Cayenne Pepper for Sore Throat

Many of you may run at the sight of cayenne pepper. A lot of people cannot bear to consume anything spicy, and simply the thought of cayenne pepper may have you feeling edgy and uncomfortable. What you must know is that there are numerous cayenne pepper benefits for health, from something as simple as curing a sore throat, to the ability to stop a heart attack. Yes, this spicy (so-called evil) is actually a miracle ingredient in disguise, that can take care of a lot of your health problems. It can help you lose weight, aid digestion, aid a total detoxification process, and even improve your overall blood circulation. Here, we talk about the effects of cayenne pepper for a sore throat, and how it helps in providing you with instant relief from all the associated discomfort.

Cayenne Pepper Preparations for Sore Throat

Cayenne pepper has an ingredient called capsaicin, that contains anti-viral properties. When you have a persistent sore throat that just doesn't seem to go away, along with all the cough and other symptoms, cayenne pepper is your most inexpensive and effective bet as a cure. If the reason for your sore throat is viral, cayenne pepper is sure to help eliminate it. On the other hand if it is bacterial or strep throat, add a little salt to all the recipes mentioned below, as salt has anti-bacterial properties.

Before you consume or gargle with any of these solutions, you should be aware that cayenne pepper is extremely hot, and may cause a severe burning sensation on and around your lips, and your tongue. Consuming too much may also cause heartburn over time. Consume these drinks only until your sore throat is relieved. Take a break from cayenne pepper for a while thereafter. The recipes mentioned here give you a specific amount of cayenne pepper to be added to the concoctions. However, if you think it is too much, adjust it to the amount you will be able to bear. This may require some experimentation.

Recipe #1
This is a tea-like preparation, that uses different ingredients along with cayenne pepper to soothe your sore throat.

Ingredients

• Water, 1 cup
• Ground Cayenne Pepper, 1 tsp
• Juice of ½ lemon, freshly squeezed
• Honey, to taste

Method
Boil the water and pour it into a cup. Add in the lemon juice, the cayenne pepper, and the honey. The honey is used to slightly neutralize the strong taste of the pepper. Drinking this concoction several times a day will eliminate all the irritation caused by a sore throat.

Recipe #2
This is the recipe for a soup that contains garlic which enhances the anti-viral properties of cayenne pepper to cure a sore throat.

Ingredients

• Garlic, 2 cloves, minced
• Ground Cayenne Pepper, 1 tsp
• Tomato Soup, 1 can
• Water, enough to give the drink a thin consistency
• Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed, dash (Optional)

Method
In a saucepan, add all the ingredients, and heat it to a suitable temperature that you can drink. The drink should have a thin consistency. Once heated, pour it into a mug, and drink the concoction. The smell of garlic, along with the numbing properties of cayenne pepper, will relieve your throat almost immediately. Drink the soup as many times as you require, to be able to relieve yourself completely.

Recipe #3
Unlike the recipes mentioned above, where you are asked to drink a concoction prepared with cayenne pepper, this preparation is a solution meant for gargling, and will open up your throat and provide you instant relief.

Ingredients

• Water, 1 cup
• Ground Cayenne Pepper, 5 shakes
• Juice of ½ lemon, freshly squeezed

Method
Mix all the ingredients, and gargle with this solution every fifteen minutes. It is known to be as effective as the drinks mentioned above in curing a sore throat.

If you do not have this magical throat reliever at hand, you may use a substitute. The home remedies prepared from these are usually almost as effective as cayenne pepper itself. The substitutes include Tabasco, paprika, and white or black pepper.

Keep in mind that cayenne pepper has the ability to relieve only a sore throat. The other aspects that are associated with the common cold may not be affected by it. If you seem to find no relief from these remedies, you probably are suffering from a different condition, for which you must immediately consult a doctor.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.