WHEN I feel a sore throat coming, I just know I’m going to get ill.
It starts with a light tickle then develops into an agonising scratchiness that makes it painful to swallow.
This can last for days on end before my other inevitable symptoms – coughing, a headache and a fever – arrive.
But is there anything you can do to ease your sore throat in that awful in between time? I set out to find out.
As soon as I clocked mine coming, I put nine popular remedies to the test – and got an expert’s verdict on each one.
Abbas Kanani, superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click, tells Sun Health: “People get sore throats when they are infected with a virus, have cold and flu, bacterial infections, allergies and from smoking.
“You can also get a sore throat from having a dry mouth and sleeping with your mouth open.
“It can feel dry, irritated, scratchy and painful when swallowing.
“It can also be accompanied with swollen glands and a cough.
“The main illnesses associated with a sore throat include laryngitis, tonsillitis and glandular fever, and they are occasionally caused by a bacterial infection such as strep throat.
“There are lots of remedies. Paracetamol, anaesthetic sprays and gargling with warm salt water, for example, can help to relieve pain.”
From Strepsils to smoothies, here’s what we both had to say.
1. Strepsils
- Pain reduction: 3/5
- Efficiency: 4/5
- Longevity: 2/5
- Final score: 3/5
Strepsils are marketed as providing “soothing, effective relief for sore throats” – so obviously they were my first port of call.
And I can honestly say they did help a little.
Even a few seconds after I popped one in my mouth, I noticed an instant sense of relief.
My throat was no longer quite as scratchy-feeling, and my eyes weren’t watering as much.
I also rather enjoyed the sweet honey and lemon flavour!
However, the effects were short-lived, with my discomfort back again some 30 minutes later.
I also suspect the relief came largely from the extra saliva – not necessarily the Hexylresorcinol, a local anaesthetic – as I had a similar experience with Soothers.
Abbas says: “Lozenges can offer some relief from sore throats, specifically, ones that have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic or local anaesthetic ingredients.
“They target the bacteria and reduce swelling.”
2. Hot honey and lemon
- Pain reduction: 4/5
- Efficiency: 4/5
- Longevity: 2/5
- Final score: 3/5
Warm drinks are always comforting when you’re ill.
As a tea and coffee-hater, I usually go for a chai latte or a hot chocolate.
But because you always hear about the benefits of hot honey and lemon for sore throats, I thought I’d give that a try.
I boiled the kettle and added the juice of half a lemon into my mug, along with a generous squeezing of honey, and a bit of raw ginger for good measure.
It actually tasted decent and definitely helped ease my irritated throat.
My head also hurt a little less – probably as it was helping to keep me hydrated.
However, once I’d stopped sipping, my sore throat quickly came back again, so it’s definitely not a long-term solution.
It could help if you also have a cough though, according to Abbas.
“Hot lemon with honey can have a similar effect to cough medication,” he adds.
“Both lemon and honey have natural powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and they don’t come with the potential side effects of some over-the-counter remedies.”
3. Salt water gargle
- Pain reduction: 1/5
- Efficiency: 1/5
- Longevity: 2/5
- Final score: 1/5
“Salt water gargles can be effective for immediate soothing,” Abbas says.
“While it won’t cure a sore throat, it can help bring down the inflammation.”
However, this was my least favourite of the bunch.
I followed NHS advice, which told me to dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, then gargle with the solution before spitting it out.
It tasted exactly as you’d expect – like the sea, but warm – and actually made me cough more than I was already.
I can’t say I noticed much of a difference in how sore my throat felt, and I needed to have another drink afterwards because of the taste it left in my mouth.
But Abbas says it’s a good option for people who prefer natural remedies.
“Like all medication, pain relievers can cause side effects – some of which are nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, itching, sweating and depression,” he says.
“In some people aged over 65, there can be an increased risk of developing stomach ulcers when taking ibuprofen.”
4. Soothers
- Pain reduction: 3/5
- Efficiency: 4/5
- Longevity: 2/5
- Final score: 3/5
Soothers don’t contain any actual medicine – it’s mostly just sugar and a bit of fruit juice – but they do help soothe your throat.
I found within maybe 20 seconds of my first one that mine had started to ease.
The blackcurrant flavour is also decent, though I prefer the peach!
Sadly though, the effects don’t last too long, and I felt I wanted to reach for a second sweet within an hour.
Like the Strepsils, I think a large part of the benefits came from how moist my mouth became.
Abbas says: “Sweets like Soothers can help to increase the production of saliva, which helps to moisturise the throat.
“They can also help to coat the throat with glucose which acts as a soothing film.”
When to seek medical help
MOST sore throats will be get better within a week or so.
“But you should see your GP if there is no improvement in your symptoms after about seven days,” Abbas Kanani, superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click, says.
“You should also speak to your doctor if you notice that you get a sore throat often.
“You should call 111 or seek an urgent appointment if your sore throat is present with a very high temperature, you feel hot and shivery or you have a weakened immune system.”
