Strep throat is caused by the bacteria Group A Streptococcus. It is an infection and inflammation affecting the tonsils and tissues of the throat. It is more common among people with tonsils, and younger children in preschool and high school. Many people automatically think of antibiotics when they think of strep.
Home Remedies
Although antibiotics can be very effective in treating strep, there are many home remedies that can be used to treat strep. When you have strep, it is important to drink lots of fluids and water. This will flush your throat and get rid of any bacteria that may be present.
- Chamomile tea is a good choice. Chamomile tea has analgesic qualities that can relieve the pain in the throat and headaches that often accompany an infection. It is best to drink chamomile tea once a day while you rest and recover.
- Sage is another great remedy. Age can be taken in capsule form or as a tincture. Both can reduce the inflammation in your body that is caused by strep. It protects your throat’s soft tissue and your respiratory tract.
- Garlic can be used as a home remedy and has natural antibiotic properties. For some antibiotic power, you can either eat it raw or take it as a capsule every few hours to combat the infection.
- Gargling with salt water is another option. Gargling with salt water can kill bacteria and reduce inflammation in the throat if you have strep. A humidifier will keep your room warm and moist. To keep your room moist, use a humidifier that emits a cool mist or warm mist. This helps to moisturize your throat and prevents it from becoming dry and scratchy.
- To keep your sinuses clean, you can also use saline sprays or a Neti Pot. You can purchase a Neti pot at your local pharmacy. It is used by pouring saline water in one nostril and allowing it to drain through the other nostril.
- Avoid chemical exposure, smoking, and alcohol vapors. These things can negatively impact your body’s ability and speed up your healing process. Avoid drinking very hot or very cold beverages. They can further irritate your throat and slow down the healing process.
- Drink fluids that are close to body temperature to ensure that healing can continue without any problems. Inflamed throats can also be affected by spicy foods so avoid spicy foods.
- Strep throat can be treated with yogurt, soups and mashed potatoes, as well as non-acidic fruits. If home remedies don’t work, don’t let strep throat get worse. The mainstay of treatment for strep throat is antibiotics and should be taken as soon as possible.