09/28/2026
How To Treat a Nagging Sore Throat with TCM
We have all experienced a sore throat before. That painful, dry, or scratchy feeling in the throat after belting your heart out after a karaoke session or simply from excessive talking. It is a common symptom that can result from a variety of causes and may be accompanied by other symptoms depending on its cause.
Causes for Sore Throat
A sore throat can result from various factors, including:
Viral infections: Examples include the common cold, influenza, mononucleosis, Covid-19.
Bacterial infections: Streptococcal infection (strep throat), Tonsillitis, Diphtheria (rare).
Allergies: Reaction to allergens like pollen, dust, or pet dander can cause a sore throat and Post-nasal drip.
Environmental factors: Dry air, pollution, or smoking can irritate the throat.
Irritants: Exposure to chemicals or eating spicy foods.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Acid from the stomach can travel up the esophagus and cause throat irritation.
Strain: Overuse of the voice through yelling or prolonged talking.
Other Medical Conditions: Conditions such as HIV, tumors or thyroiditis can also cause chronic sore throat.
What are the Characteristics of a Sore throat?
Characteristics of a sore throat include:
Characteristics of sore throat symptoms | Common TCM
Pain or scratchiness in the throat or pain that worsens with swallowing or talking.
Dry throat or hoarse or muffled voice.
Swollen, red tonsils or white patches or pus on the tonsils.
Fever, cough, runny nose etc.
Self-Help and prevention tips
Below are some self-care and lifestyle changes that can help to reduce the duration of recovery and minimise a recurrence of a sore throat:
Home care: Bed rest and staying hydrated can help your immune system fight off pathogens in your body thereby aiding in recovery. Warm liquids like ginger tea with honey could provide useful natural anti-inflammatory compounds that can alleviate symptoms of inflammation in the throat.
Medications: Pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be helpful for reducing the pain in the throat. Throat lozenges can help soothe an irritated throat and decongest phlegm.
Prevention tips: Avoid close contact with people who are ill or wear a mask in crowded areas. Avoid sharing food, drinks and utensils. Maintain good hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap and water. Stay hydrated especially if your occupation requires you to use your voice often.
TCM Approaches for Managing a Sore throat
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a sore throat as a disease would most likely resemble 喉痹 (Hou Bi) although symptomatically it can be found in other conditions like 咳嗽(Ke Sou) 感冒(Gan Mao) 胃痛(Wei Tong) 嘈杂(Cao Za) etc. Common External Pathogens that can cause a sore throat would include Wind, Heat, Fire, Phlegm, Cold. Internal Pathogens that cause a sore throat would include Heat, Fire, Phlegm. Whether it is external or internal, TCM treatment would involve clearing pathogens and rebalancing Yin and Yang within the body to achieve harmony.
Herbal
TCM Treatment and Herbal Medicine for Sore Throat | Common TCM
Common herbs that are effective at relieving sore throat are 连翘(Lian Qiao) 桔梗(Jie Geng) 薄荷(Bo He) as used in a well-known formula for sore throat called 响声破笛丸 (Xiang Sheng Po Di Pills). Post-Covid, one can often find 连花清瘟胶囊 (Lian Hua Qing Wen Capsules - henceforth referred to as LHQW) stocked up in TCM medical halls. LHQW is not only a widely-used medicine for the management of early upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) but also an effective one for relieving one of an acute episode of sore throat due to URTIs[1]. Its key components like 金银花(Jin Yin Hua), 连翘(Lian Qiao), 板蓝根(Ban Lan Gen), 甘草(Gan Cao) are responsible for providing it with anti-inflammation effects on the throat.
Acupuncture and Blood-letting therapy
You can consider getting acupuncture as part of your treatment. A meta-analysis of the efficacy of acupuncture on acute pharynx infections showed that acupuncture was found to be useful in alleviating sore throat symptoms, reducing sore throat duration, and improving immune inflammation index[2]. Common acupuncture points useful for the management of sore throat include 曲池(Qu Chi), 列缺(Lie Que), 内庭(Nei Ting) and 孔最(Kong Zui) etc.
In addition to acupuncture, blood-letting therapy is also often used to help reduce the pain and discomfort in the throat. Blood-letting involves puncturing the skin using disposable lancets on certain acupoints to release small amounts of blood to purge Pathogenic Heat. This act gives the body a shortcut for the excess heat to leave the body thereby quickly relieving symptoms of a sore throat. Common acupoints where the puncture are done include 少商(Shao Shang)，商阳(Shang Yang) and 厉兑(Li Dui).The amount of blood extracted is usually 3ml or less and has little impact on the day-to-day function of the body.
How Many Sessions Do I Need?
The TCM treatment for acute sore throat is fast, effective and long lasting. In most cases, it can be resolved within the first or second session.
