Pharyngitis (Sore Throat / Strep throat) ; Causes, Symptoms, Investigations, Risks, Herbal Treatments and Self Management

     

    Sore throat is a very common problem world wide and we used to suffer from it almost every seasonal change. In Ayurveda the inter seasonal period mentioned as ‘Ritu Sandhi’ and that is most commonest time of sore throat. But in modern ages the availability of freezing foods like ice cream or cold drinks are our most common food item’s list in almost all seasons and such habit often causes sore throat. As being health conscious we used to rush to nearest or our family physicians and they often prescribes antibiotics, anti allergic drugs, some anti microbial mouth gargles. But such condition can be easily treated at home. Here we will discuss about such few preparations.

Symptoms:

• Difficulty in deglutition (Dysphagia)
• Difficulty in breathing
• Pain around the throat
• Difficulty in talking
• Dryness of throat
• Felling of obstruction of some thing around the neck

Causes:

• Habit of frequent ice cream or cold drinks intake.
• Common cold
• Exposure to Dust
• Exposure to extreme cold
• Exposure to alternate weather (A/C the No A/C)
• Long Journey and exposure to different weather frequently
• Climatic Change in the inter seasonal period  (Ritu Sandhi)
• Mononucleosis ("the kissing disease"), a viral infection that tends to cause a persistent sore throat.
• Bronchial Asthma often comes with a sore throat.
• Viral infection
• Infection in respiratory track
• Inflammation or infection of the tonsils (tonsillitis) and sometimes the adenoids (adenoiditis).
• Infection of the tissues around the tonsils (Peri tonsillar abscess).
• Inflammation of the epiglottis (epiglottitis).
• Inflammation of the uvula (Uvulitis).
• Smoking

Home Remedies:

• Juice of Vasaka (Adhatoda vasica) with honey.
• Juice of Adrak (Ginger) mixed with honey.
• Juice of Tulshi mixed with honey
• Mixture of juice Tulshi (Occimum sanctum), Ginger, with Black piper power.
• Decoction of Tulshi (Occimum sanctum), Mulethi (Liquorice) with Vasaka (Adhatoda vasica) in lukewarm state.
• Sunthi (Dry Ginger), Black Piper, with honey
• Honey itself acts as a smoothing agent for thought in the primary stage of irritation.

Home Made Mouth Wash For Gurgling:

• Haldi/Turmeric power/juice/decoction mix with juice of Ginger, Dry leaf powder or leaf juice of Tulsi (Holy Basil) mix with common salt or luke warm normal saline water can be used as a home made mouth wash or gurgling (It is also good for tonsillitis)
• Use some mouthwash by preparing at home, (Clove/Lavabga, Dalchini/Cinnamon, Common Salt, Elachi/Cardamom, Tuls leafs/Holy basil, Neem leafs/Azadirachta indica,Haldi/Cumin juice and make a decoction your homemade mouthwash is ready.
• Sunthi  (Dry Ginger), Black Piper, Tuls (Occimum sanctum), mix with honey and normal saline in luke warm condition is very useful.

Things To Do At Home: 

• Avoid exposer to extreme heat weather.
• Avoid smoke and give a cross mark to your smoking habits
• Avoid cold exposure.
• Avoid Air Cooler use (AC can be used by maintain a normal body temperature)
• Bath with cold water or fun in swimming pools must be avoided.
• Avoid exposure to dust or cold air
• Body sprays or other insect killers can make your condition worse, so better keep them aside.
• Food should be warm and fresh.
• Plenty amount of fluid orally.
• Don't talk too much and give a pause to your  if you are singer or orator.
• Keep your self warm and if possible try to cover your neck.
• It is good to take hot water and hot milk

Herbal Drugs**: 

Oral Drugs:

• Pippali Churna (Classical)
• Talishadhi Churna (if associated with Cough & not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Vasa Avaleha (not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Vasa Kantakari Valeha (not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• KafKetu Ras (Classical)
• Vayosadhi Vati (Classical)
• Charanamrit Ras (if associated with Cough)
• Tribhuvan Kritti Ras (Classical)
• Bharggi Gur (not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Kantakari Abaleha (not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Giloy Satva/ Gudduchi Satva (Classical)
• Draksharista (if associated with Cough & not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Maha Drakrarista salsa (if associated with Cough & not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Khadiradhi Vati (Classical)
• Eadhi Vati (Classical)
• Tab. Septilin (Himalaya)
• Tab. Sepno (Selveo)
• Tab. SIVA Herbal Drops (Dr. Jrk Siddha)
• Tab. Prataplankeswer Ras (Classical)
• Syp. Bronchorid (if associated with Cough)
• Syp. Koflet (if associated with Cough & not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Syp. Kuka (if associated with Cough & not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Syp. Halezzy (if associated with Cough & not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Syp. Honitus (if associated with Cough & not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Syp. Kasamrit (if associated with Cough & not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Syp. Jufex (if associated with Cough & not Indicated for Diabetic Patients)
• Syp. Diakof (if associated with Cough and Diabetic Patients)

Local Applications:

1. HiOra K Mouth Wash(Himalaya)
2. Glycoseptal Mouth Wash (Jupiter)
3. AD Septal Mouth Wash(Arunava Drugs)
4. G 32 Mouth Paint (Alarsin)