Folks,
Keith_J is right on. Way to go, doc!
Please don't take gun advice from your M.D., and don't ask a bunch of gun nuts for medical advice. Unless that gun nut happens to be an M.D., then you got both bases covered! [;)]
Gargling with *this* or *that* just gives you something to do until the body fights off the infection. I don't know why it's so popular.
If that's your thing, consider going all the way and using a 7 to 7.5% solution of sodium hypochlorite- works wonders at killing all those deadly germs making you sick. It removes the tissue as well, *just in case* those bugs want to come back. [;D]
Illness caused by a virus is not affected by antibiotics. Rest, fluids, more rest, and time works the best.
If the infectin is bacterial, then the right antibiotics can help, or so I'm told, along with rest, rest, fluids, and more rest.
(Disclaimer: Please don't do the sodium hypochlorite gargle, that was just a joke...)