Throat Infection Relief

Throat infections may be the result of a variety of things, including bacteria, injury and colds. Swallowing, talking and eating might prove uncomfortable for anyone suffering from a throat infection, but relief is possible. Whether you try medicines or natural remedies, relief of pain is an important part of the healing process. Treatments for relief are determined by the original cause of the throat infection and should be discussed with your family doctor.

Medications

• Throat infections caused by group A streptococcus may be treated with antibiotics like penicillin V, an oral drug, or penicillin G, an injection form of the common antibiotic. Throat infections caused by other bacterias may also be treated with penicillin derivatives like amoxicillin and cloxacillin. Cephalosporin antibiotics, such as Celcor and Suprax, are also commonly prescribed.

Home Remedies

• Good old-fashioned home remedies for sore throat and throat infection relief may be found in conjunction with antibiotic therapies. For example, warm tea with honey and lemon is a time-tested sore throat relief remedy, as is gargling with warm salt water. Humidifying the air is also helpful, as the moist air helps relieve dry, scratchy symptoms caused by infected tonsils and viral throat infections caused by colds and flu.

Herbal Remedies

• A variety of herbs have been used for generations in the treatment and relief of throat infections and sore throats caused by bacterial and viral bugs, tonsillitis and injury. Some of the most common include chamomile, which is an excellent flower-tea, and eucalyptus, a minty-flavoring offered by the leaves of the tree by the same name. Licorice root and barberry are also favorites, as is slippery elm. These herbs and roots may be brewed into a tea, offering immediate relief to reddened, irritated throat lining.