Gargle with warm salt water. If you are a doos gargler, do it with very warm water, normal saline solution. Use one-half teaspoon of salt to a cup of water. It is an extremely comforting fluid and wan't do any harm. 

Gargle with Listerine. Another good gargling fluid is the mouthwash Listerine. Take it straight from th bottle (but don't share the bottle with anyone else) and do it frequently. 

Drink hot liquids. If you're not good at gargling, drink hot fluids, be it coffee, tea or hot lemonade. The act of swallowing will bathe most of the tissue involved with heat. These is something almost mysterious about moist heat. Microorganisms find it very noxious. 

Take an analgesic. Plain old aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can do wonders for sore throat pain. However, aspirin should not be given to children under the age of 21 because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal condition. Pregnant and nursing women should check with their doctor before taking any medication. 

Rest and take it easy. Common sense dictates staying in bed and resting when a sore throat's got you down. Taking it easy leaves more energy to fight the infection.  

Suck on hard candy. Hard candy and lozenges help the pain get better. The sugar itself helps as much as anything. It has a soothing effect. It also helps with tickly coughs. And you don't have to go with brand names. 

Keep your nasal passages clear. Doctors agree that two of the most common causes of sore throat pain a postnasal drip and a dry throat that results from sleeping with your mouth open when your nasal passages are blocked. 

Spray it. Analgesic spray such as Chloraseptic may be effective in temporarily relieving sore throat pain. The only problem is that the effect doesn't last long. You may have to spray several times an hour. However, the sprays won't harm you and may take the edge off of an extremely painful throat. 

Steam it out. One old fashioned remedy for a cold or sore throat is a steam tent - sitting with your face over a bowl of steaming hot water. Draping a towel over head serves to keep the steam in. The effectiveness of this remedy is more than an old wives' tale. There have been a couple of scientific studies done on steaming. They show that it may shorten the length of time it takes for the infection to go away. 

Keep the fluids coming. Patients are advised to drink as much liquid as possible - at least eight to ten eight-ounces glasses per day. Fluids lubricate the throat and prevent it from drying out. They also soothe and help prevent irritation. They may even help to shorten the course of the illness.

       What     do    good,    old fashioned                   general practitioners prescribe for a sore throat? Besides the tips described here, mixed with a little tincture  of time,   some advise       special         brews guaranteed  to  soothe  both body      and      soul.       The    following is a favorite of V.E. Mikkelson,   M.D.;    it    was extracted   from   a  book  of home   remedies    published more   than  130   years  ago.     He   says  he's   tried  it   and swears that it is surprisingly palatable        and       works wonders. 
 

Mix    all    the    ingredients together  in  a mug  and  sip slowly  (but  don't  let  it get cold).   Use    as     often    as     desired.