With the onset of cold weather, the queues at the clinic become more and more, and doctors often hear complaints of a sore throat. Establishing a diagnosis of angina requires not only systemic treatment (for example, antibacterial drugs), but also local therapy. Some types of tonsillitis are an indication for hospitalization in a hospital, but usually adult patients who have not identified complications are treated on an outpatient basis - that is, at home. Rinsing the oropharynx is the main method of treating the affected areas. How to gargle with sore throat? What medicines and self-prepared products are suitable for this?
Classification of funds
Throat gargles have been around for a long time, and over time, the number of adherents of these funds has not diminished. The rinsing procedure is considered one of the most affordable and safe methods for treating oropharyngeal diseases. With its help, it is possible to achieve cleansing of the mucous membrane from pathological accumulations, to eliminate some of the pathogenic microorganisms.
Depending on the composition of the gargle for sore throat, they have a moisturizing, softening, antiseptic effect. They also come in handy in the inflammatory process.
Can I gargle at home? The method is used by adult patients independently, by children - under the supervision of parents or other older relatives. It is worth discussing the composition of the solution and the frequency of repetition of rinsing with the attending physician - to determine how and what to treat the mucous membrane, it is best after an internal examination.
Medicines that rinse with angina, according to the type of action, are divided into the following groups:
- Moisturizers and emollients.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Antiseptics and antimicrobials.
All of them can be successfully applied at home. Many solutions belong simultaneously to several groups. In this case, it is worth paying attention to which infectious agent provoked a sore throat. Sore throat (tonsillitis) is an inflammation of the tonsils - usually paired palatines. Various bacteria (most often beta-hemolytic streptococcus) and viruses become the cause of the disease. The likelihood of mycotic or fungal infection (oral candidiasis), "specific" tonsillitis (in particular, infectious mononucleosis) is not excluded. Angina is often called the inflammatory process in the oropharynx in acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI), although in this case we are usually talking about viral pharyngitis.
Rinses for angina are chosen based on the characteristics of the pathological process. At the same time, the presence of a sore throat cannot become a significant landmark. In the case of bacterial inflammation, it is important to influence the pathogenic microflora - this forms the point of application for the use of antiseptics, local antibiotics. Solutions that eliminate the dryness of the mucous membrane, reducing the activity of the inflammation process, will also be useful. If the complaint is attributed to SARS, moisturizers and anti-inflammatories are usually sufficient. For specific forms of angina, you should use only recipes recommended by your doctor.
Moisturizers and emollients
Drying out of the mucous membranes with infectious tonsillitis is one of the factors contributing to the onset and intensification of pain. Therefore, in therapy, there is usually at least one method aimed at eliminating dry throat. How can you rinse your mouth at home to achieve the effect of moisturizing and softening the mucous membrane? For this purpose, the preparation of the solution is carried out using such components as:
- kitchen salt;
- sea salt;
- soda.
Soda solution
They can gargle with a sore throat of a viral and bacterial nature. You will need baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate. For a regular glass with a capacity of 200 ml, 1 teaspoon is enough. The solution must be thoroughly stirred so that there are no lumps, and immediately used for rinsing.
Salt solution
This remedy is prepared in the same way as the previous one. The dosage of salt per 200 ml of pure boiled water is 1 teaspoon. This is sufficient to achieve the required concentration of the basic substance.
Saline is the safest gargle to use.
If prepared correctly, it does not irritate the mucous membranes, it can be used often - about 8 or even 10 times a day. It is approved for use from sore throats by women expecting a baby or breastfeeding, it is not contraindicated in children of the younger age group, who already know how to cleanse the throat on their own.
Soda-salt solution
The components of the products described above can be combined: 5 g of each is taken for a volume of 0.2 liters. Gargling with angina is performed without swallowing the medicine.
As for sea salt, it can also be helpful in treating tonsillitis. However, only clean, untreated raw materials without aromatic additives and dyes are suitable for preparing the solution. Those types of salt that are added to water for the purpose of taking baths should not be added to the medicine. The best option is sea salt, specially prepared for use in treatment. It can be purchased at the pharmacy.
Sea salt solution
It is most preferable to take fine sea salt - it will dissolve faster, and the grains will not be able to damage the inflamed mucous membrane. You can find different recipes. Classic is dissolving two tablespoons of an ingredient in 400 ml of water. Use the entire solution in one procedure.
Anti-inflammatory
What is the best way to gargle with sore throat? Anti-inflammatory drugs include:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or topical NSAIDs (Benzydamine, Loroben, Tantum Verde);
- herbal ingredients for the preparation of solutions, infusions and decoctions.
