Strep Throat
Most cases of sore throat are caused by
viral infections, and
disappear in a few days. However, some are caused by
infection with Streptococcus (strep)
bacteria, which can take
weeks to go away. Strep throat causes pain on swallowing,
redness of the throat, swollen tonsils, and tender lymph
nodes in the neck. Strep throat cannot be distinguished
from viral sore throat just by looking at the throat and
tonsils. Fortunately, physicians now have swabs that can
immediately test for the presence of strep.
Strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever, which causes
arthritis, fever, and heart inflammation. Therefore, unlike
viral infections, strep infections are treated with antibiotics
to prevent damage to other organs. Unfortunately, these
medications are not always effective.
Strep throat treated with herbal therapies should improve
within three days and go away within three weeks. If it
does not, it is possible that a more serious secondary
infection is present. In that case, see a health-care professional.
Unless otherwise specified, the herb dosages
recommended here are for adults. Children under age six should
be given one-quarter of the adult dosage. Children between
the ages of six and twelve should be given one-half of the
adult dosage. Formula dosages for children should be
discussed with a knowledgeable health-care practitioner.
Supplements and herbs
- Barberry or
coptis or
goldenseal or
Oregon grape root tincture. Take 15-20
drops in 1/4 cup water 3 times daily for 10 days.
Keeps strep from attaching to lining of the throat.
Do not use barberry, coptis, goldenseal, or Oregon grape root if you are pregnant or have
gallbladder disease Do not use these herbs daily for more than 2 weeks Do not take these
herbs with supplemental vitamin B, or with protein supplements containing the
amino acid histidine. Do not use goldenseal if you have cardiovascular disease or
glaucoma.
- Echinacea E. purpurea tablets. Take at least 900 mg daily.
Keeps strep from forming colonies in which they multiply rapidly.
Avoid Echinacea if you have an autoimmune disease, such as
rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Do not use this herb if you have a chronic infection, such as HIV or
tuberculosis.
- Garlic oil. Take 3-4 drops in 1/4 cup water once daily as gargle.
Relieves difficulty in swallowing.
- Ginger tea (powdered), prepared with 1/3 tsp (1 gm) tea and 1 cup water.
Take 1 cup 3 times daily.
Relieves pain.
- Myrrh tincture. Take 10-30 drops in 1/4 cup water up to 3 times daily.
Soothes throat ulcers. Stops excessive formation of phlegm.
Additional things you may do
- Take 250 to 500 milligrams of vitamin C four to six
times a day. Vitamin C supplementation almost eliminates
the risk of rheumatic fever and strep-induced rheumatoid
arthritis.
- Always take the full course of any prescribed
antibiotic. Taking only part of the prescribed medication wipes
out the weakest bacteria but leaves stronger bacteria
resistant to the antibiotic to multiply. When these resistant
bacteria reinfect you or infect someone else, the antibiotic
may not work.
- If you take antibiotics, also take a probiotic
supplement such as Lactobacillus acidophilous or Bifidobacterium
bifidus while you are taking the medication and for two
weeks afterward. This will maintain helpful bacteria in the
digestive tract and prevent a later yeast infection. Take the probiotic supplement as far apart in time from the
antibiotic as possible. Check expiration dates to make sure the
supplement is fresh and the bacteria are live.
- Change your toothbrush every two to four weeks.
Toothbrushes can be a reservoir for repeated strep infection.
- Do not give aspirin or any aspirin-containing product
to a child who shows symptoms of a viral infection.
Aspirin use can result in Reye's syndrome, a potentially
serious complication.
- Antibiotics usually have little effect on the bacteria in
the throat itself, and do not always prevent complications.
About 20 percent of the time, antibiotics fail to kill off all of
the strep bacteria. When antibiotic treatments for strep
throat are unsuccessful, it is usually because there is a
secondary infection with Staphylococcus aureus or Bacteriodies
bacteria. These bacteria shield the strep bacteria by
deactivating penicillin. To help penicillin (Bicillin, Pentids,
PenVee, Pfizerpen, Veetids, Wycillin) or erythromycin (Eryc,
Ilotycin, PCE, Pediamicin, Pediazole) treatment work
better, gargle with 10 to 15 drops of oil of cloves mixed
with 1/4 cup water twice daily, and take 500 milligrams of
scutellaria three times daily as long as you are taking
antibiotics. Oil of cloves kills staph bacteria that may be
masking strep, and scutellaria kills staph bacteria that are
resistant to penicillin.
- Chronic hay fever and food allergies keep the lining of
the throat irritated and susceptible to infection.
Other beneficial herbs
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