Strep throat natural remediesStrep throat is an extremely severe sore throat that comes on suddenly and makes it very difficult to swallow, speak or eat (due to the intense level of throat pain).  Its usually treated by anti-biotics, but if for some reason you are not able to get to the doctor, there are strep throat natural remedies you can try.

How to Know If It’s Strep Throat

Strep throat is diagnosed by a doctor, however, if you have strep throat your throat will feel very swollen (internally) in addition to the pain. You will often be able to see yellow or white color if you open your mouth and look at your throat. Generally you will have swollen tonsils or lymph nodes in the neck or throat.  When you have strep throat it is common to have a fever of over 101 degrees fahrenheit (38.3 celcius).  You may also feel body aches. You will not necessarily have all of the above symptoms, but definitely, rapid onset of a very severe sore throat that makes it difficult to swallow is an indicator that you may have strep throat. Strep throat is also contagious, so keep your distance from friends and family and prevent the spread of germs.

Fortunately there are some very effective strep throat natural remedies.

Doctors can prescribe anti-biotics for strep throat, but its not always possible to get to the doctor promptly.  Last year I had strep throat and when I called to make an appointment to see my doctor I was told I’d have to wait over a week.  That’s not helpful when you have a painful condition like strep throat which needs immediate treatment.

There is also the concern that heavy use of antibiotics kill healthy gut bacteria and the medical community is now discovering that this can lead to other more serious illnesses. Many doctors are becoming much more reluctant to prescribe antibiotics for this reason.

 

Here are some ways used to treat strep throat naturally.  These natural remedies will also work very well for any type of sore throat, even if it is not strep.

How to Treat Strep Throat Naturally – Strep Throat Natural Remedies

  • Apple Cider Vinegar

    Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is one of the most popular strep throat natural remedies. Apple cider is a powerful health tonic for a variety of other health conditions as well. To use apple cider vinegar to treat strep throat naturally, you gargle with it after diluting in a glass of warm water.The recommended amount of apple cider vinegar to treat strep throat naturally is 1 to 3 teaspoons in 8oz of warm (not hot) water may.  Its also a good idea to drink this through out the day – just keep some nearby at all times and sip frequently.  If the taste is to tart for you, add some honey – the honey actually adds additional health benefits for strep throat or a sore throat, and may also be somewhat soothing for a sore throat.  Ideally, you should be using “raw organic apple cider vinegar with “the mother””.  This is not the same kind of apple cider vinegar you find in the grocery store – you generally need to get this at a health food store.  I get mine online at iHerb.com – its where I buy all my health supplements, vitamins and natural products because they have the best prices I can find anywhere (even with internationally shipping, since I am in Canada – they have super-low shipping costs which make it well worth shopping there.)  The reason the “mother” is important is this thick substance that sits at the bottom of the bottle is really where the greatest health benefit is – it has the most nutrients.  As is so often the case, the type you by in the grocery store is more highly processed, so from a health perspective, the best part of it has been filtered out (to make it look prettier).

  • Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant (it cures scurvy!).  It also fights viruses, stress, heals the heart, helps your body product more collagen, and and promotes health overall. Its another one of the most highly recommended natural strep throat remedies Taking 1,000mg of quality vitamin C 3 times daily can produce amazing results, especially when combined with other solutions for treating strep throat.  Its best to take it as soon as you notice a sore throat or strep throat coming on – sometimes this alone can totally stop a sore throat or strep throat from developing further.  Even if you forget to take it right away, taking it at any point will help your body to heal more quickly.
  • Cayenne Pepper – Cayenne is also a one of the more revered natural strep throat remedies. Mix some cayenne pepper it in a small amount of water to form a bit of a paste, then swallow it and try to hold it in the area of your throat.  You can also mix the cayenne into raw organic honey instead of forming a paste with water, or you can use lemon juice instead of water. Both honey and lemon juice have healing properties, and both are known to be helpful in treating a sore throat.Alternatively, you can also buy cayenne capsules at the heath food store or at iherb.com, and take the capsules according to the directions on the bottle. Some people say that forming raw cayenne into a paste and holding it on the throat is more effective, but if you have trouble with that, cayenne capsules are a good way to go.Keep in mind that because cayenne is a pepper, it may make you feel quite hot, and may make you sweat.

Not only are all of the options mentioned above natural strep throat remedies, they all have other overall health boosting benefits – quite the opposite of pharmaceutical drugs and antibiotics. Now that you know how to treat strep throat naturally, you have the option of taking a more natural approach, especially if you have been on antibiotics more than once in the  last few years, and your doctor is reluctant to prescribe because of the problems over-use of antibiotics can cause.

Natural remedies are wonderful when you can not get to a doctor, and may be used in conjunction with a doctors advice, but you should always seek medical advice from a physician for any medical condition or health ailment.

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