Essential Oils for a Sore Throat
A sore throat is a common condition that can be caused by a number of different things. Most often, a sore throat, known medically as pharyngitis, is the result of a viral infection, such as the common cold or flu. In these cases, the sore throat is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as a runny nose, fever, or cough (1). In general, a sore throat is characterized by pain or discomfort when swallowing. Other symptoms may include a scratchy feeling in the throat, swollen glands, and hoarseness.
A sore throat can also be caused by bacterial infections (2), best treated with antibiotics; allergies due to pollen or pets (3); environmental irritants such as dust (4); and even stomach acid (5). The best way to treat these causes of a sore throat is to reduce your exposure to the irritant or, in the case of stomach acid, to reduce the cause of it.
However, there are many different essential oils that can be used, indirectly, to treat a sore throat. If the sore throat accompanies a cold or cough, it may be worth using one of the essential oils that are effective treatments for congestion, coughs and colds. One of these is eucalyptus. However, try and get essential oil extracted from the fruit of the eucalyptus rather than the leaves. This is because it has been shown to be more effective, especially for sore throats. It is also more effective than antibiotics at killing the bacteria that can cause particular painful sore throat infections, called “strep throat”. (6).
Like eucalyptus, peppermint essential oil has also been found to be effective at killing the strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. However, on top of that, it can also kill viral and fungal infections (7). Peppermint essential oil is best inhaled with a few drops in steaming water or in a diffuser. Using it this way is particularly effective at easing coughs, which often lead to a sore throat. Peppermint essential oil can be consumed in small amounts and is actually good for some conditions, such as indigestion. However, too much can cause side effects and should definitely not be given to children (8).
For treating a sore throat, peppermint is great to have in your medicine cabinet, in the form of over-the-counter sore throat medications such as mouth wash and lozenges. That way, it will soothe your sore throat, kill the microbes, and you can be sure it is safe.
If your sore throat accompanies a cold, the medical advice is to drink plenty of fluids (9), so it is important you make sure every drop of those fluids counts. It is, therefore, worth mentioning that peppermint tea, either from store-bought tea bags or home-grown peppermint leaves, is another great way to soothe a sore throat and make every drop of fluid intake count (10).
Ginger has many health benefits that are due to the active ingredient it contains called gingerol. Gingerol is anti-inflammatory, which means it can help to reduce the swelling that accompanies a sore throat. It also has analgesic capabilities, meaning it can reduce pain. Ginger essential oil is extracted from the roots of the plant Zingiber officinale. The most effective oil is taken when the plant has matured for approximately 9 months (11).
Gingerol has been shown to kill the bacteria that can cause a sore throat, known as pharyngitis. However, this has only been in a laboratory. There is no scientific evidence that ginger essential oil can actually cure or ease a sore throat in humans (12). That being said, research from last year (2021) found that ginger extract when combined with cinnamon extract at a concentration of 5%:40% can kill staphylococcus aureus. This is the strain of bacteria that causes sore throats. Although, this study was again conducted in a laboratory, it is the closest thing to scientific evidence regarding the ability of ginger essential oil to ease a sore throat (13). If you have a sore throat and nothing else is helping, it is worth giving ginger essential oil a try. However, drinking ginger tea or eating ginger, both of which will contain gingerol, is another option.
Garlic is well known as having antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial and antiseptic properties. However, this refers specifically to allicin, the active ingredient in the garlic bulb (14). Garlic essential oil also has antimicrobial properties, especially with regard to staphylococcus aureus, the microbes that cause sore throats (15). On the face of it, this means garlic essential oil could be used to cure a sore throat. Unfortunately, the bad news is that while garlic is classed as a food and is edible, the essential oil can cause nausea or vomiting, a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, and even stomach ulcers. Eating excessive amounts of garlic essential oil has also been linked to sight loss and liver and kidney damage (14). It is, therefore, not worth the risk of taking garlic essential oil internally to treat a sore throat.
The oil could be diluted in a carrier oil to reduce the risk of a reaction, and it is probably better off applied topically than taken internally. Although, remember, it is not the most pleasant odour! There are many other ways to treat a sore throat without the unpleasant odour and with no side effects. However, if you like the idea of benefitting from the antimicrobial properties of garlic, you could consider taking garlic tablets on a daily basis. Those that contain the active ingredient allicin can help to prevent coughs, colds, sore throats and many other illnesses and diseases in the first place (16).
While essential oils have their place in treating congestion, coughs and colds, there is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of essential oils to specifically help soothe or cure the pain of a sore throat. Having said that, if you have a sore throat, eucalyptus and peppermint are effective in over the counter medications. Ginger and garlic can be eaten. Or you can take garlic tablets that contain allicin to help you fight the bugs that cause the sore throat in the first place. Whichever you choose, get well soon.