- Introduction:
- What Causes Strep Throat:
- Symptoms of Strep Throat:
- Home Remedies for Strep Throat:
- When to Seek Medical Help:
- Conclusion:
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- References
Introduction:
Strep throat can make your throat sore and scratchy, and its really not the best feeling to talk with a throat like that. Strep throat infection is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils and is caused by a group of bacteria called Streptococcus (group A strep).1
Strep throat infection is common in children in the age of five to fifteen years. Adults might also develop a strep throat.Rarely 1 in 10 adults with a complaint of the sore throat might actually have a strep throat. A strep throat infection is highly contagious and can be easily transmitted from an infected to a healthy person by inhaling contaminated air.1
Let’s know more about some natural remedies for strep throat that might help you right in the comfort of your home.
What Causes Strep Throat:
Streptococcus species (Group A Streptococci) is the causative agent of strep throat. These bacteria are the natural flora that reside in our nose and throat. They are easily transferred from person to person and are highly contagious.
When an infected person speaks, coughs orsneezes, tiny respiratory droplets containing these bacteria are released from the mouth that contaminate the surrounding air. When a healthy person inhales this contaminated air, they might catch the infection. In this way, you can get a strep throat infection.1
People might develop strep throat in the following ways:
- Drinking and eating from the same utensils as the infected person
- Touching things with those droplets on them and then touching the mouth or nose
- Breathing respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria
- Through food that is not handled correctly1
Also Read: Natural Home Remedies for Sinus Problems
Symptoms of Strep Throat:
Fever without cough and pain are the two main signs and symptoms of strep throat. It can be a mild infection, but people might experience a lot of pain. Some people may remain asymptomatic, meaning they do not show any symptoms of sore throat. These people are called “carriers” of infection and can still spread it to others.1
The most common symptoms of strep throat are-
- Fever
- Small, tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Pain during swallowing
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Red, swollen tonsils with white patches or pus.1
Other symptoms may be-
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Headache
- Rashes spreading throughout the body(condition is called scarlet fever)
- Vomiting (in children).1
Also Read: Natural Home Remedies for Pneumonia
Strep throat can be a mild infection, but its pain might lead to a discomforting feeling.1 Here are some home remedies for strep throat that you can try, which are easily available in your kitchen.
1. Lemon
Lemons contain powerful antioxidants like vitamin C. It may act as an immunity booster. Lemon juice might be beneficial in breaking down the mucous-containing bacteria and provide pain relief. Lemons might also offer natural ways to heal a painful strep throat.2
You can use lemon juice as one of the home remedies for strep throat. Drinking warm water with one teaspoon of lemon juice might help you to relieve the throat pain.2
2. Honey
The best remedy for strep throat might just be honey. It may be due to the natural antibacterial properties and wound healing action of honey. It may relieve the pain and inflammation associated with strep throat. According to a physician at Penn Medicine, honey may have the potential to kill bacteria and help fight infections.2
A few tablespoons of honey may be taken with warm water or tea. Drink this a couple of times a day to help ease the throat pain. It’s important to note that honey is not suitable for children under the age of one.2
3. Ginger
Ginger may have beneficial properties and may be used as one of the herbal remedies for strep throat. It contains valuable phytochemicals such as zingerone, paradols, shogaols and gingerols. It may have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.3
You can make ginger tea at home. Take some fresh ginger roots, crush and add them to boiling water. Give it a nice boil for a few minutes; strain the liquid and remove the used ginger before drinking. Your ginger tea is ready! Sip this as many times as you like each day. It will help in pain relief.
4. Salt water
Salt water may be used to get rid of strep throat naturally. It might not provide immediate relief; however, it may be useful for killing the bacteria causing strep throat. It might also help to loosen mucus and ease the pain. You can take some table salt in a glass of warm water, stir well and use it to gargle.2You may use salt water to swish around your mouth for about a few seconds. Repeat this several times throughout the day until you are relieved of the pain.
5. Hot sauce
Hot sauce might be used to provide quick pain relief. Hot sauce is made from pepper which is high in capsaicin (active compound). The hot sauce might be used to relieve strep throat. You can add a few drops of hot sauce into warm water and use it to gargle. The capsaicin in the hot sauce may provide pain relief and reduce inflammation.2
6. Herbal teas
Herbal tea such as green tea, clove, chamomile, raspberry and peppermint tea might be the best home remedies for strep throat. The beneficial effect of green tea is due to its polyphenol content, mainly catechins. Green tea and clove tea may have antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Peppermint, raspberry and chamomile tea may help relieve the pain and reduce inflammation. Peppermint tea may help numb the throat and reduce pain.
In addition, chamomile tea might be a natural lubricant and may help to overcome hoarseness in voice.4
You can easily make green tea at home. Buy locally available green tea in the form of leaves or a tea bag. Add the loose leaves or a tea bag in boiling water. Allow it to boil for a few minutes and use the water after straining the leaves. Your green tea is ready to be served. Drink it a few times a day for best results.
