One of the most common infections, particularly among children, is strep throat, and due to its contagious nature, it is important to recognize the symptoms quickly, and also know home remedies for the infection, including the use of salt water, garlic, cayenne, apple cider vinegar, licorice root, honey, peppermint, and fenugreek tea, among others.
Strep Throat Remedies
Home Remedies for Strep Throat are as follows:
Peppermint
One of the key ingredients in peppermint that delivers so many of its health benefits if menthol, which is well known to cut through mucus and soothe the throat, reducing the urge to cough, which would further irritate the inflamed tissues. Peppermint oil mixed with water can be an excellent way to reduce inflammation and speed healing.
Salt Water
Few remedies are as simple or successful as a salt water gargle when it comes to naturally treating a strep throat. The taste is anything but pleasant, but it can quickly suck the water from the inflamed tissues and cells in your throat, easing the pressure and making it easier to swallow. Salt is also very effective at breaking up mucus, so any associated congestion from the infection in your sinuses can be cleared out as well, speeding the healing process.
Cayenne
It may seem counterintuitive to put cayenne pepper in your throat, given how spicy it can be, but in reality, capsaicin (the active ingredient in most peppers) is an excellent analgesic and anti-inflammatory substance. Mix some cayenne pepper with water and gargle for 10-20 seconds and feel the irritation of strep throat disappear!
Garlic
As with so many other ailments, one of the most effective and fast-acting home remedies for strep throat is a clove of garlic. While this hardly sounds appetizing, if you are suffering with this infection, you can cut a garlic clove in half and suck on it, occasionally swallowing and allowing your saliva to carry the garlic’s natural compounds down into the throat. Garlic contains allicin as its active ingredient, which has powerful antibacterial properties and can also reduce inflammation, thus helping soothe the painful burning in your throat and attacking the underlying infection.
Lemon and Water
Many of the best remedies for strep throat include gargling, and mixing lemon and water is also highly effective. Gargling this mixture can soothe the throat and also deliver citric acid and antibacterial effects to the inflamed areas, helping you to get relief and ward off the bacteria.
Apple Cider Vinegar
There is an extremely high level of acidity in apple cider vinegar, which means that it can effectively eliminate bacteria, and it has long been known as an immune system booster. Mixing a bit of apple cider vinegar into lukewarm water and gargling with it 1-2 times per day can speed the recovery process of strep throat.
Licorice Root
A very effective tea for curing strep throat can be made with licorice root, as it functions as a cough suppressant. The irritation of strep throat can cause excessive coughing, which then makes the throat more inflamed, forming a vicious cycle. A cup of this tea, however, and the urge to cough will disappear.
Honey
As a natural healing agent, honey is packed with important minerals, antioxidants and organic compounds that can boost overall health. However, there is a very good reason why people put honey in their tea so often; it naturally coats the throat and relieves inflammation and pain, being an analgesic. This can reduce the irritation in the throat and also stimulate the healing process by neutralizing dangerous bacteria.
Steam Inhalation
As with many respiratory problems, inhaling steam deep into your lungs can help to loosen congestion and works as an expectorant. Since excess coughing and congestion can wear on the throat, further irritating the inflamed tissues, getting this congestion out is crucial, particularly because the bacteria often seeks out mucus to multiply and thrive.
Ginger
Ginger is a powerful antioxidant compound with an active ingredient called gingerol, which has immune-boosting properties and can easily defend against the bacteria that causes strep throat. Let ginger soak in water overnight and then gargle each morning; it will not only clear your sinuses, but also help eliminate the bacterial infection more quickly.
