This all natural remedy to knock out a sore throat in no time is probably in the top 10 of resources I use and pass on to others. It’s crazy nice to have something that will give you relief FAST. And, of course, without side effects or then having to heal from whatever medication you put in your system.

This has worked for regular (whatever that is) sore throats and even strep throat, which you know, if you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to suffer through, is so nastily painful.

Here’s the recipe:

• 16 ounces of filtered water
• 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Mix all the above together into either a glass of cool water or a mug of warm water. Stir well. You will need to keep giving this concoction a stir fairly often because the cayenne pepper doesn’t tend to stay mixed. And you don’t want a gulp of cayenne pepper. Though, I have to add: One time I did not stir before I drank more. (Yeah, who says I ever listen to my own self? 🙂 ) And, whoa, did that burn! But, you know what? My throat was 100 percent better in that instant. Right then. No more pain. So there’s something to it, but I don’t think I’d repeat it … or recommend it.

Additional notes:

One: Buy apple cider vinegar that has the “mother” in it. That will look like stringy strands, usually on the bottom until you shake the bottle up. This is the vinegar that is health giving, not the white one that’s been stripped of all things good or any other brand passing itself off as apple cider vinegar but missing this critical part. I generally purchase Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.

Two: Raw honey is best. And better not to heat it much as you take away the benefit of it being raw. Or, second, another good honey. Organic. Pure. Actual honey. Not honey in a bear. While that bear is gosh darn cute, he only brings cuteness, not healthiness. 

If you are just beginning to feel the slightest hint of a sore throat — or even, sometimes, a cough — you can first try gargling with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. No, it doesn’t taste great, that’s for sure. But it works a lot of the time. Better a few icky gargles vs. days of being ill. Gargle, spit, by the way. You’re pulling out things making you ill; you don’t want to swallow that stuff down.