How to Gargle With Karo Syrup, Baking Soda and Salt

Three inexpensive and easily found ingredients relieve irritated mouth and nasal tissues: baking soda, salt and light corn syrup. Singers and actors make a mix of these ingredients with warm water as a preperformance gargle to hydrate the the vocal chords. The gargle mix may relieve conditions like a sore and swollen throat, hoarseness, soreness after radiation therapy to your head and neck, dry mouth and sinus infection. According to the Nashville Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, a solution of this mix in warm water can even be used to irrigate the sinus after nasal surgery.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 teaspoon non-iodized salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon white corn syrup
• 1 pint warm water
• Bowl of boiling water
• Bath towel
• Essential oil of oregano

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Instructions

• 1

  Water is vulnerable to bacteria; boil it to keep your gargle mix safe.

  Bring the water to a boil and simmer 10 minutes. Cover and let it cool to warm. When treating irritated, possibly infected mouth and nasal tissues, use sanitized water.

• 2

  Mix the salt, baking soda, corn syrup and water. Salt reduces swelling. According to the American Apnea Sleep Association, sea salt has minerals that may boost anti-inflammatory action. Baking soda reduces the slight acidity of water, bringing the solution's pH into a range comparable with the body's. Karo, or other light corn syrup, helps tissues to retain moisture.

• 3

  Gargle 1/2 cup of the mix every two to three hours over a week, or until the irritation goes away. Don't swallow it. Simply gargle gently and spit it out.

• 4

  Don't eat or drink for 20 minutes after gargling.