We’ve been on the “fever with sore throat” train in our house. First my son, then my daughter a week later. Thankfully, there are many homeopathic remedies for sore throats. I used all but one of these remedies between the my two kids at different stages of their symptoms. Their symptoms shared some similarities and some striking differences that led me to give the same homeopathic remedy to both at one stage of their dis-ease and then different remedies to each at another stage.
Note that the list of remedies I share here is nowhere near exhaustive, but it does include those that most frequently come up for an individual with symptoms from tonsillitis, strep throat, and sore throats in general.
You’ll notice that there are similarities across some remedies, like a sensation of a lump in the throat or pain that extends to the ears on swallowing. To differentiate between remedies, you may need to look more at the modalities: the things that make the person (or the person’s throat) feel worse or better.
For example: Do cold drinks make it feel better or worse? Is swallowing solids better than swallowing saliva?
It’s often the striking or strange symptoms, like pain at the root of the tongue when sticking out the tongue, that guide you to the right remedy.
Homeopathic Remedies for Sore Throats
Belladonna
Throat is scarlet red
Throat feels constricted, with burning pain
Swollen tonsils
Sudden and violent onset (not gradual)
Dry heat, high fever with the sore throat
Worse right side
Worse swallowing liquids
There may be the unique desire for lemons or lemonade
Mercurious Solubilis
Dryness and soreness of the throat with excessive salivation
Burning in throat as from hot vapor; raw and red
Tonsils swollen and ulcerated
Swollen glands
Stitching pains shoot into the ear or into the neck on swallowing
Constant desire to swallow
Offensive breath
Worse right side, at night
Phytolacca
Sensation of a lump in throat, like a hot ball, causing continuous desire to swallow
Pain shoots from throat into ears on swallowing
Tonsils have a swollen, dark red appearance
Throat feels hot, dry, rough
Pain at the root of the tongue when swallowing or sticking tongue out
Sore throat accompanied by aching in back and limbs and swollen glands in the neck
Worse warm drinks, better cold drinks
Worse swallowing saliva, better swallowing solids
Worse right side
Hepar Sulph
Sore throat that comes on after exposure to cold
Sensation of a stick or splinter or fishbone in the throat or lump in the throat
Swollen tonsils, suppurative (pus)
Better warm drinks, warm compresses
Worse left side
Very sensitive to external stimuli, especially cold
VERY chilly in general
Lachesis
Sensation of lump in throat, seems to recede/improve on swallowing, but returns
Purplish color to the throat and tonsils
Throat pain radiates to ears when swallowing (more likely left ear)
Worse left side or starts on left and goes to right
Worse after sleep (sleeps into an aggravation)
Worse swallowing saliva, better swallowing solids
Worse warm drinks; better cold drinks
Averse to anything around the neck or throat
P.S. I show 30C and 200C in this picture simply because they are the first potencies of these remedies I picked up for the photo. You may choose either potency depending on the intensity of symptoms and sensitivity of the person.
If you’d like to learn more about selecting remedy, potency, and dose for acute concerns, check out my online course on the topic. It’s 90-minutes that will build your skill and confidence so that you can feel more empowered to use homeopathy at home.
