The short answer
Warm drinks, honey, salt water gargling and ordinary painkillers. Honey has reasonable evidence behind it for cough and throat symptoms, which is more than most remedies can claim.
- Honey in warm water or tea. It coats the throat and has genuine evidence for easing cough, which puts it ahead of most over-the-counter cough syrups.
- Salt water gargle: half a teaspoon in a glass of warm water. Cheap, harmless and moderately helpful.
- Ordinary painkillers at the recommended dose, which do more than most people expect for throat pain.
- Keep drinking. Dry throats hurt more.
- Most sore throats are viral and settle within a week without anything at all.
What will ruin it
Never give honey to a child under one year old. It can cause infant botulism. And see a doctor for a sore throat with a very high temperature, difficulty swallowing or breathing, a rash, or one that is getting worse after a week.
Why it works
Honey is viscous and mildly antibacterial, and the coating effect is the part with the best evidence. Salt water reduces swelling by drawing fluid out of inflamed tissue.
This is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace a GP, a pharmacist or NHS 111. Call 999 in an emergency. Full disclaimer.