This sore throat protocol is for babies, kids and adults. I will go over the options I use for each, and how much to take. The key with natural remedies is to start at the first sign of a scratchy throat and stay consistent.
Cold or Flu? Know the Difference
Both colds and the flu are usually viral respiratory infections. Viruses are carried through the air when we cough and sneeze, so many people like smudging or diffusing essential oils to freshen the air while someone is sick.
- The FLU comes with a fever, muscle pain and body aches. It often lasts a week or more and is caused by influenza viruses. My main go-to for the flu is elderberry syrup, tea, or tincture in warm water. See my natural flu remedies post.
- A COLD stays in the respiratory tract (sinuses, throat, lungs) with a cough, sore throat, congestion, sneezing and lots of mucus. It usually lasts around a week and can be caused by many different viruses.
Do you have a fever? If YES, go to my flu protocol and read my fever protocol.
This protocol is for a cold and sore throat. If the cold has moved into other areas, see these posts:
- To keep a cough from settling into the lungs, read my lungs and pneumonia protocol.
- If it is in your sinuses, read my sinus infection protocol.
- If it has gone beyond a sore throat into swelling, white spots or an enlarged uvula, read strep throat and tonsils.
- For earaches and fevers there are other things to do as well.
When to See a Doctor
Please get medical care if there is trouble breathing or swallowing, drooling, a stiff neck, a rash, a fever lasting more than 3 days, a sore throat lasting more than a week, or signs of strep like white spots and swollen glands without a cough. Strep needs a test. Any baby under 3 months with a fever needs to be seen right away.
Tips for Natural Medicine
- Spread out your remedies. You can not just take something once a day and expect to get better.
- Consistency is the key with natural medicine: small amounts throughout the entire day. I teach my kids every hour to take something.
- Supporting the body naturally helps strengthen your immune system as it fights.
- After you think you are better, keep going with your protocol for three more days.
- Antibiotics do not work on viral infections.
- Catch it at the FIRST sign. A runny nose is usually the first sign for kids. For a sore throat, start the moment you feel it when you swallow. This is so much better than playing catch up.
- Hit it hard. I take something every hour so it does not get worse. If you are worse the next day, you are probably not taking enough to stay ahead of it.
Sore Throat Protocol for Babies and Infants
I taught my kids to swallow pills pretty early, like at 9 months, because when you teach them young the gag reflex is easier to get over. You squeeze their cheeks so the pill does not get lost and put the capsule in their mouth, then give them a bottle and let them drink it down. After a few times they do it on their own. If you wait until five it is MUCH harder. Always make sure your child can swallow safely, and use liquids or powders for babies.
Here are the things I keep on hand for babies. These come in liquid form if you do not want to use pills:
- Children’s Echinacea. Helps support the immune system. I give one squirt in the morning and one at night.
- Natural Vitamin C. A whole food form, not synthetic. The chewable is easy to crush, and baby can suck the powder off your finger. I give this twice a day.
- Elderberry Syrup. Wonderful for supporting the immune system. For babies UNDER one year, NEVER use honey. Use a molasses or honey-free formula.
- SunBreeze Oil. This is not to get them better, but when my youngest was little she had a cough all through the night. Someone told me this would help. I was skeptical, but I rubbed it on the bottoms of her feet with socks on, and she did not cough once! If they cough all night they can not sleep, and it takes longer to get better. Check the label for age guidance, since rubs with camphor or eucalyptus are not recommended for babies under 2.
- OnGuard Oil. Diluted on the bottoms of the feet with socks on. I also use it this way to help KEEP them from getting sick.
In my Mommy Hero Tutorial Class there is a free video and a downloadable protocol with a list of ailments and what to do. Remember, coughing is good, fever is good. The body is trying to clean out the lungs. When baby is sick, I rotate through these every hour or so.
Sore Throat Protocol for Kids and Adults
For kids and adults you want to treat the throat directly. That means you can not just diffuse something or rub an oil on the feet. Give your immune system, “your armies,” the supplies they need to fight, and take enough so it does not turn into something else.
- Ionic Silver. There is no taste. Gargle with it for as long as you can, at least 2 minutes. Tell younger kids to make bubbles! I do this once or twice a day. I recommend spitting it out after gargling.
- OnGuard Oil, Throat Drops or Softgels. OnGuard contains cinnamon, clove and other oils known for their antimicrobial properties. Adults can put a drop or two in a little water, gargle and swallow. It is hot, but you get used to it! If you do not want to taste it, there are softgels. The throat drops are great during the day to calm the tickle. My kids think they are candy.
- Vitamin C. Around 1,000 mg a day for adults. If your stools get runny, you have had more than your body needs, so back off. Adults should stay under 2,000 mg a day unless their doctor says otherwise. I use chewables for kids and capsules for adults. I prefer whole food vitamin C over plain ascorbic acid, which is usually made from corn.
- Elderberry Syrup. Adults can take more or make elderberry tea. Kids need at least 1 tsp a day.
Something Back There Every Hour
For a sore throat you really want to get something on the throat every hour. I keep these two on hand and squirt the throat every hour:
- Dr. Schulze’s Throat and Tonsil. This one coats the throat. It has echinacea, garlic, habanero pepper, peppermint and fig.
- OR Dr. Christopher’s X-Ceptic. I will not lie, this one burns a bit! But man, it works on a sore throat. If you do not mind the burn, take it every hour the first day and see how you feel. My kids take this one and they are fine, but if you do not want the burn use the Dr. Schulze one.
Prevention
Catching it early is everything. When we start right away, it usually does not get bad and my kids are better in a day or two. When sickness is going around, keeping up on vitamin C, Zinc and Vitamin D helps support the immune system, and I like to diffuse OnGuard in our home. Preventative medicine, people!
This post shares my own experience and is not medical advice. Please talk with your doctor or pediatrician before using herbs, supplements or essential oils, especially with babies, children, or if you are pregnant or nursing. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
