I always assumed that the saline solution was a "drawing" solution.

That is, the osmotic gradient draws water out of the inflamed tissues
because the salt water is saltier than your tissues. Inflamed tissues
are somewhat engorged with liquid from the lymphatic/antibody activity
(not very different than your average acne pimple), this stretches the
skin in the area causing soreness. The saline solution relieves that a
little making your throat feel a little better.

I don't think it has much to do with any antiseptic property, tho
perhaps that's also a side effect because as others have mentioned it
would tend to be hostile to bacteria for about the same reasons (would
draw water out of their little cell bodies causing them to die.) Then
again most sore throats are caused by viruses, but getting rid of any
malingering bacteria wouldn't hurt.

But I think 99% of it is just therapeutic, it reduces the inflammation
a little making your throat feel less sore.

If you wanted to kill bacteria something {*filter*} based would be far
more effective than saline, like Listerine for example, tho whiskey
would do the trick also.
--
        -Barry Shein

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