Throat

Strep Throat Preparation

Ingredients

  • 3-5 garlic cloves (3-4 cloves equals an adult dose of penicillin)
  • 1 Tablespoon raw honey (Note: It’s important to use raw honey because of its sterile properties. Bacteria cannot live in a sterile environment)
  • 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

How to make:

Place 1 Tablespoon of raw honey on a small saucer place. Stir in cayenne pepper. Put garlic in a press and press into honey/cayenne mixture. Stir with a spoon. Take this preparation as often as needed. This preparation can begin to heal strep throat in 24 to 48 hours (compare that to the 10-day penicillin protocol!)

Other things you can do to help soothe

  • Use a Salt Gargle: 1 teaspoon salt in glass of water, gargle (reduce dry, scratchy feeling)
  • warm compress on the outside of throat (especially good if you have swollen lymph nodes)
  • Stay hydrated (avoid citrus drinks and sugary types of liquids)

About 

Strep throat is caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. It is the most common bacterial infection of the throat. Strep throat is most common in children between age 5 and 15, although anyone can get it.Strep throat is spread by person-to-person contact with nasal secretions or saliva. It commonly spreads among family or household members.

Symptoms

Most sore throats are caused by viruses, not strep-related bacteria. However, strep cannot be accurately diagnosed by symptoms or a physical exam alone. Many of the other causes of sore throats may have the same symptoms. Symptoms may be mild or severe. You usually start to feel sick about 2 to 5 days after you come in contact with the bacteria. Symptoms usually begin suddenly and can include:

  • Fever that begins suddenly and is often highest on the second day (101 degrees or more is typical)
  • Red throat, sometimes with white patches
  • Sore throat (persistent, painful)
  • Swollen, tender lymph nodes in neck
  • Headache, Abdomen pains
  • Nausea
  • Chills
  • General ill feeling
  • Loss of appetite and abnormal taste
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Sandpaper like rash in neck and/or chest first, then spreads (indication of scarlet fever)

Some strains of strep throat can lead to a scarlet fever-like rash. This rash is thought to be an allergic reaction to toxins made by the strep bacteria.

Signs and tests

A rapid test can be done in most health care provider offices, but misses a few of the cases.If the rapid strep test is negative and your health care provider still thinks you or your child may have strep, a throat swab can be tested (cultured) to see if strep grows from it. However, it will take one to two days for results to come back.
Prevention

Get a new toothbrush after you are no longer contagious (24 to 48 hours). Otherwise the bacteria can live in the toothbrush and re-infect you. Also, keep your family’s toothbrushes and utensils separate, unless they have been washed.

If repeated cases of strep still occur in a family, you might check to see if someone is a strep carrier. Carriers have strep in their throats, but the bacteria do not make them sick. Sometimes, treating them can prevent others from getting strep throat.

Tonsillitis, Glandular Problems

Ingredients Needed

  • 3 part mullein + 1 part lobelia (by weight; e.g, 3 ounces mullein to 1 ounce lobelia)
  • Distilled water (1 cup for every teaspoon of herb used, but the measurement does not have to be exact)
  • cotton cloth (cloth diaper or white, unbleached dish cloths work well)
  • plastic wrap

How to Make:

Make an infusion tea using distilled water and your herbs: 3 parts mullein and 1 part lobelia (strain if you are not using a tea bag or other filter). Dip cotton cloth into tea and wrap directly around the affected area on the throat. Likely your lymph nodes will be swollen, so this is a good indication of where to place the cloth. Wrap the area with plastic wrap to hold in place. Can use overnight or keep on throughout the day, changing as needed.

Helpful Tips:

  • You may also be able to ease throat pain if you gargle with salt water, drink warm tea, and use other home treatments.
  • A mullein and lobelia combination is good for pulling out many types of glandular infections. This fomentation may also be used for strep throat, thyroid problems (hypo- or hyper-), and even mastitis. If using for mastitis, cut a hole in the center of the cloth so that your nipple area stays exposed and wear a bra to hold in place instead of the plastic wrap. This way you may still nurse your baby while healing your breast area at the same time! Hot and cold treatments (see last helpful tip) will provide some added relief for the mastitis.
  • If you are using a fomentation around your throat a good way to hide the plastic wrap would be to wear a turtleneck or a scarf!
  • Turn the fomentation into an effective “icy-hot” treament by alternating the use of heat and cold to the affected area. A good rule of thumb is to first apply heat to the affected area for 12 minutes using either a hot water bottle or a heating pad. Then apply cold using an ice-pack for 4 minutes. Heat and cold can be applied for more or less time depending on the comfort level of the patient.

What causes tonsillitis?

Most often, tonsillitis is caused by a virus. Less often, it is caused by the same bacteria that cause strep throat. In rare cases, a fungus or a parasite can cause it. Tonsillitis is spread through the air in droplets when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. You may then become infected after breathing in these droplets or getting them on your skin or on objects that come in contact with your mouth, nose, or eyes.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of tonsillitis is a sore throat. The throat and tonsils usually look red and swollen. The tonsils may have spots on them or pus that covers them completely or in patches. Fever is also common. If you feel like you have a cold, with symptoms such as runny and stuffy nose, sneezing, and coughing, a virus is most likely the cause.If you have a sore throat plus a sudden and severe fever and swollen lymph nodes, but you do not have symptoms of a cold, the infection is more likely caused by bacteria. This means you need to see a doctor and probably need a strep test.

How is tonsillitis diagnosed?

Your doctor will look at your throat to see if you have red and swollen tonsils with spots or sores. These signs can mean you have tonsillitis. Your doctor may do a rapid strep test along with a throat culture. These will show whether the tonsillitis is caused by streptococcus bacteria. Your doctor may also ask about past throat infections. If you get tonsillitis often, it may affect the choice of treatment. You may have a test for mononucleosis if your doctor thinks that you have mono.

How is it treated?

Tonsillitis caused by a virus will usually go away on its own. However, an herbal fomentation will promote healing. Treatment focuses on helping you feel better. Do not give aspirin to anyone age 20 or younger. It is linked to a serious disease called Reye syndrome. If your tonsillitis is caused by strep, you will also need to treat it with a strep preparation (located on this same webpage). This will help heal and control the spread of infection.

Share this article