Itchy Dry Throat

Itchy throat is a commonly experienced symptom, specially during winter. The dryness and itchiness in throat is nothing, but inflammation that can be caused due to many reasons.

It usually occurs when the inner lining of the throat gets inflamed, causing constant cough and irritation. This can be painful and cause a lot of discomfort while talking and eating.

Apart from being exposed to dry air, there can be many underlying causes for the same. Taking or singing loudly for a long time can also cause throat itchiness. Other causes include:

➾ It is the most common symptom of sore throat, strep throat, common cold and flu.

➾ Similarly, types of allergies, like food allergy, smoke allergy, or allergy to industrial pollutants, are also major factors causing itchiness and dryness in throat.

➾ On the other hand, excess dryness in air and smoking (both active and passive), dehydration, tuberculosis, sinusitis, chronic cough, etc., can lead to this symptom.

You may already know of age-old remedies to treat dry, itchy throat and cough. These remedies are effective even today, and can be used to relieve the symptoms and discomfort.

Gargling with saltwater is considered as the best remedy. You can either go for ready-to-use gargling solutions available in the market or make your own at home. Add ½ teaspoon salt in 1 cup of lukewarm water and gargle once or twice in a day.

Lemon and honey are also effective natural remedies. Add 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon lemon juice to a glass of lukewarm water and drink it once a day.

Having lukewarm milk with 1 teaspoon of turmeric mixed into it, is also helpful in providing instant relief. It is more effective if taken at night.

You can also have green or herbal or ginger tea, either of them, once or twice a day to soothe your throat.

It is also very essential to keep the body hydrated to soothe irritation in the throat. You should drink 8 glasses of water every day to prevent dehydration and throat irritation.

Itchy and dry throat is usually not a symptom of any serious underlying medical condition. In most of the cases, this symptom subsides on using any of the aforementioned home remedies. But, if itchiness is accompanied by cough, medications like cough drops and cough syrups can be used. You can also use sprays and lozenges.

It is recommended to take medications only on consulting the doctor. In case the underlying cause is allergic, the doctor will help find out the exact allergen and also prescribe medicine to treat the discomfort. Painkillers can be used if you suffer from body ache.

Dryness can be prevented by using a humidifier and drinking clean and pure water. You should take proper precautions in winter to prevent throat infection and common cold. When suffering from this condition, it is wise to try to rest your throat as much as possible. You should talk less, avoid exposure to cold air, etc., to have instant relief.

All the above mentioned natural remedies are meant for temporary relief and should not be used as a replacement for medical treatment. If itchy dry throat persists for a longer time and is accompanied by other symptoms, you should consult the doctor immediately.

Disclaimer: The aforementioned story is meant only to provide information. It is not to be substituted for expert medical advice.