When a sore throat hits, I used to live on cough drops until the bag was empty and my stomach was annoyed at me. Turns out the stuff already in my kitchen does a better job, and it costs nothing.

Gargle with warm salt water

This is the one that sounds like grandma advice and actually works. Mix half a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and gargle for thirty seconds a few times a day. The salt draws out fluid from the swollen tissue and loosens mucus. It is the cheapest, fastest relief I know.

Honey and warm liquids

• Honey coats the throat and calms the scratchiness. Stir a spoonful into warm tea.
• Warm broth or tea soothes more than cold drinks do when your throat is raw.
• Steam from a hot shower loosens things up and adds moisture to dry air.

A few things I have learned: avoid anything too acidic, skip the alcohol and caffeine, and drink water all day so your throat does not dry out. A humidifier in the bedroom helps overnight, especially in winter when the air is bone dry.

Most sore throats clear up on their own in a few days. If you have a fever, trouble swallowing, or it drags on past a week, that is the point to see a doctor, not another bag of lozenges.