How to Cure a Sore Throat in 3 Days—Even If You Drink and Smoke Regularly

My brother is an alcoholic and a regular smoker, but his job is physically demanding. He works as a glass installer, which gives him plenty of exercise. He can’t seem to give up his vices. This week, he started feeling unwell. On the first day, he had a fever and took some rest. I encouraged him to drink a lot of calamansi juice, and fortunately, he did, even though he usually doesn’t like anything healthy.

On the second day, his fever was gone, but he complained of a sore throat. He experienced pain when swallowing and felt like it was getting worse. So this time, we decided to combine these three remedies:

• One capsule of amoxicillin

• 4,000 mg of oregano supplement

• An oil-based gargle made with coconut oil as carrier oil, oregano, basil, clove, cinnamon, and peppermint

He followed this routine starting on the second day. He took one amoxicillin capsule per day for two days only. He also took one oregano supplement per day with meals, continuing until the fifth day for complete healing. The oil gargle was used daily until the fifth day as well. In addition, he tried drinking vegetable soup with ginger and cayenne pepper. By the fourth day, he was back at work—feeling strong and fully recovered. I also make him fresh juice using fruits and vegetables like carrots, apples, pineapple, ginger, and plenty of calamansi as a Vitamin C.

In natural medicine, treatment typically relies solely on botanicals. However, holistic functional medicine considers the use of pharmaceutical drugs in more severe cases (usually for a short duration) to minimize side effects, especially when antibiotics are involved. The general advice is to try botanical supplements first, and if those aren’t enough, then use antibiotics for only a few days.

A sore throat is typically caused by either a bacterial or viral infection. Oregano is a potent natural remedy that targets all types of pathogens, whether bacterial or viral, making it highly effective. One day, my brother took an oregano supplement after eating just one banana, and he felt dizzy. That’s why it’s important to take oregano supplements with a proper meal, especially when using a high dose like we did (4,000 mg).

My Lesson

As I study holistic functional medicine, I’ve learned that the usual approach is to look at the whole picture, identifying the root cause of a disease, such as infections or nutritional deficiencies, and focusing on detoxification and overall optimal function. However, I’ve also come to realize the importance of personalizing care based on what the patient actually wants.

In my brother’s case, he wasn’t interested in giving up his vices or doing a full detox, he just wanted to heal his sore throat. He had no desire to focus on his liver or long-term health, and that’s his choice. The beauty of functional medicine is that it can adapt to the patient. It’s not just about what we, as practitioners, want to fix, it’s about meeting people where they are and supporting what works for them.

FYI: He didn’t smoke or drink alcohol for three days, but went right back to it on the fourth. Unbelievable brother!