The NHS recommends that you call 999 or go to A&E immediately if:
- You have difficulty breathing or are unable to swallow
- You are drooling – this can be a sign of not being able to swallow
- You are making a high-pitched sound as you breathe (called stridor)
- You have severe symptoms that are getting worse quickly
5. Lemsip Max Cold and Flu
- Pain reduction: 5/5
- Efficiency: 5/5
- Longevity: 4/5
- Final score: 5/5
Lemsip Max Cold and Flu is designed for the symptomatic relief of colds and flu, according to the manufacturers.
This includes headaches, fevers, blocked noses, body aches and pains, and you guessed it, sore throats.
By the time I got my hands on a box, I was definitely also noticing other symptoms developing.
My head was throbbing, I was feeling hot and sweaty one minute and shivery the next, and I had started coughing.
But Lemsip sorted me right out. My sore throat vanished almost instantly and remained at bay for hours.
My body also felt less achy and my fluctuating temperature calmed down a bit.
Abbas says: “Lemsip is packed full of active ingredients that help to relieve sore throats and inflammation.
“It also helps with symptoms of cold and flu, such as aches, pains and headaches.”
You can buy Lemsip in tablet form, but I think the drinkable sachet version is miles better as it’s comforting and helps you stay hydrated – something which is vital when you’re unwell.
My cup of blackcurrant flavoured goodness (to me, the lemon flavour is gross) kept my symptoms at bay for about four hours – far longer than any of the other remedies I tried!
6. Ice lollies
- Pain reduction: 3/5
- Efficiency: 4/5
- Longevity: 1/5
- Final score: 2/5
I knew deep down that an ice lolly wasn’t going to cure me.
However, I was surprised to find that it did provide genuine pain relief.
I went for a Wall’s Mini Milk as a throwback to my childhood, and it was delicious and very soothing.
The cold helped perk me up and ease my throat, and the sweetness was a yummy bonus!
Like the lozenges, it was fleeting – but it worked nonetheless.
But Abbas warned that they can cause further problems.
“The cooling of ice cream may offer temporary relief to soreness, however it can have high sugar content which can increase inflammation,” he says.
7. Beechams All in One Liquid
- Pain reduction: 4/5
- Efficiency: 3/5
- Longevity: 4/5
- Final score: 4/5
Similar to Lemsip, Beechams All in One liquid is an all-rounder.
But this product allegedly also treats blocked noses and chesty coughs – two things I went on to develop big time.
It contains paracetamol to dull pain and reduce your temperature when you have a fever, the expectorant guaifenesin to loosen phlegm and relieve a chesty cough, and the decongestant phenylephrine hydrochloride to unblock your nose and sinuses to help you breathe more easily.
I found it helped with everything, but especially congestion.
My sore throat did ease a little afterwards, but it was my clearer sinuses that was most noticeable.
Abbas says this is because generally, sore throats simply need to run their course.
8. Smoothie
- Pain reduction: 3/5
- Efficiency: 3/5
- Longevity: 1/5
- Final score: 2/5
Much like the ice lolly, I didn’t have high hopes for a smoothie.
I blended one fresh and one frozen banana, some frozen blueberries, milk, Greek yoghurt and a dollop of peanut butter.
It was delicious, and eased my throat for about 30 minutes, but sadly it had no long-term impact.
“If you opt for a smoothie that has ingredients high in anti-inflammatory properties, this can help to boost your immune system, which is important for your recovery,” Abbas says.
This could be things like leafy green vegetables or fruits like strawberries and blueberries.
“The coolness and texture can also help to soothe any dryness,” the pharmacist adds.
9. Ginger shot
- Pain reduction: 1/5
- Efficiency: 2/5
- Longevity: 1/5
- Final score: 1/5
My TikTok For You page is flooded with videos touting the benefits of ginger shots.
And it could be for good reason. Ginger is said to boost the immune system, aid digestion, be anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea and anti-fungal, according to Healthline.
One of the other alleged benefits is easing a sore throat, so I thought I would give it a go.
I blended raw ginger, freshly-squeezed juice from oranges and lemons, turmeric, black pepper, cayenne pepper and a bit of water, then strained it.
It was fiery! And to be honest, I think it may have made my throat burn more than it was already.
That said, it is supposed to have longer-term benefits as well as immediate ones, so I can’t say it won’t be good for me in weeks to come.
Abbas says: “Ginger is a powerful natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory remedy.
“As well as healing the throat, it can also help with nausea and boost immunity.”
Which cold and flu remedies actually work?
Isabel Shaw, health reporter, put nine well-known cold and flu remedies to the test when she was struck down with the lurgy.
Over a week, she tested products that targeted all symptoms associated with cold and flu, as well as treatments that only aimed to get rid of specific issues.
These included:
- Hot honey and lemon
- Steam inhalation and Vicks Vaporub
- Echinacea
- Chicken soup
- A spicy curry
- Beechams All-in-One Oral Solution
- Strepsils
- Lemsip Max
- Sudafed Blocked Nose Spray
She took into account pain reduction, and how quickly and for how long they worked.
Read her full verdicts here.
