Traditional treatment with natural ingredients: will beets with vinegar help with sore throats and how to use them correctly
Medicinal plants grow right in our gardens. One of them is beet, which is used to treat many diseases, including sore throat. Is this remedy really effective? Does it have any contraindications and do practitioners approve of this method of treatment? You will receive detailed answers to these questions in our article.
Beetroot with vinegar for gargling
Folk remedies have been used for centuries in the treatment of tonsillitis. However, it is important to understand that sore throat is treated exclusively with procedures and medications prescribed by a doctor. Do not blindly trust reviews about the effectiveness of rinses alone. Throat sanitation is only an additional method of action to the main therapy.
The principle of action in the fight against sore throat
Gargling is one of the most effective ways to treat a sore throat. Tonsillitis, regardless of the nature of its manifestation, requires rinsing the mouth and throat with pharmaceutical agents.
You can supplement them traditional methods using beets.
The beneficial properties of beets are due to its rich chemical composition. It includes sucrose, fructose, glucose.
Among the mineral salts it is worth highlighting:
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- calcium;
- iron;
- phosphorus;
- zinc;
- manganese;
- cobalt.
The beneficial properties of the root vegetable are enhanced by malic, citric, oxalic, tartaric acid and vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, U, P, PP, and carotene.
The characteristics of beets are improved by the presence in its composition of iodine, pantothenic, folic and oleanolic acids, as well as at least a dozen different amino acids, including lysine, valine, arginine and histidine.
The unique properties of beet juice strengthen the body and thereby help fight infection, as well as:
- stop the inflammatory process;
- reduce pain;
- eliminate swelling and hyperemia of the throat;
- increase local immunity;
- saturate the body with useful macro- and micronutrients;
- strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve local blood circulation;
- help flush out purulent plugs.
Acetic acid enhances the therapeutic effect of beets. The main effect of vinegar is antimicrobial, which is why beets with vinegar for sore throats are so popular among the population.
The benefits and harms of this treatment
Throat sanitization with vinegar and beet juice is used for ARVI and other diseases accompanied by inflammation in the throat. The use of this method is due to the availability and safety of the components used.
The advantages of rinsing include the hypoallergenic nature of the product - it is well tolerated and does not cause discomfort. The benefits of the medicine are manifested in moisturizing the mucous membrane, washing out purulent exudate and preventing the appearance of tonsillitis plugs.
The benefits of the folk remedy for chronic tonsillitis, when there is a decrease in immunity rather than re-infection, are also significantly expressed.
With the help of beets and vinegar it is impossible to destroy the causative agent of the disease, because... antimicrobial and antiseptic effect is weak.Therefore, negative consequences should be expected only if folk remedies are used as monotherapy.
Important! Treatment of tonsillitis and other infectious diseases of the throat should be etiotropic, that is, aimed at eliminating the causes.
Recipes with beets for gargling
In addition to the ease of preparing medicinal mixtures, the various options for their use are also captivating: inhalations, rinses, compresses. The general condition of the patient and the type of disease determine further treatment tactics.
Preparing juice and beet broth
Beetroot juice can be used as a stand-alone sanitizer. For cooking, choose root vegetables that are bright reddish in color and, if possible, elongated in shape.
Preparation:
- Wash the vegetable, remove the tops, cut off ¼ of the top.
- Grate and strain through cheesecloth or grind in a blender.
- Pour the juice into a glass container and let it brew for 2 hours.
- During this time, white foam will form on the surface of the juice; it must be removed.
In its pure form, the juice should be taken with caution, gradually increasing the dose (start with 50 g). You can dilute the juice with water in a 1:1 ratio.
Beetroot broth is used for inhalation and rinsing. Inhaling beneficial steam helps reduce pain, eliminates soreness and discomfort when swallowing.
Algorithm of actions:
- Wash the root vegetables thoroughly and boil until tender.
- Breathe over the steam for at least 10 minutes.
- If desired, you can add a few drops of essential oil.
With systematic rinsing, infiltrates are reabsorbed and inflamed tissues heal.To prepare a decoction for rinsing, you need to rinse 200-300 g of vegetables, peel and boil until tender. Let cool to 20°C and add 1 tsp. propolis per 1 liter of decoction.
For reference. Beetroot juice is an excellent base for making nasal drops. The product is not addictive and does not injure the mucous membrane. For adults, use beet juice concentrate; for children, dilute it with water 1:2.
Recipe for sore throat from beets and apple cider vinegar
A simple but effective recipe. Grate a medium-sized root vegetable and squeeze out the juice. Add 1 tbsp. l. apple cider vinegar, mix and leave in a dark place for 3-4 hours. Then strain. The maximum rate of rinsing is 3 times a day. Not suitable for treatment of children under 10 years of age.
Recipe for beetroot, honey and cranberry tincture
For this recipe, freshly prepared beet and cranberry juice are mixed in equal proportions. Add ½ part boiled water and the same amount of honey. Mix thoroughly and use 5-7 times a day.