7. Red root
Red root might be one of the best herbal remedies for strep throat. The red root may have an antibacterial effect. It might help overcome the scratchiness associated with strep throat. It may be used as a herb to manage strep throat in people who do not prefer antibiotics. Red root might be effective for swollen lymph glands and inflamed throat tissues. You can use the herbal mixture of the red root. It can be diluted in water and either swallowed or gargled a few times each day. 5
8. Marshmallow
Marshmallow or Mallow species are flowering plants scientifically known as Althaea officinalis.Acold infusion of marshmallows may be one of the best home remedies for strep throat in children. The cold-infusion can be sipped in small doses if you feel the slightest hint of a scratchy throat.5
You can prepare a pint of cold infusion of marshmallow by adding a few tablespoons of the ground herb in a cloth bag to a pint jar filled with cold water. Let the infusion sit overnight and remove the bag in the morningYou can refrigerate the cold infusion and use as and when needed .5
Though there are studies that show the benefits of the herbs mentioned above and home remedies in the condition, these are insufficient. Therefore, there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of these herbs and home remedies for strep throat. Thus, these should be taken with caution and never as a substitute for medical treatment.
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When to Seek Medical Help:
Take an appointment with your doctor if your throat infection refuses to get better even after trying the home remedies.2 You should seek medical attention if your strep throat is accompanied by-
- Inability to drink fluids
- Chills and fever
- Difficulty in swallowing
These might be the signs of developing a serious illness.2
You must not rely on home remedies alone for the treatment of strep throat. You should always consult a qualified doctor for treatment of strep throat infection if the symptoms don’t improve.
Conclusion:
The reason behind your scratchy throat might be a bacterial infection. Group A Streptococcus bacteria cause strep throat infection. It is common in children and adults. Strep throat infection is highly contagious and easily spread through the air. The early signs of strep throat are fever and throat pain. Various home remedies such as lemon juice, salt water gargle, honey, ginger, hot sauce gargle, green tea, red root and marshmallow infusion, which might be used to manage strep throat. However, it’s advisable to seek medical attention in case of prolonged Strep throat to avoid further complications.
Also Read: Home Remedies For Asthma By Dr. Siddharth Gupta
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the common antibiotics recommended by doctors for strep throat?
Doctors recommend either amoxicillin or penicillin as the first choice of treatment for strep throat infection.1
Which is the major microbes causing strep throat infection?
Strep throat infection is caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus (Group A streptococcus).1
What are the primary precautions to prevent strep throat infection?
People may get strep throat more than once. As there is no permanent cure, people must follow general precautions to prevent its spread. One must regularly wash hands with soap for about 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use alcohol-form hand rub-sanitisers.It is important to cover your mouth using tissue paper when you sneeze and cough and discard the used tissue. Other than these, washing the utensils after an infected person uses them is necessary.1
What are the possible home remedies for strep throat?
The potential home remedies for strep throat include honey, ginger, lemon juice, salt water, hot pepper sauce, green tea, red root, marshmallow, etc. 2-5 However, people should not rely on home remedies. Consultation with a doctor is important to avoid further complications.
Which herbal teas can be used to manage strep throat?
Herbal teas, such as green tea, clove, chamomile, raspberry and peppermint tea maybe a great choice for managing strep throat infection. They may have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects to help fight the infection and relieve pain. Chamomile tea might be used as a lubricant if your voice is hoarse or in case of difficulty in speaking. Peppermint tea may help with throat pain by numbing thethroat.2
References
1. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [Internet]. Strep Throat: All You Need to Know; 2007 [cited 2022 Jul 11]. Available from: //www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/strep-throat.html
2. Penn Medicine. [Internet]. 6 At-Home Remedies to Ease Your Sore Throat; 2022 [cited 2022 Jul 11]. Available from: //www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2018/february/sore-throat?_ga=2.149510006.1759347718.1657514818-126493995.1657514818
3. Mashhadi NS, Ghiasvand R, Askari G, Hariri M, Darvishi L, Mofid MR. Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity: Review of Current Evidence. Interna J of Preven Med. 2013;4(1):36–42. Available from: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/pdf/IJPVM-4-36.pdf
4. Neturi R, Srinivas R, Vikram Simha, Sree S, Chandra Shekar, Siva Kumar. Effects of Green Tea on Streptococcus mutans Counts- A Randomised Control Trail. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(11):128–30. Available from: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4290345/pdf/jcdr-8-127-ZC128.pdf
5. Eric Yarnell, Kathy Abascal. Undervalued Herbs. Alternative And Complementary Therapies. 2011;17(4):220–4. Available from: //www.researchgate.net/publication/282715102_Undervalued_Herbs_Use_in_Clinical_Practice_and_Need_for_Validating_Research/link/56a6c1aa08ae0fd8b3fc739e/download
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.