# Sore throat (from a cold) treatments that are scientifically proven? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 25, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621 "2014-11-25T19:25:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/21 "2014-11-27T18:09:51Z")
> [@jharvey963](#): > > no, i have no doubt about the medicine or your information. In fact, you have given the most scientific information in this thread. > > I was just making a joke because your description of how it worked reminded me of the statement that i gave. I put the “big grin” smileys around it to show that i was making a joke, not a serious statement. Sorry if there was any misunderstanding. > > Thanks, > j. what is this “biggrin” thing of which you speak? Is it similar to the “buggrin” phenomenon? Uploading my personality into the cloud has left unanticipated lacunae. ---
**Author:** ![Astraea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3e96dc/32.png) [@Astraea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astraea)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/22 "2014-11-28T05:44:33Z")
Gargle raw onions! Yes, I said onions. Go to Walmart or whatever store you prefer, get a package of diced yellow onions, take a good mouthful, chew them up well and swish them all around your mouth and especially the back of your throat. Try to let them sit back there for a minute or two then swallow. Onions have been proven to be antibacterial. I’ve also found this to ‘numb’ my throat a little too. DON’T drink /eat anything else for quite a while after this! Do this a few times throughout the day and your sore throat should be much improved by the next day if not sooner. Also heard of studies proving chicken noodle soup helps colds. Enzymes, vitamins, minerals, heat, ONIONS… ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/23 "2014-11-28T06:21:57Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > The effectiveness of NSAIDs in reducing inflammation is quite real, and well-demonstrated scientifically. Its effect is just not immediate, contrary to the assumptions of many. I’ve usually had luck taking 3-4 ibuprofen pills (200 mg) within a couple of hours. Is this unusual? Psychosomatic? ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/24 "2014-11-28T07:07:52Z")
[Apparently there is some evidence that honey can help.](http://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/dec/04/health.medicalresearch) ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/25 "2014-11-28T07:17:32Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > [UpToDate.com](http://UpToDate.com), the medical clearinghouse of info, notes this about analgesia for pharyngitis: > > Me? I use Tylenol or Motrin for my systemic treatment, and use some lidocaine or benzocaine topically. When that is unavailable, or fails to adequately relieve my symptoms, I gargle with salt water. Is lidocaine available over the counter? I was prescribed viscous lidocaine once for an unbearably sore throat and it was like a gift from the gods. I went from feeling like I was swallowing broken glass to blissfully numb and was able to sleep for the first time in almost three days. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/26 "2014-11-28T07:22:28Z")
> [@Astraea](#): > > Onions have been proven to be antibacterial. But we’re talking about a viral infection. I’m kind of amazed how many of the post here (most) are completely ignoring the OP’s question, and just giving their “in my experience” recommendations, when that’s clearly not what he or she is asking about. I think part of the reason there isn’t much “science” about this is that the result of any “treatment” is going to be very subjective and prone to a lot of variability. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/27 "2014-11-28T13:29:21Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > [Apparently there is some evidence that honey can help.](http://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/dec/04/health.medicalresearch) That was for cough. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/28 "2014-11-28T14:34:07Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > That was for cough. Yeah, but lowering the cough lowers the amount of irritation the throat suffers, therefore relieving the pain. It’s indirect, but it works. ---
**Author:** ![JayRx1981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@JayRx1981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayRx1981)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/29 "2014-11-29T01:12:13Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > I’ve usually had luck taking 3-4 ibuprofen pills (200 mg) within a couple of hours. Is this unusual? Psychosomatic? As far as relief of pain goes, no, not unusual at all. As far as anti-inflammatory effects go, however, what Qadgop is getting at is that NSAID therapy, because it blocks the formation of new inflammatory mediators via the Cyclooxygenase pathway, but doesn’t antagonize the mediators directly, takes at least a few days to clear any pre-existing inflammatory mediators before it’s anti-inflammatory effects would start to show up. ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/30 "2014-11-29T01:18:27Z")
The problem is scientists have nothing to say about colds at all, they still recommend the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas Ebola prescription of take a few pills and don’t bother us. Before I discovered 15 years ago that one capsule of standardized Echinacea taken twice a week prevents colds and the flu I used to get sick and suffer that bastard of a sore throat 3-4 times a year. Chloraseptic and Nyquil once were mostly alcohol and worked well, but they took the alcohol out to keep the nervous nellies happy. Using my own scientific knowledge I deduced there was alcohol in brandy and found a couple sips of brandy soothe a sore throat better than anything except maybe a couple sips of a good white 100% agave Tequila. In fact the Mexican scientists who worked on my lawn mowing crews years ago prescribe white Tequila mixed with lemon. This is also good for that bad pain you get from a broken tooth while you’re saving up the 1000.00 to get it extracted. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/31 "2014-11-29T03:03:35Z")
> [@JayRx1981](#): > > As far as relief of pain goes, no, not unusual at all. As far as anti-inflammatory effects go, however, what Qadgop is getting at is that NSAID therapy, because it blocks the formation of new inflammatory mediators via the Cyclooxygenase pathway, but doesn’t antagonize the mediators directly, takes at least a few days to clear any pre-existing inflammatory mediators before it’s anti-inflammatory effects would start to show up. The immediacy of the moderate impact on pain is because it impacts the neurons involved in the pain response, both centrally and peripherally. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/32 "2014-11-29T04:01:34Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Is lidocaine available over the counter? > I was prescribed viscous lidocaine once for an unbearably sore throat and it was like a gift from the gods. I went from feeling like I was swallowing broken glass to blissfully numb and was able to sleep for the first time in almost three days. Gargoyle with Solarcaine? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621/33 "2014-11-29T21:23:14Z")
> [@Astraea](#): > > Gargle raw onions! Yes, I said onions. Go to Walmart or whatever store you prefer, get a package of diced yellow onions, take a good mouthful, chew them up well and swish them all around your mouth and especially the back of your throat. Try to let them sit back there for a minute or two then swallow. Onions have been proven to be antibacterial. I’ve also found this to ‘numb’ my throat a little too. DON’T drink /eat anything else for quite a while after this! Do this a few times throughout the day and your sore throat should be much improved by the next day if not sooner. > > Also heard of studies proving chicken noodle soup helps colds. Enzymes, vitamins, minerals, heat, ONIONS… This has the added advantage of keeping everyone away from you, minimizing the potential for any kind of transmission of pathogens. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-throat-from-a-cold-treatments-that-are-scientifically-proven/705621.md?page=1)