Natural Remedies for Strep and Sore Throat

Sore throat can be annoying but strep throat can put you down and out for days. Strep throat is common, but it is highly contagious and is accompanied by a high fever (over 101 degrees Fahrenheit). Other symptoms include pain and difficulty swallowing, swollen lymph nodes in the throat and neck as well as swollen tonsils. You may also see a white or yellow coating in your throat.

There are some very effective natural cures for strep throat and sore throat. Try these remedies to get relief and to speed healing.

Natural Remedies for Strep Throat

There are some great natural things you can use to treat your sore throat. Try these remedies as gargles and to apply directly to your throat for relief and healing.

Apple Cider Vinegar – Raw, organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar is probably the most effective cure for strep or sore throat.

As a natural sore throat remedy, use it as a gargle. Mix 1-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a cup (6-8 ounces) of warm water. Gargle with it several times a day. Make it as strong as you can stand it because the stronger it is the faster and better it works. It will usually work to relieve the pain in 20 to 30 minutes. Sometimes it may take a little longer, but chances are you will feel relief very quickly.

Sipping apple cider vinegar will also help. You can dilute it in a little water or add some honey to it. If you juice, add it to your veggie juice for a very tasty and healthful zing.

Cayenne Pepper – .Cayenne is one of the best remedies for strep and sore throat, second only to apple cider vinegar. Add some cayenne powder to a little water to make a paste. Use a sterile cotton swab or similar utensil to apply the paste directly to the back of your throat.

Honey – Honey is an amazing anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic substance that is not only great for fighting sore throat and strep throat, but also outstanding for promoting overall health.

You can use a cotton swab to apply honey directly to your throat. For some added power, add some cayenne to make a paste and apply it to your throat.

You can also take a one-half to one teaspoon of raw, organic honey for almost instant relief from sore throat.

Teas for Sore Throat

There are several excellent herbs you can use to create a soothing, healing tea.

Linden – Linden is a very effective sore throat treatment. Steep some linden leaves and flowers in hot water, add some raw, organic honey and drink several cups a day. This can be combined with other remedies including the thyme and fennel tea explained below.

Olive Leaves – Olive leaves are very powerful anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic. You can add a few leaves to any of the teas here for a health and immunity boost. Steep them in hot water and add to the teas.

Thyme and Fennel – Steep a teaspoon each of thyme and fennel in hot water. Strain and add some raw, organic honey. Drink up to 4 times a day.

Sore Throat Concoction – Mix the juice of ¼ lemon, 1-2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, a pinch of cayenne and 1-2 teaspoons of raw, organic honey in a cup of hot water. Stir the concoction well so that all ingredients are mixed and drink several cups a day (up to 4).

Licorice Root – Licorice root is a very soothing and healing for a sore throat. Steep some in hot water and add it to any of the teas here or include some with the other tea ingredients and steep them together.

Strep can become severe and this does not mean that you should not seek medical treatment if necessary. If you do, though and are prescribed antibiotics, make sure you take probiotics as well to keep your system balanced.

Olive Leaves: The Power Herb

The Olive leaf is one of the most underrated and overlooked herbs yet it is one of the most beneficial. I enjoy a cup or two in the evening before bed to help stave off illness. It makes a pleasant tasting tea that is slightly sweet and just a little woodsy. I add a little raw organic honey and it is a very nice bed time tea.

The olive leaf has some pretty amazing properties. It is:

• Anti-bacterial
• Anti-fungal
• Anti-viral
• Anti-septic
• Anti-parasitic
• Astringent
• Immune boosting

It has been used for a variety of conditions including stabilizing blood sugar levels, fighting infection, lowering blood pressure, treating candida, treating parasites, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and other issues.

This article lists the numerous conditions that it treats under the ‘Indicated For’ section.

Olive leaves are powerful against viruses and bacterial infections in the body. This is because they contain compounds that have been shown to be extremely effective in fighting these infections as well as protecting the body against them.

I have found myself coming down with a cold and taken a few cups of olive leaf tea. It significantly shortened my illness and my symptoms were far milder. Recently, I found myself getting sick. I had a sore throat, headache, sneezing, runny nose and swollen glands. I started drinking olive leaf tea, had 4 cups that afternoon and evening, then several more the next day. By the following afternoon my symptoms were gone.

You can get the benefits of olive leaves in the form of a tea or tincture.

