A dry
throat can have a variety of causes. It is caused, for example, by
illnesses, overloading of the vocal cords, or it is noticeable due to a lack of
fluids or dry air. Furthermore, the symptoms can also be the result of
psychological stress. In addition to conventional medical measures, a
variety of natural home remedies can be considered for treatment. Proven
methods include gargling with sage tea, oil pulling or soothing neck wraps with
quark.
Causes of a dry throat
The so-called dry throat is often the first symptom of an impending
cold. In addition, there is burning, scratching and a strong feeling of thirst . The mucous
membranes in the throat and / or pharynx are inflamed, resulting in dryness.
Many people are affected, especially in the cold season. This is
triggered by the heated rooms, which often have a dry climate and the humidity
is too low. In many cases, this is also caused by artificially
air-conditioned rooms through air-conditioning systems.
People who have to talk a lot (for example teachers or lecturers) and as
a result the vocal cords are repeatedly overused, usually know the feeling of a
dry throat. This is intensified, especially in the colder months of the
year, by heating air in the rooms.
In old age, when more and more chronic diseases occur, medication is
taken and the appetite also decreases and fluid intake decreases, the mucous
membranes in the mouth and throat are often drier.
The symptoms often occur in connection with a lump in the throat (globus feeling). Patients
have the feeling that there is a foreign body in the throat that cannot be
removed by swallowing or clearing their throat. Drinking and eating only
temporarily improves the situation.
Cause sore throat
An inflammation in the area of the throat, called pharyngitis in
technical terms, can spread and subsequently lead to tracheitis (inflammation
of the windpipe) and possibly even laryngitis (inflammation of the
larynx). With these clinical pictures, in addition to other symptoms, a
dry feeling in the throat is reported again and again. Here, too, the
inflammatory stimulus is the cause of the dryness.
In the case of chronic pharyngitis (pharyngitis chronica) that has
persisted for more than three months, those affected also suffer from a dry
throat, accompanied by constant throat clearing and dry cough . This chronic illness is triggered by
various stimuli such as nicotine, alcohol, dust or chemicals. In radiation
therapy, as used in cancer treatment, one of the many side effects is chronic
pharyngitis with a dry throat.
Problems with breathing and saliva production
Constant mouth breathing, especially at night, triggered by obstructed
nasal breathing also leads to a dry feeling in the throat and pharynx. The
causes of the breathing difficulties include, for example, inflammatory
swelling, growth of the tonsils or a curved nasal septum.
This can be accompaned by symptoms such as dry mouth, swallowing problems ,
burning sensation on the tongue or mouth , cracked
lips, bad breath and a metallic taste in the
mouth. In this case, problems with the salivary glands or saliva
production are often cited as causes.
Hormonal changes and psychological stress
Women who are in the climacteric (menopause) suffer more or less from
dry mucous membranes, which also affects the area of the nasopharynx. As
a result, a dry throat often occurs in this phase of life. The lack of
estrogen is responsible, because the hormone normally contains water in the
body and thus also supplies the mucous membranes. If the production of
estrogen decreases, drought is the result.
The psyche has a great influence on the human body. Psychological
problems and stress can also lead to a
feeling of dryness in the throat, often in connection with a feeling of
lumpiness.
Dry throat from illness
Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease, is known to attack salivary
and lacrimal glands, resulting in dry mucous membranes. But other diseases
such as diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's thyroid disease and
AIDS can also lead to the symptoms.
Treatment of dry throat
Of course, the treatment of the cause is in the foreground. If the
person concerned has been suffering from a dry throat for a longer period of
time, it is necessary to see a doctor. The main focus is on the therapy of
any underlying disease.
Expectorants are administered to loosen any stuck
mucus. Inhalations with salt work against inflammatory swellings and
moisten the dry mucous membranes. Oily drops in the nose that run down the
throat also provide relief.
If you have thyroid problems, consider whether you may need to take
iodine. However, this should never be decided on one's own initiative,
instead a doctor should be consulted.
Chronic inflammation of the throat, which is associated with a dry
throat and occurs as a result of radiation, is often treated with the
administration of synthetic saliva.
If breathing through the mouth due to a bent nasal septum is the cause
of the constantly dry throat, surgery can also be considered.
Natural medicine and home remedies for a dry throat
In addition to conventional medical treatment, there are a number of
natural remedies available to alleviate the symptoms. If you have a dry
throat, make sure you drink enough fluids. If the dryness occurs in
connection with an infection, in addition to drug therapy, sucking throat
lozenges and gargling regularly help. Sage tea or special gargle
solutions, which have an anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effect, are
suitable for this. Neck wraps with quark, lemon or salt support healing.
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Instructions
for quark wraps:
- Coat a wet linen or cotton cloth thickly with curd
- Place the cloth with the curd side on the skin
- Wrap a woolen scarf over it
- Let the overlay work for several hours (preferably overnight)
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Milk with honey helps
against the symptoms, as do warm soups or drinking herbal tea. Thyme and
sage are the main ingredients, as they have a positive effect on the mucous membrane in the throat.
If a sore throat is the cause of the discomfort, inhalations with
chamomile, oregano and thyme have proven effective. These have
anti-inflammatory and soothing effects.
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Soothing inhalation with medicinal herbs:
- Mix 20 g each of chamomile
blossoms, thyme and oregano together
- Put 2 tablespoon of the mixture
in a heatproof bowl
- Pour a liter of boiling water
over the herbs
- Hold your head over the bowl
- The head, the vessel and the
upper body are covered with a towel so that the steam cannot escape
- Inhale the vapors alternately
through your mouth and nose
- Inhale twice a day for about
eight to ten minutes each time
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