Quick Home Remedies to Remove a Fishbone Stuck in the Throat

All fish lovers might have experienced this at least once in their lives till now. It is a very common situation with people who love gorging on fish. How many times has it happened that you are enjoying a scrumptious fish meal and all of a sudden you feel a harsh and stinging prick in your throat? And after a while, it starts paining and poking further. We totally get you! Some are small ones that get easily washed down with a gulp of water or food, and some are big that just don’t go away. Irritating, isn’t it?

This WellnessKeen article comes to your rescue, and tells you various symptoms and home remedies that will fish out the bone from your throat. Have a look!

The bones vary in size and thickness. Choking on fishbone usually happens when the wall muscles of the throat contract as a result of which the bone gets stuck and pierces the walls at that time. It may usually happen when you are eating too fast, chewing less, or talking while eating. You may experience a pain every time you swallow anything. In severe cases, it may even make a cut inside and lead to bleeding. Other than pain, there are few more symptoms too. Check them out below.

• High-pitched breathing
• Blood-tinged saliva
• Choking/Gagging
• Severe drooling
• Pain while swallowing
• Difficulty in chewing
• Problem in speaking

A fishbone stuck in the throat can be really painful, irritating, and annoying. If not removed immediately, it may cause further problems like throat infection, internal bleeding, etc. So, what do you do in such a case? Usually, people who eat fish regularly, wait for the fishbone to get dislodged on its own eventually. However, if it does not work, then try out the home remedies given below.

✦ The first thing you should try doing is to cough heavily so that the fishbone gets dislodged on its own, but don’t overdo or strain your throat as it may damage the walls of your throat further.

✦ Try examining the exact location of the fishbone. Stand in front of the mirror and use a flashlight if possible. If the fishbone is visible, then it is a good sign. You can remove it by using forceps as it may be well within your reach. Most of the time, chances might be that it may have gone much below the throat.

✦ The next thing to do would be drinking lots and lots of water, preferably with a pinch of salt in it. If it is a small fishbone, water will dislodge it from your throat and wash it down to your stomach.

✦ The most common remedy that almost everyone might be knowing about is bananas. Bite off a large piece of banana, and keep it in your mouth for at least a minute so that it becomes moist enough. Then swallow this entire piece without chewing it. To be able to swallow it more easily, drink a large sip of water along with it.

✦ Put a handful of marshmallows in your mouth and chew a little before swallowing it inside. Marshmallows are thick and spongy, and tend to become sticky when chewed. They drag the fishbone down the stomach along with them. Try repeating it again if the fishbone doesn’t go away in the first attempt. Drink big sips of water in between while swallowing.

✦ This remedy will be loved by those who love peanut butter! Okay, jokes apart! Apply peanut butter on a large slice of bread. Swallow the bite while it’s still sticky enough. If you don’t have peanut butter at home, then chew on a handful of peanuts, almonds, walnuts, or pecans. They tend to remain coarse even after much chewing, which is what helps the fishbone to loosen up a little. Wash the nuts down through your throat with large sips of water. If required, you may give another attempt.

✦ Cook or boil some rice to make it soft and sticky. Make small balls of it and swallow them without chewing. Since the rice is sticky, it should take the fishbone along with it. Don’t forget to take big sips of water after swallowing the rice.

✦ You can also boil few olives in a glass of water. Drink its juice while it’s still hot. It will soften the bone and make it slide down the throat. An alternative to olives would be olive oil. Try drinking few sips of warm olive oil. It will give a soothing effect to the minor injuries caused by the fishbone.

✦ Another common remedy is drinking diluted vinegar. You can also gargle with it. It will make the bone soft, making it easy to shift from its original place.

✦ Another easier method would be to drink Coke. It functions in the similar way as olive oil and vinegar.

✦ And last, but not the least, if all the remedies mentioned above don’t work, then see a doctor immediately. Leaving the bone stuck in your throat for more than a day or two may cause infections that may further complicate the problem.

After the fishbone has been removed, the pain and discomfort should also vanish away after a while, but don’t forget to check for any internal bleeding or cuts. The best way to avoid a fishbone from getting stuck in your throat would be to remove all the bones while preparing the fish, or be extra careful while eating.