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There are numerous home remedies for sore throats, some more effective or backed by medicine. Probably if you’re one of those who initially opt for such alternatives, you’re sure to try gargling with salt, or drinking water with honey and lemon, among others. Now, a doctor at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston has shared another lesser-known remedy for a sore throat.
Dr. Linda Yancey, a specialist in infectious diseases, explained the benefits of pickles when it comes to relieving a sore throat. Yes, in recent months pickles are even in the soup and, according to this doctor, they may even have medicinal properties.
Although at first glance it may seem totally out of context, according to Yancey, the brine in pickles has medicinal properties. “Whenever you have a solution that is more concentrated than the liquid in our tissues, such as salt or sugar, it reduces inflammation by extracting the water,” the doctor explained in Well + Good. However, at the medical level, these positive effects have not been demonstrated, beyond what is a home remedy, “so there are no official recommendations,” stressed Yancey herself.
Pickled gherkins have a high sodium content, so it could be the enhancer of such alleged calming effects. But just like traditional home remedies like a spoonful of honey or a very sweet tea, which “also work well”. Have you ever heard of pickles as a remedy to soothe a sore throat?