A dry, irritated throat is one of the signs of a cold which can interfere with a good night’s sleep. If traditional medicine doesn’t help, some people turn to the Internet for quick healing tips.

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TikTok user Taylor Donoghuee (@taylordonoghuee) tells this in a video with 458,000 views. “Two nights ago I started having a very dry and sore throat, to the point where I couldn’t fall asleep,” she says. Instead of waiting for it to pass, she takes it upon herself to fix it. “It was 3 a.m. and so I went on TikTok and was Googling quick remedies for sore throats,” she shares.

Then the content creator finds another creator who posts natural remedies. “I came across this creator (@kathyhealthtips),” she says. Kathy is a content creator specializing in medicine in China who uses her platform to promote traditional Chinese medicine. “You pinch your neck like that 36 times,” Donoghuee demonstrates, pinching the skin on his neck up and down his throat. “And warm your palms and tap this side 36 times and tap this side 36 times,” she said, tapping both sides of his throat.

So, did it work? This was the case for her. “Holy shit, it works!” I’m not even kidding,” she said. “My sore throat doesn’t go away quickly. They usually linger. The second day, it’s already gone. Although the method did not cure his sore throat instantly, it did partially alleviate it. “It didn’t magically disappear, but I felt some relief. As a relief, a cough drop would give,” explains the content creator. “I feel more peaceful than I did a minute ago.”

The Daily Dot reached out to Donoghuee via email and TikTok comment.

Viewers hail the cure

“Wait what? It’s not over, but when I say it’s become 60% easier to deal with,” one viewer said.

“Oh my God !!! Magic! Just tried it, I’m impressed,” applauded another.

“I just woke up with a hot, dry sore throat and it worked for me. My throat was huge a while ago and I just feel less inflamed! Not gone but relief. Thank you,” shared a third.

“It’s crazy. It’s not completely gone, but it feels so much better immediately,” a fourth commented.

@taylordonoghuee We, the people who are still sick, NEED to know about this. I learned it from @Kathy ♬ original sound – Taylordonoghuee

What is this remedy?

Acupressure is a Chinese healing practice that involves applying pressure with your fingers to promote pain relief, improve sleep quality, and address other health issues. The goal is to restore and healing the body’s energy called qi (ch’i).

How does it work?

Massage and pat these areas reduced inflammation which causes sore throat. Additionally, this method “relieves pain, improves circulation, reduces stress and boosts immunity,” according to Kaizen Health Group.

Additionally, it is imperative to stay hydrated, rest, drink honey lemon tea, and gargle with salt water to boost its effectiveness.

@kathyhealthtips Do you have a sore throat right now? Try these tips based on #traditionalchinesemedicine #chinesemedicine #tcm #for you #sore throat #throatpain #maldegorgetremedy #sorethroatrelief #kathyhealthytips #kathyhealthtips #fyp #for you ♬ Young children – it’s murph

The traditional medicine approach to treating dry and irritated throats

Like Chinese medicine, traditional medicine suggests rest, stay hydrated, drink tea and gargle with salt water. Other recommendations include taking a throat lozenge, drinking broth, and not using your voice.

However, if the sore throat doesn’t heal in more than a week, see your doctor as this could be a sign of something more serious.

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