During this time of the year, many people start to come down with cold and flu symptoms. Another condition that some people have been getting is strep throat illness. Strep throat is an infection caused by a bacteria called the group Astreptococcus. It causes a sore throat, fever, and painful swallowing, among others. While it is usually treated with antibiotics, there are plenty of natural home remedies for strep throat. Here are just four of those strep throat treatments without using antibiotics.
Gargle with Pink Himalayan Salt Water
This is an old home remedy that usually works for strep throat. Adding some Pink Himalayan salt to warm water helps soothe discomfort and swelling in your throat. It also kills bacteria and loosens mucus, which is a slippery fluid that’s naturally produced by your body. The salt’s antibacterial properties also help improve respiratory conditions. Just mix ¼ teaspoon of pink Himalayan salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Don’t forget to spit out the saltwater solution after gargling.
Use Raw Honey in Warm Tea or Water
Raw honey is another at-home remedy that works for strep throat sufferers. It is great for the throat because it reduces inflammation and relieves pain. It is usually recommended by healthcare providers. Try swirling in a couple of tablespoons of warm tea or water to help ease the pain. Honey is said to have plenty of antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Coconut Oil
Some studies suggest that coconut oil can reduce the number of strep bacteria in the mouth. It could also reduce other toxins found in the mouth. You can use this to relieve your strep throat by performing an ancient medical practice called oil pulling. This involves swishing a tablespoon or two of the coconut oil in your mouth for at least 10 minutes. Then you spit it out, rinse your mouth, and brush your teeth. This method helps detoxify and pulls unhealthy bacteria from your mouth.
Foods rich in Vitamin C
Kale, strawberries, oranges, etc. are all examples of foods that are rich in Vitamin C. They help support the immune system and shorten the duration of cold symptoms such as a sore throat. While there isn’t enough evidence to suggest that Vitamin C can help treat strep throat by itself, these foods are still beneficial in adding to your diet.
So can you treat strep throat without antibiotics? It is possible with these home remedies you might have in your home. There are other ways to naturally treat strep throat such as peppermint oil and echinacea extract. However, these four remedies are a great way to start treating the strep throat condition.
If you’re dealing with strep throat or have dealt with it before, share your best tips for treating the condition in the comments below. As always, be sure to like or share this post with the next person you know who may be dealing with this problem.
This is so awesome. My daughter had a strep throat just last week. Thanks for sharing.
This is so important!! Thank you for sharing options to soothe steep throat without going straight for the antibiotics.
Great choice of remedies. I particularly found instant relief from using raw honey with warm water. Thanks for sharing!