What’s the most dreadful thing about coming down with the flu?

That nasty raw, burning sore throat.

The runny nose is tolerable.

So is the sneezing.

The watery eyes won’t keep you up at night.

Joint pains and muscle aches often feel better if you wrap up in warm blankets and lie still.

But that miserable sore throat. It just doesn’t quit.

How do you find relief?

What do you do?

Best Homeopathic Remedies for Sore Throats

One of the best forms of relief is with a single, well-selected homeopathic remedy.

This is when you carefully match your symptoms.

Then you choose a remedy that fits. One that also aligns with the modalities.

What’s a modality?

This is a fancy way of saying what makes you feel better or worse.

For instance, your sore throat eases a little when you sip warm tea. So you want a remedy matching that situation.

Try to find at least three common characteristics (or keynotes) of a particular remedy. This greatly increases your chances of taking the right remedy.

Pay close attention to sensations. Is your throat burning? Does it feel as if there’s a fishbone lodged inside your throat? Is the pain worse on swallowing? does it extend to your ears?

Also, notice if the pain is only on one side. Location will guide your remedy selection.

Make sure to look inside your mouth. Is there a lot of redness?

Do you see the classic “strawberry tongue?”

These are more clues that help you narrow down remedy selection.

In addition, look for “concomitants” or associated symptoms.

For instance, if you have a sore throat and diarrhea you want a remedy that covers both states.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for help.

Because the earlier you treat something with the right remedy, the better the outcome.

This is especially important if you wish to avoid antibiotics.

Here are some tips on the limits of home prescribing and when to call a homeopath.

In the case of strep you will need prompt medical attention if homeopathy isn’t helping.

Best Homeopathic Remedies To Help Sore Throats

There are more than 100 remedies listed in my homeopathic Repertory for throat pain.

Conceivably, any of them could help. If they fit your condition.

But it’s more likely you’ll use a relatively small group of common sore throat remedies.

Below is a partial list of top sore throat remedies to consider.

Everything written here is for informational purposes only and should not be regarded as medical advice.

• Ferrum Phosphoricum – This is my favorite sore throat remedy. Why do I like it so much? Because it often calms an angry throat fast. Taken early (within the first few hours) a cold or flu may not even develop. This is indicated for nondescript sore throats. This means they have so standout symptoms and no concomitants. You may even be at the stage where you think you’re coming down with something but you’re not sure. Ferrum Phos is an amazing remedy and you can read more about it here.
• Belladonna – Consider this when the sore throat comes on suddenly. You put your child down for a nap. He’s perfectly healthy. But he wakes with a high fever and red face. He’s hot to the touch. His throat and skin are very dry. If you look inside the mouth it’s fiery red too. You may see the classic “strawberry tongue.” It’s dark red just like the fruit, sprinkled with what looks like little seeds. There’s usually no appetite. But the child may want something very sour, like lemons.
• Aconite – Like Belladonna, sore throats can come on rapidly. Often because the person was exposed to cold, dry winds. Or was chilled. An Aconite state can also develop after an emotional shock or a fright, such as seeing a bad accident. There may be a high, dry fever. The throat may burn. Or it may feel prickly. The person may have a high fever, yet still feel cold when you touch him. He may have a dry cough, along with restlessness and fear. There is often great thirst, especially for cold drinks.
• Arsenicum – This can look like Aconite, with the restlessness and fear. Arsenicum patients are chilly and want to be covered up. They may be thirsty but only for sips of liquid at a time. They may describe the pain as “burning.” Even though they are sick Arsenicum patients often want to be on the move, and will often be doing something around the house as you’re trying to take their case.
• Lachesis – Consider this if the pain is located on the left side. Morning is generally when they feel the worst. The throat is very painful and aggravated by warm drinks, which they probably don’t want anyway. Because they prefer cold. Paradoxically solid foods may temporarily help the pain. The person may feel a lump in their throat. The throat may look purple.
• Lycopodium – Think of this remedy for right-sided pain. Or if pain starts on the right and moves to the left. Lycopodium is generally worse from 4 to 8 pm. The person may also be irritable and suffer from indigestion. Warm drinks sooth the pain.
• Phytolacca – This is another common sore throat remedy. The pain is generally right sided and worse from warmth or warm drinks. Pain may extend to the ear when swallowing. Often Phytolacca patients have no appetite. Or they may have a hunger that eating doesn’t satisfy. They are generally thirsty.
• Hepar Sulph – This is a major sore throat remedy. A common sensation is a fish bone or something sharp is stuck in the throat. The person is generally very chilly and feels worse from anything cold. There’s a keynote of wanting to drink something warm. Warm drinks may ease the pain. Like Phytolacca the pain can also extend to the ear when swallowing. The pain is worse with swallowing.
• Mercury – The sore throat is typically very severe and, like Hepar Sulph , has progressed beyond the initial stages. You may notice excess saliva and foul breath. A person who needs Hepar Sulph is often chilly. Mercury runs hot and cold. One minute they’re freezing and wrapped in a blanket. The next minute they’re trying to cool themselves. This is why they’re often described as a human thermometer. You may notice the neck glands are enlarged.

This is a partial list of what might help mitigate a sore throat. You may also want to read about the top homeopathic remedies for the flu, because there are a lot of overlapping choices.