TikTokers Say Pickle Juice Can Ease a Sore Throat—But Does It Work?
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Several people on TikTok say gargling with pickle juice helps ease a sore throat.
Pickle juice contains salt water, which may help with a sore throat.
Doctors weigh in on if there’s any research to back this up.
The flu, COVID-19, RSV, and the common cold are swirling in the U.S. right now—and each can cause a sore throat. Though there are a slew of home remedies that claim to combat discomfort in the area, TikTokers are claiming that pickle juice can help a sore throat.
According to several posts, drinking or gargling with pickle juice can help ease the pain. Of course, TikTok is packed with questionable medical advice, raising plenty of questions. Is this a hack that can actually work—or is it one to skip? Experts explain.
Meet the experts: Omid Mehdizadeh, M.D., a board-certified otolaryngologist (ENT) and laryngologist at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, CA; Aline M. Holmes, D.N.P., R.N., a clinical associate professor at Rutgers University School of Nursing; Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., author of The Little Book of Game-Changers: 50 Healthy Habits For Managing Stress & Anxiety.
Does pickle juice help a sore throat?
Unfortunately, as of now, there is no research to support using pickle juice for a sore throat. However, some elements about pickle juice might theoretically help if you’re dealing with a sore throat, says Omid Mehdizadeh, M.D., a board-certified otolaryngologist (ENT) and laryngologist at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, CA.
One is that pickle juice contains salt water. “Gargling with salt water has been known to help with sore throats,” Dr. Mehdizadeh says. (The mixture coats your throat and can help loosen mucus and reduce inflammation, he says.)
Pickle juice also contains vinegar, which has some antiseptic properties, he points out. “Acetic acid, which is the main chemical in vinegar, has been used previously in medicine as an antiseptic,” Dr. Mehdizadeh says.
Combined, Dr. Mehdizadeh says that gargling pickle juice might help with a sore throat. Still, he says, “it’s hard to make the determination” without medical evidence.
Is it good to drink pickle juice when sick?
While some endurance athletes drink pickle juice during strenuous workouts or races, there’s no medical evidence to suggest that drinking pickle juice will help when you’re sick.
“Hydration and electrolytes are important, along with good nutrition,” Dr. Mehdizadeh says. “But many things are going to be more appetizing than drinking pickle juice.” If you’re not into the taste of pickles, drinking this mixture could also leave you feeling queasy, he points out.
Are there any safety concerns regarding drinking pickle juice?
Pickle juice contains a lot of salt. Three ounces of pickle juice delivers a whopping 900 milligrams of sodium, which is a hefty portion of the recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. “For people with blood pressure issues in particular, that could be problematic,” says Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., author of The Little Book of Game-Changers: 50 Healthy Habits For Managing Stress & Anxiety.
Pickle juice has a high vinegar content, too, and that “may be too acidic for some,” Cording says. “It may exacerbate reflux or cause GI discomfort,” she adds.
Sore throat home remedies that can help
If you have a sore throat, you can try the pickle juice hack—Dr. Mehdizadeh says it’s relatively harmless if you enjoy the taste of pickles. But you can also try these other remedies that medical experts recommend:
Gargle with salt water “every couple of hours,” says Aline M. Holmes, D.N.P., R.N., a clinical associate professor at Rutgers University School of Nursing. She recommends mixing 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.
Suck on Cepacol lozenges or use a diluted Cepacol mouthwash, Holmes says.
Sip on warm tea with honey. “Honey provides a nice, protective coating for your throat,” Dr. Mehdizadeh says.
Take an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen or naproxen to help with the pain and inflammation, per Dr. Mehdizadeh.
When to see a doctor for a sore throat
Every body is different, and there are many conditions which cause a sore throat. But, on average, sore throats usually last about a week, Holmes says. If your sore throat has lasted beyond that, she recommends contacting your healthcare provider.
It’s also a good idea to reach out to your doctor if you’re dealing with a recurrent fever, have any trouble swallowing or breathing, or if your sore throat seems to be getting worse with time, Dr. Mehdizadeh says.
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