Does Lemon Ginger Tea Work for a Sore Throat?

Does Lemon Ginger Tea Work for a Sore Throat?

Lemon ginger tea, sometimes with a touch of honey, is a home remedy for colds, coughs, and sore throats. It’s also a valuable herbal tea that can boost your immune system. During the flu season, many people use it to fight off infections.

Lemon is an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that can boost the immune system. It also contains potassium, vitamin B, and antibacterial properties.

Studies show that ginger contains bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory properties that manage and fight numerous conditions, including sore throats. When the two compounds combine, they form a strong shield against sore throat.

Even so, lemon ginger tea is not a guaranteed cure for sore throat. Luckily, there are options, e.g., professional healthcare providers at an urgent care facility who use modern medicine to treat sore throats.

Here’s what you need to know.

Lemon Ginger Tea Can Fail to Treat Sore Throat

Although lemon ginger tea has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can calm sore throats, it sometimes falls short. Generally, lemon ginger tea is more of a preventive method than a curative method.

Lemon ginger tea is highly effective before the infection becomes severe. If the sore throat infection is severe, drinking a few cups of ginger lemon tea may soothe the throat and reduce inflammation but may not be an effective cure.

So, can lemon ginger fail to treat a sore throat

Yes! Therefore, take the herbal tea but remember to seek medical attention. If symptoms don’t disappear within a day or two, consider visiting a physician. More importantly, if you have a severe sore throat, seek appropriate treatment from a professional healthcare provider instead of using herbal tea.

Treatment of Sore Throat From an Urgent Care Cente

A patient suffering from a sore throat experiences a raspy feeling in the throat. The throat may also feel dry or like it’s on fire. In severe cases, you may feel a sharp pain when you try to swallow or talk.

Symptoms that Indicate the Need to See a Doctor

Seek help from an urgent care center if your child’s symptoms do not disappear after the first drink in the morning. More importantly, seek immediate attention if your child experiences difficulty:

• Breathing
• Swallowing

Also, look out for abnormal salivating, a sign of inability to swallow.

If you’re an adult with sore throat symptoms, see a doctor if the following problems occur:

• If the sore throat lasts more than a week
• Joint pains
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• A lump in your neck
• A recurring sore throat
• Fever (body temperature above 38.3°C)
• Blood in your saliva
• A hoarse voice that lasts more than two weeks
• Rash
• Ear aches

As the doctor tries to understand the problem, they will review your medical history or assess your symptoms.

The doctor may also conduct a physical examination which includes:

• Feeling the neck to check for swollen glands.
• Using a stethoscope to listen to the breathing rhythm —in case of a minor.
• Using a light source to examine the throat.

Throat Swab Culture Test

Your doctor may order a throat swab culture to understand your throat infection. The test checks the presence of streptococcus bacteria, an indicator of strep throat infection. The throat swab culture is a standard method used to test throat infections.

The doctor rubs a sterile swab at the back of the throat to obtain an infected fluid and sends it to the lab.

Many clinics are equipped with rapid tests which yield results within minutes. Alternatively, a doctor can use a throat culture, a comprehensive test that produces results within 24-48 hours. Generally, rapid tests have a low sensitivity percentage compared to culture tests.

The doctor may request a throat swab culture test if the rapid test returns negative.

Lastly, the doctor may also request molecular tests to detect streptococcus bacteria. Like antigen or throat culture, it requires a sterile swab from the throat. On a positive note, molecular test yields result within a few minutes.

Treatment of Sore Throats

Sore throat is caused by a viral infection and can last 5-7 days. The treatment depends on what causes the sore throat. For instance, if a cold is the source of the sore throat, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medications to ease the symptoms.

If you have strep throat, a doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to treat the bacterial infection:

Other common medications include:

• Antihistamine to treat allergies that cause sore throats
• Antacids to calm down acid reflux behind your heartburn or sore throat
• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for children

What Causes Sore Throats?

Similar to colds or flu, sore throat occurs when you have a viral infection. Injuries may cause it.

Here’s a list of possible causes of sore throats:

• Viral infections: Sore throat can originate from viral diseases such as flu, common cold, measles, chicken pox, Covid-19, or mononucleosis.
• Bacterial infections: Bacterial infections such as strep throat or sinus can cause sore throats.
• Allergies: Allergies trigger post-nasal drip leading to sore throats. Generally, irritation causes mucus to drip back into the throat, causing pain. Some allergic reactions triggers include pollen, pet dander, dust mites, or mold.
• Muscle strain: Sore throat may also occur after straining your throat muscles through yelling, talking loudly, or speaking for an extended period without rest.

Sore Throat Preventive Measures

The best way to prevent sore throat is to avoid viruses or bacteria responsible for sore throats.

Follow these tips to keep yourself safe:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
• Avoid close contact with infected patients.
• Avoid touching your nose, mouth, or eyes.
• Avoid sharing food, utensils, or glasses.
• Cough or sneeze on tissue and throw it away.

Visit Lifeline Urgent Care for Quick Relief From Your Sore Throa

Although lemon ginger tea is a common home remedy for sore throat, it can disappoint you. It could prove a wrong move if symptoms persist, causing complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, or rheumatic fever.

To keep yourself safe, seek timely and scientifically proven treatment from Lifeline Urgent Care.

Contact us online or call us at 281.771.1144 to book an appointment.