How to Gargle With Lemon Juice

Lemon juice helps fight viruses and bacteria.

A sore throat can cause significant discomfort. Knowing a simple and effective remedy or technique to reduce painful symptoms is useful. Gargling with lemon juice not only helps reduce the burning and scratching sensations caused by a sore throat, it also helps freshen breath. The acidic nature of lemon juice creates hostile conditions to help fight viruses and bacteria. What's more, Reader's Digest states that the astringent juice also helps shrink swollen tissue in the throat.

Instructions

1. Slice a fresh lemon in half.

2. Squeeze the juice from both lemon halves into a cup.

3. Boil 1 cup of water.

4. Half-fill a cup with the boiling water. Add a little cold water to cool it down to prevent burning your mouth.

5. Add the juice from the lemon to the warm water.

6. Add one teaspoon of salt and stir thoroughly until fully dissolved.

7. Take a sip of the mixture, tilt your head back and begin gargling. Do not swallow. Gargle for 10 seconds, spit out and repeat until the there is no mixture remaining.

8. Repete Steps 1 through 7 three times per day.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the temperature of the mixture with finger before gargling.

• If symptoms persist for several days, contact your doctor.

References

• Health 911: Sore Throat
• Reader's Digest: A Gaggle of Gargles