If you suffer from strep throat regularly, then you know how painful it is. And those antibiotics do no good after a while. So, here’s a cheat sheet on the best natural remedies for strep throat. Mind you, these remedies are not only effective but they cause no side effects.
Before we proceed to the cures, here is all you need to know about the recurring throat infection.
What is strep throat?
Strep throat is amongst the most contagious throat infections caused by a bacteria – Streptococcus. The infection causes inflammation of the mucous membranes in the back of the throat and the tonsils. One can identify the infection with bright red spots or white and yellow spots in the throat.
Symptoms of strep throat include a severe sore throat and difficulty in swallowing. If the infection does not receive treatment at the right time, the infection may lead to high fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or more with highly swollen lymph nodes in the neck. This is accompanied with a headache, body aches, chills and loss of appetite.
Usually, children within the age group of 5 to 15 are prone to strep throat infection. However, the bacteria can affect children and adults of all age groups.
Strep throat infection is contagious and can spread from one person to another through sneezing and coughing. Come autumn or spring, with the slightest change in the weather, the bacteria gets activated and the infection starts spreading. It is bound to spread in a closed area. Typically, after a prompt diagnosis, a doctor recommends antibiotic treatment for a period of five days to recover from the infection. Apart from antibiotics, one can opt for natural remedies to cure strep throat.
Why should you treat your sore throat naturally?
A strep throat treatment usually lasts for 5 days to avoid recurrence of the infection. However, sometimes antibiotics for are over prescribed leading to side effects. Taking antibiotics every time one suffers from a sore throat might not be a good idea. Firstly, antibiotics have side effects. Secondly, the body adapts to these medicines and over the period of time, stronger antibiotics have to be prescribed. The best part about natural remedies for strep throat is that they help boost health as well – quite the opposite of pharmaceutical medicines.
How to treat a strep throat naturally?
This common problem has been driving individuals to doctors for antibiotic treatment. Unfortunately, with increasing drug sales, everyone tends to ignore the natural cures available for treating strep throat. Here we have compiled a list of the best natural remedies and home remedies to cure strep throat:
1. Drinking warm liquids
This is one of the best ways to cure strep throat naturally. From lukewarm water to green tea, to herbal concoction, lemon water, tea or coffee, anything warm helps in soothing the swollen lymph nodes and relieves you of the pain.
How to prepare a herbal concoction to treat strep throat?
Drinking this easy and quick herbal concoction can help you get rid of strep throat. To prepare the formulation boil a glass of water. Add freshly diced ginger, two to three drops of basil essential oil or fresh basil leaves and a pinch of salt to the water. Let the mixture boil for a minute. Try and drink the mixture when hot. It is advised that you consume this formulation twice a day.
2. Gargles
Amongst the many solutions to treat strep throat naturally, gargles are advised by doctors all over the world. Based on how severe the infection is, you can choose on of the following ways to gargle and treat sore throat.
a) Salt water gargles: Mix a tablespoon of salt with lukewarm water. Gargle the solution for a minute every night before sleeping.
b) Apple cider vinegar and water: By gargling a mix about 20 ml of apple cider vinegar in lukewarm water at night, one can quickly relieve the pain in the throat and reduce the bacterial growth significantly.
Note: It is advised that you gargle at least three times in a day and especially during the night before sleeping. Do not eat anything or rinse your mouth after gargling for minimum 30 minutes.
3. Increase your intake of Vitamin C
In addition to gargles and herbal mix, adding elements of vitamin C to your diet can help you get rid of strep throat permanently.
4. Treating sore throat with Cayenne pepper
Perhaps cayenne pepper is known to help the body recover from countless conditions. Moreover, it is revered as a natural remedy for curing sore and strep throat infections. Mix a small amount of cayenne into lukewarm water and gargle using the mixture once a day. Alternatively, you could mix a pinch of cayenne powder into honey and dab the mixture on the swollen glands.
5. Changing the diet
When suffering from a strep throat infection, change your diet to bland and boiled food. Drink plenty of fluids from warm soups broths to herbal mixes to tea. Also, take in semi-solid food. Avoid cold beverages and eating spicy and solid meals.
6. Get extra sleep and do not shout, scream or sing
While this may sound as a less impactful remedy, however, sleeping when you are suffering from strep throat helps in quick recovery. Moreover, avoiding situations where you are required to shout or scream, such as teaching, official meetings, singing or any such activity should be avoided. Any strain on your pharynx leads to more swelling and more pain.
7. Relieve strep throat with honey, garlic & cayenne
Another tried and tested herbal formulation that you can consume every hour with warm water. To prepare the concoction, mince two to three garlic cloves and mix them with honey. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper powder to this. Take a tablespoon of this mixture every hour for instant recovery.
8. Essential oil treatment for strep throat
Rub a mix of thyme or germanium oil with lemon oil and olive or almond oil over the affected area. Cover the neck with a scarf to avoid evaporation. Apply the blend every hour for quick relief. One can also add these oils to a diffuser or hot water and inhale the steam.
Note: Strep throat needs to a prompt diagnosis and treatment needs to begin at the right time to avoid complications later. The infection can be a serious issue for children who are unable to identify the symptoms in the beginning. These strep throat natural remedies take their own time and need to be coupled with precautions for best results. Typically, it takes five days to recover from strep throat. With the above mentioned remedies, you should be able to see significant results from the third day. In case nothing seems to work, do not hesitate to seek medical assistance.
Now that you know of 8 best solutions to treat strep throat infection without antibiotics, share your stories and the remedies you have tried, in the comments section below, with us. We would love to hear from you!
Leave a Reply