At home, tonsillitis can be treated with both groups of remedies. However, if medicines belonging to the first of them can be purchased at a pharmacy, representatives of the second group require herbal raw materials and self-preparation. There is also a third group - herbal ingredients, which are already processed properly and are suitable for quickly creating a medicine. An example is alcoholic tinctures of various herbs and flowers.
What herbs can be used for gargling with sore throat? It is best to pay attention to those plants that do not require complex processing:
- Calendula.
- Chamomile.
- Sage.
- Eucalyptus.
Tincture of calendula
This remedy can be prepared from dry raw materials (calendula flowers) or an alcoholic tincture of calendula, which is purchased at a pharmacy. In the first case, 1 tablespoon is required, in the second –1 teaspoon of the ingredient. Alcohol tincture can also be added dropwise at the rate of 140 drops per procedure. Dosages are indicated for a volume of water equal to 200 ml.
Alcohol tincture of calendula should not be used by pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under 12 years of age.
Chamomile tincture
Dry raw materials (2 tablespoons) are poured with water, as soon as it boils (0.2 l), kept for half an hour. Strain before rinsing. Sore throat is not the only indication for using chamomile, this plant is useful for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx.
Sage tincture
Sage makes a good gargling solution. It is recommended for different types of tonsillitis, including streptococcal etiology.For 400 ml of boiling water, you need to take 20 g of leaves, which are pre-crushed. After insisting for half an hour and straining, the medicine can be applied.
Chamomile, calendula, eucalyptus
You will need a heat-resistant container that you can cover. For 600 ml of boiling water, three tablespoons of medicinal raw materials are taken, of which 2 are dried chamomile flowers, 1 are calendula. After the infusion is brewed, a drop of eucalyptus essential oil is added to it. The container with the medicine is wrapped in a heat-insulating cloth, taken to a warm place for 40 minutes, and then filtered.
Antiseptics and antimicrobials
Before presenting examples of drugs, you need to understand: what is the difference between antiseptics and antimicrobials. These groups of drugs are designed to destroy pathogenic microorganisms and perform, in fact, the same task. Antiseptics can be active against different groups of pathogenic agents - including viruses. Antibiotics, on the other hand, target bacteria and are antiseptics with antimicrobial action.
If a sore throat is diagnosed, rinsing a sore throat is carried out with the help of pharmaceutical preparations. These include such as:
- Hexetidine (Hexoral, Stopangin);
- Chlorhexidine;
- Hydrogen peroxide;
- Povidone iodine (Betadine), etc.
Sometimes you can find recommendations regarding the use of Furacilin as a rinse. In this case, the concentration of the solution corresponds to 1: 5000, unless otherwise indicated in the appointments. Antiseptics are not intended for self-medication - they are prescribed only by a doctor. This is especially important if the patient is a child or woman at any stage of pregnancy, breastfeeding.
Chlorhexidine is not recommended to be combined with iodine preparations.
Local antiseptics are medications that are prescribed only if indicated. The use may be accompanied by the realization of side effects. The risk of adverse effects is higher when some active ingredients are combined. At the same time, one should not expect that the use of an antiseptic will eliminate all pathogenic microflora. The reason why you need to gargle is to flush the mucous membrane and mechanically remove the accumulations of pus. Local therapy has no sterilizing effect.
Antiseptics should be used in accordance with the instructions and recommendations of the doctor. In the period between procedures, you need to monitor the correct storage of the medicine, do not use it after the expiration date.
Rinsing procedure: requirements
How to properly gargle with sore throat? During the procedure, you must comply with the requirements:
- Use only warm medicines.
- Prepare a fresh product every time.
- Monitor the suitability of the components of the solution.
- Rinse after eating.
- Do not eat or drink anything for about 20 minutes after the procedure.
To gargle a sore throat with sore throat, the solution is poured into a separate bowl. The patient takes a sip, throws his head back. To effectively flush out the mucous membrane, you need to hold onto the liquid for about 30 seconds.
The multiplicity of the procedure varies depending on which medicine is chosen. Gargling with sore throat should be repeated 8 to 12 times a day, if salt and soda solutions, herbal infusions are used. Alcoholic tinctures and antiseptics are applied 4 to 7 times a day - this does not exclude the possibility of washing with salt products.
It is not necessary to check the temperature of the product with a thermometer. It is enough to pour a small amount into a separate bowl and make sure that the temperature is comfortable for the mucous membrane.
The gargle must not be swallowed.
If a patient accidentally swallows a few drops of the drug, he should not be afraid of side effects. But deliberately swallowing solutions is unacceptable. This should be definitely explained to children who rinse their throats for the first time. In general, the patient should be aware of the technique and purpose of the procedure, instructed on how to gargle with sore throat. If he is scared, is in a state of motor and mental excitement, it is better to refuse the procedure.
