
- Sore throat spray with bee propolis
Tinctures sound tricky but are a breeze for vaguely confident cooks.
Sore Throat Hot Toddy
A traditional hot toddy can relieve a sore throat overnight as it is full of soothing ingredients :
- A measure or so of whisky
- Tablespoon of real honey
- Juice of half a lemon
- A cup of hot water
- A cinnamon stick stirrer
Just go easy on the whisky!!
Best Essential Oils For Sore Throats
I am NOT a big fan of essential oils.
We don’t need them to make great homemade remedies and many are sold under dodgy business models.
But if you do stock them the best essential oils for sore throats are:
- Thyme
- Sage
- Lemon
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
You can use them to make sore throat sprays and gargles and add them to diffusers to help relieve your sore throat overnight.
And there you go a massive guide to how to kill a sore throat fast at home and especially over night with quick DIY remedies from kitchen ingredients PLUS practical nursing tips.
I really hope they help. Do let me know what worked best for you.
For more help with related symptoms check out my other quick natural remedies for coughs & colds including :
- Natural Cough Remedy
- Natural Cold Remedy
- Sinus Congestion Remedies
- Natural Headache Remedies
- Natural Antihistamines
- Natural Antibiotics
And to learn more simple practical ways to stay healthy sign up for my newsletter …
Or follow my homemade remedies board on Pinterest …
Original image sources: lemon ice cubes , rawpixel and Sore Throat by Marco Verch under Creative Commons 2.0
Diana Sheldrick says
Ginger tea is also great for indigestion- especially if you get it when you’re super stressed
Alice says
It’s wonderful for so many things isn’t it. Ginger tea and mint tea are my go-tos for so many things.