Recipes for children
There are no recipes specifically for children. Treatment options are used as for adults, only in a reduced dosage and concentration of beet juice. Before starting treatment, you should consult your pediatrician. Procedures begin only in the absence of individual intolerance and other contraindications.
Children over 5 years old can gargle on their own, under parental supervision. The medicinal mixture is diluted in equal proportions with water.
For young children, it is more convenient to process the tonsils using a regular syringe (without a needle). If a small child does not tolerate the rinsing procedure well, it can be replaced by drinking plenty of water, the effect will be the same.
Treatment of young children (under 3 years old) with beets is limited exclusively to compresses; other methods are undesirable, since side effects may occur due to their early age. After 3 years, you can use all methods of taking beets or beet broth.
Gargling procedure
It is impossible to cure a sore throat with rinsing alone, but you can increase the effectiveness of the procedure by following the rules for its implementation:
- Rinse 30 minutes before/after meals.
- The head is thrown back as much as possible; while rinsing, pronounce a prolonged sound “A”.
- Take one sip of liquid into your mouth.
- It is important to monitor your breathing, avoiding getting into the “wrong throat.”
- The duration of rinsing is 4-5 minutes, the frequency is up to 6 times a day.
- Rinse solutions should be as fresh and warm as possible.
With the help of local treatment, you can eliminate the symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition. Antibiotics are needed to eliminate the infection.
How to perform inhalations
The root vegetable decoction can be inhaled in two ways: over a saucepan or through a kettle. The second method is more convenient to use. Roll up a funnel made of thick paper, insert it into the spout of the kettle and begin to inhale the steam.
You should not breathe over boiling water, as this can lead to burns to the respiratory tract. After the water boils, wait 5-10 minutes.
Attention! At elevated body temperatures, inhalation can be harmful.
For diseases of the middle respiratory tract (throat, larynx), inhalation and exhalation are done through the mouth. You should breathe calmly as usual.
The procedure is carried out an hour and a half after eating.After inhalation, it is forbidden to eat or drink for 30-40 minutes; it is also not recommended to talk or go outside.
Compress
You can start using applications on the throat only if there are no contraindications and with the permission of a doctor. A therapeutic bandage can cause complications at high temperatures, so if low-grade fever increases, the procedure cannot be performed.
To apply the compress you will need:
- Prepare the base: roll up gauze or cotton fabric in several layers.
- Soak the base with a medicinal solution and apply a compress to the affected area.
- Cover the top of the applique with polyethylene.
- Insulate the compress with a woolen scarf or towel.
Avoid applying a compress to the area of the thyroid gland and perimaxillary lymph nodes. Keep the medicinal application for 1 to 3 hours.
Important! This method of treatment is prohibited for allergic rashes and dermatitis, cancer, pathologies of the cardiovascular system, fever and thrombophlebitis.
To prepare the medicinal mixture, grate the root vegetable and squeeze. The liquid is removed or used for rinsing, and the cake is wrapped in gauze. Adding onions will enhance the effectiveness of the compress.
Contraindications to beetroot treatment for sore throat
The use of beets, vinegar and other components may be accompanied by an irritating effect on the throat mucosa. In addition, ingestion of solutions with such additives is unsafe for patients:
- with individual intolerance;
- stomatitis;
- gastritis with high acidity;
- urolithiasis;
- severe form of diabetes mellitus;
- other diseases of the oral cavity.
Use with caution to treat children before they reach the age of six.
Is it possible for pregnant and lactating women
Internal intake of beets during pregnancy and breastfeeding is undesirable. Substances contained in the root vegetable can be misperceived by the body against the background of hormonal imbalances and lead to an allergic reaction in both mother and child.
With other methods of treating beets, the period of pregnancy and lactation does not cause any prohibitions. Provided you are feeling satisfactorily at the time of the procedure.
Treatment effectiveness and specialist recommendations
Unreasonable preference for local treatment can lead to complications. The antimicrobial and antiseptic effect of beets is inferior to most pharmacological agents. The opinions of experts on this issue are clear: beet juice cannot be an alternative to medications in the treatment of tonsillitis.
As an auxiliary therapy, for mild or chronic forms of the disease, doctors do not prohibit the use of a folk remedy, but only after assessing the patient’s condition.
Read also:
How to breathe over potatoes correctly when you have sinusitis and is it possible to do it?
Beetroot juice for sinusitis: choose a recipe and use it correctly.
We save children from a runny nose: nasal drops from onion juice.
Conclusion
Treatment of sore throat with beets can be used as an addition to conservative therapy. Do not neglect consulting a specialist: the unconventional method has a number of contraindications. It is important to understand that traditional medicine is not effective in all cases. In some cases, self-treatment causes complications.
To moisturize the mucous membrane, to wash out purulent foci and prevent the formation of crusts, gargling with beetroot solution is an effective procedure, but this remedy will not help in the fight against the causative agent of the disease.
But for me, Tonsilotren tablets usually help relieve pain and swelling. Plus, they help improve immunity. I’ll definitely try the recipe with beet juice and vinegar. Thank you.