Why do people recommend hot tea or warm soup for a sore throat?
In: Other
My doctor told me they actually don’t. They might relieve for a short time but the heat in fact strengthens the inflammation. Best to drink colder drinks, just like you need to eat ice cream after getting your tonsels removed. Cold will reduce swelling/inflammation and has a ~~numbifying~~ numbing effect.
(this info could be wrong, I’m just repeating what my GP told me)
Part of the symptoms of a sore throat often include excess mucus causing irritation to the inflamed site.
Warm things can make this feel better by helping bring mucus to a temperature where it no longer lingers at the inflamed site agitating it and slides down further to be ingested or eliminated.
This can give the feeling of relief.
Additionally substances like soup can be filled with nutrition to combat the infection and give your body strength helping you recover faster.
Two things:
1) The warmth promotes bloodflow (dilates blood vessels) to the tissues in the throat.
2) Warm liquids appear to help move dead cells and phlegm out of the throat efficiently.
However, exclusively warm liquids might not be helpful for long-term soothing. Cool liquids/substances might numb the throat, and soothe tissues. Alternating cold/warm treatment tends to work.
Latest Answers