Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffWhile a number of alternative treatments are commonly used to treat sore throat, evidence is limited about what works and what doesn't. Check with your doctor before using any herbal remedies, as they can interact with prescription medications and may not be safe for children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions.
Herbal or alternative products for sore throat are often packaged as teas, sprays or lozenges. Common alternative remedies include:
- Slippery elm
- Serrapeptase, or silkworm enzyme
- Sage
- Andrographis
- Licorice root
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- Andrographis. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Serrapeptase. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Licorice. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Slippery elm. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Sage. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Reye syndrome. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Reye-Syndrome.aspx. Accessed Aug. 12, 2010.

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