Are there any natural Cures for strep throat?

[Tap, tap, tap]

I have had a little sore throat for about 2 weeks now. Nothing significant, and I wouldn't even worry except dd has has strep 2x in the past 4 weeks. I haven't been to actually see my doctor in 3 years (no chronic health issues) so I know she will want me to come in if I call her. My kids pediatrician is only lic. for peds so he can't order the test/treatment. I hate to spend $200 on an office visit and labs for nothing and I have no other reason to go in to make it worth while.

If it wasn't for dd I would just figure my allergies are acting up. It has been a crazy winter for weather in Washington so everything was blooming early ... then it snowed!

I am wondering if there are any natural cures for strep that I can try to just see if they make a difference.

TIA,
Tap

[Canada_Mom]

No guarantees, obviously, but you could try gargling with hydrogen peroxide (either full strength or diluted with water) or a few drops of tea tree oil in water. It's worked for me in the past when dealing with strep.

This isn't to say that I'm encouraging you not to go to the doctor, I wouldn't let it go too long (w/o getting better) before going. Strep can get pretty bad and lead to worse things.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

[Kate CA]

I am wondering if there are any natural cures for strep that I can try to just see if they make a difference.

TIA,
Tap

I use this product (http://www.healthwavehgh.com/shopping/product_info.php?cPath=20&products_id=55&osCsid=aa62d9a3a0ccb87b3b0c908cc4c28464) whenever we have any sore throat and we have yet to have any strep. Even if we have the beginning of any soreness we gargle it mixed with some water several times a day and poof, it's gone. :) We buy it at our local health food store. HTH!

[Mrs Mungo]

Gargling with salt water can help a sore throat. My hubby once had a sore throat and didn't believe me. He went to the doctor who told him the same thing I did. ;)

[Audrey]

If you really have strep, you need antibiotics. Period. Strep is can be a nasty thing, and very complicated if let go too long.

However, what you have "could" possibly be something else, in which case you can try a gargle of warm water with a few drops of pure tea tree oil. Careful not to swallow any though. If often induces vomiting. Not fun.

Though, if you have fever at all, see a doctor. If it's strep, you'll want to get that cleared up properly as soon as possible.

[pixelroper]

I'd be a bit nervous w/strep too.

note: If you're uncomfortable ingesting colloidal silver, some say just gargling w/it works better for soar throats anyway. Have used it this way, can't say it was on strep though.

[abbeyej]

Do you have any pharmacies in your area with drop-in clinics?

Our CVS has a "Minute Clinic". Some Krogers, Walgreens, etc, have various similar programs, and many of them accept insurance. Even without my insurance covering the visit, it would be cheaper for me to go to one of those than an "initial visit" with my doctor. You usually just see an NP or maybe a PA, and usually they pretty much just have a little closet in the corner of the store, lol, but if all you want to do is rule out strep, that should be just fine.

If it's strep, you really do need antibiotics. But I also know that I'm a lot more willing to wait it out a few days for myself than I would be for my kids. (Of course, if one of your kids is prone to strep, you don't really want to be exposing them more than necessary either.)

[Lisa at Home]

In addition, we also gargle several times daily with apple cider vinegar (Bragg's brand). We also drink it (acv) in water with some honey, as honey has antibiotic qualities as well.

In addition to that, I throw in a probiotic and some kind of enema, but that might be more than you want to know. :D

~Lisa