For general health:

• Tincture – take 1-2 tablespoons a day before meals.
• Tea – steep 6 or 8 leaves in a cup of hot water. Add raw organic honey and let steep for about 10 minutes. Take 1-2 cups a day.

To fight illness or infection:

• Tincture – take 2 teaspoons every 6 hours.
• Tea – steep 8 leaves in a cup of hot water and add raw organic honey. Let steep for 10 minutes and drink every 2-4 hours.

Olive leaves do lower your blood sugar so if you are diabetic you should be careful. It is a good idea to talk to your doctor before taking it.

Natural Remedies for Indigestion

Many people deal with indigestion, heartburn, gas, and nausea after eating. While it is best to prevent these conditions by avoiding foods that cause them, that isn’t always practical. These herbal remedies for indigestion, heartburn and other issues, are very effective and act fast. You may have to try several before you find a remedy that works for you.

Remedies you can Drink

Enjoying a nice warm drink after a meal helps you relax and can help with digestion. Try any of these warm drinks for natural, herbal remedies for heartburn and indigestion.

Ginger Lime Tonic

2 tsp ginger juice
2 tsp lime juice
raw organic honey to taste

Mix in 4 – 6 ounces of warm water and drink.

Hot Lemon Water before the meal

Steep any of these fresh or dried herbs (or any combination) to make a tea:

• Peppermint
• Chamomile
• Ginger
• Licorice
• Fennel

Spices that Help Indigestion

You can chew these, add them to food or steep them in hot water to make a tea.

• Marjoram
• Coriander
• Red Pepper
• Fennel

Other Remedies for Heartburn and Indigestion

You can also eat some papaya or pineapple after a meal. They contain enzymes that aid in digestion and can prevent or relieve digestion issues.

Some people believe that milk helps with indigestion an acid reflux. The truth is the fat in the milk can actually exacerbate the problem. If you do choose milk, go with skim and don’t drink a lot, just 4 -6 ounces.

Eating an orange after a meal can also help with digestion as it gives your organs a bit of a break. Avoid fruit juices because the fructose they contain can actually cause abdominal distress, pain and gas.

Do you have a favorite natural remedy for indigestion?

Image by David Castillo Dominici
http://freedigitalphotos.net

Life Everlasting

Life everlasting is a flowering plant that is native to North and South Carolina and belongs to the mint family. The flowers are delicate and the flowers, leaves and stems are used for medicinal purposes.

The benefits of this herb are pretty amazing. It is used for sore throat, asthma, colds, congestion, flu and sore mouth. When taken as a hot tea, it will open the sinuses and help to soothe coughs while acting as an expectorant. It is also a mild laxative if taken cold.

Life Everlasting is commonly referred to as Rabbit Tobacco, but it is NOT tobacco and contains no nicotine.

Some people smoke it or place it in a bowl and burn it, inhaling the smoke. However, many people claim to receive the same benefits by steeping the herb in boiling water and inhaling the vapors. It can be taken as a hot tea or as a cold tea.

The Cherokee people, early American settlers and other Native American tribes used Life Everlasting for medicinal purposes. It is very nice when mixed with other herbs or teas. It has a mild, sweet flavor but if you don’t care for the taste, you can add some lemongrass, Ceylon, licorice root, ginger or mint to make it more palatable. But it is a very nice tea even without the additional flavor.

Uses for Life Everlasting

This extremely versatile herb has many uses and can be taken in many different ways.

Hot Infusion (tea)

• Intestinal issues
• Leucorrhea
• Lung and respiratory issues

Cold Infusion

• Mild laxative
• Expel intestinal worms

Tincture (made with apple cider vinegar)

• Arthritis
• Lower back pain
• Sciatica

Applied externally

• Wounds
• Bruises
• Ulcers

Infusion (hot or cold) gargle

• Mouth sores
• Sore throat
• Sore mouth

Breathe in steam or smoke

• Lung problems
• Respiratory problems
• Sinus
• Headache

Ways to prepare Life Everlasting

To make an infusion, steep 1 teaspoon of the leaves and flowers in 1 cup of boiling water. Allow to steep for 5 minutes. You should have 1-2 cups of Life Everlasting a day.

The fresh herb can also be chewed. For external applications, use the leaves.

To inhale the smoke, put some Life Everlasting in a bowl and burn. Alternatively, you can steep it in boiling water and inhale the steam.

To take as a tincture, combine with apple cider vinegar. See How to Make a Tincture.