Home Remedies for Strep Throat

Home remedies can be used, especially if you use them WITH antibiotics given to you by your doctor for strept throat .

As always, if you find that your symptoms are getting worse using your home treatment for strep throat , or, you develop more severe symptoms, you should contact your physician.

Home remedies for strep throat
Photo courtesy of Sharona Gott

Here are some ways to keep your patient comfortable and on the road to recovery:

• Stay home - You are contagious for several days after you develop symptoms. Don't expose others.

• Rest - Sleep helps your body fight the infection. While you're staying home, take advantage and get some rest. Stay in bed until your fever is gone.

• Drink lots of liquids - The more you drink, the more you will keep your sore throat lubricated. Fluids will also prevent your becoming dehydrated.

• Eat soft, soothing foods - applesauce, broths, chicken soup, sherbet, frozen yogurt, frozen fruit pops. But don't drink acidic juices like grapefruit or orange juice, as they will irritate your sore throat.

• Gargle with salt water or double strength tea - several times a day. Use ½ teaspoon per cup of warm water. Make sure you spit out all the salt water after using it to gargle.

• Gargle with herbs - a mixture of water, salt, and tumeric (Curcuma longa) powder or astringents, such as alum, sumac, sage, and bayberry (Ayurvedic medicine).

• Humidifier - adds moisture to the air. This can keep the mucous membranes in your throat and nose moist and will keep them from becoming more irritated. Clean the humidifier and change the water daily to discourage bacterial growth.

• No smoking - and keep smokers out of the sick room. Smoke is an irritant.

• Adding some essential oils like lavender (Lavandula officinalis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), or eucalyptus can increase the effectiveness of this—and be healing.

• Pain killers - Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. Don't give aspirin or ibuprofen to children, as it can cause Reye's Syndrome. Also, be aware that serious aspirin side effects can occur.

• Herbal teas - Taking osha root (Ligusticum porteri) internally for infection or drinking tea made of sage, echinacea (Echinacea spp.) and cleavers (Gallium aparine) Osha root has an unpleasant taste many children will not accept (Botanical medicine).

Because there are new strains of strep that can lead to serious illness, you should always see a doctor if you suspect strep throat.

However, keep in mind that it is possible to use home remedies for strep throat to keep your patient more comfortable and to aid healing. Keep an eye on the

If you do so, make sure you keep a careful eye on the symptoms of strep throat to make sure that they do not worsen.

Untreated Strep Throat can lead to serious strep throat complications like rheumatic fever.

If your symptoms worsen, be sure to contact your physician immediately, as you might be developing complications.

In the meantime, if you have a question that you would like to have answered, why not use doctors online advice?

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