How should I handle a particularly sore throat?

If your throat hurts badly, you can try methods like steam inhalation, eating digestible food, scraping the neck, and soaking olives in water to ease the discomfort. There are many reasons for sore throat, some caused by spicy food, and some caused by inflammation. If the pain lasts for a long time and is severe, it is best to go to the hospital for professional treatment. Here are some methods to try:

Steam Inhalation

Add hot water over 60℃ to a large basin, wrap a towel around your head, and try to immerse yourself in the steam. When the water flows, tilt your head to the side and inhale the steam through your nose and mouth. This can help relieve throat irritation and pain in about 10 minutes. However, be careful to prevent burns.

Eating Digestible Food

Eat more foods that have heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, such as cucumber, bitter melon, or pear. You can also choose medicinal foods like yam, japonica rice, or pearl barley and lily to nourish yin and moisten the body. Eating sour foods like hawthorn and black plum can also help relieve dry throat pain.

Scraping the Front of the Neck

If your throat pain is caused by a cold, you can scrape the front of your neck to clear your throat and soothe the pain. Lie flat on your bed, apply an appropriate amount of scraping oil to the front of your neck, and use the flat side of a scraping board to scrape from top to bottom. Be gentle and continue scraping until the scraping appears.

Using Fresh Olives in Water

Purchase a fresh olive from the supermarket and steep it in boiling water. If you have a hoarse voice or tonsillitis, you can add a small amount of salt and stir evenly. Fresh olives can be steeped repeatedly. After drinking, you can either discard them or chew them to obtain the dietary fiber inside.