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More parents seem to be making an effort in recent years to limit antibiotic exposure for their children. This is due to concerns about how this may impact long term health or contribute to increased susceptibility to deadly superbugs such as C-Diff. Treating strep throat without meds remains a glaring exception to this trend.
It seems that whenever a doctor diagnoses a child or even an adult with strep throat, there is no question that they require an immediate round of antibiotics. Even those who typically avoid meds and follow a more holistic lifestyle seem to fall into this trap.Â
Strep Throat Symptoms
There is no doubt that strep throat is a serious infection. It is a bacterial infection and involves severe inflammation of the throat and tonsils. Typical signs of strep throat include:
- Sudden, severe sore throat
- Fever higher than 101°F/ 38 °C
- Pain when swallowing
- Pale colored spots on the back of a bright red throat
Some people suffering from strep throat will also get swollen lymph glands in their neck. Others experience vomiting or a red skin rash.
How Long Does Strep Throat Last?
Strep throat will only last 3 to 7 days with or without treatment. Doctors usually treat strep throat with antibiotics even though they will not make you well any faster. Strep throat contagiousness will continue for 24 hours once antibiotics are started. With no treatment, strep throat continues to be contagious until symptoms resolve.
In response to the persistent overuse of antibiotics for strep throat, the journal Canadian Family Physician states:
… symptoms caused by a bacterial sore throat [strep] fail to clear much faster when treated with antibiotics than they would if left alone.
It is certainly easier and quicker to hand out prescriptions every time than to explain and reassure. Each time we do this, however, we reinforce patients’ fears.
Do family physicians have to declare a conflict of interest in answering these questions? If we were to lower ourselves to examining the vulgar subject of money, it is certainly in our financial interest to keep many patients scared enough to rush to our offices whenever they get sore throats.
In view of the large number of antibiotics prescribed for sore throats, perhaps it is time to review whether we should be using such treatment for strep throat infections at all.
Is Strep Throat Overmedicated?
Mmmm.
Sounds like the idea of not administering antibiotics for strep throat may not be as crazy as it first sounds. Are doctors overmedicating strep throat just like they overmedicate ear infections, colds and sinus/respiratory infections?
A round of antibiotics has the potential to cause permanent damage to the gut flora. This, in turn, has a lifelong impact on overall immunity to both chronic and acute illness. Skipping those antibiotic pills altogether may prove in the long run to be the smartest approach of all.
Do You Have to Get Antibiotics for Strep Throat?
In light of the fact that every round of antibiotics potentially damages the gut in a manner than can never be 100% repaired, I think questioning the automatic use of antibiotics for every single case of strep is worth consideration. While some people clearly need meds, they are not necessary for everyone even if the suggestion may seem ludicrous at first.
The complications of strep throat are, after all, extremely serious. However, they are also rare especially for a healthy person with no autoimmune issues. Scarlet fever, inflammation of the kidney, or rheumatic fever which could permanently damage the heart are all remote possibilities.
I dated a guy in high school who was deaf in one ear from Scarlet fever (who is ironically now a MD). I am in no way kidding myself about how serious complications from strep throat can be by questioning whether antibiotics are truly needed for this type of infection.
My Experience with Untreated Strep Throat
My serious doubts about the wisdom of using antibiotics for strep throat go back to my one and only experience with this infection the summer I turned 15.  Strep was by far the worst sore throat I’ve ever had and the pain when I swallowed was almost unbearable to endure.
My Father, a Family Physician, made the decision not to put me on any antibiotics and let me ride it out under my own power. My Dad wasn’t into herbs or anything so I didn’t have any alternative treatments administered either.
The infection lasted over a week … my memory remembers a full two weeks but it might have been a few days shy of that.
I lost several pounds during that illness as I could only endure swallowing liquids the entire time. I pretty much subsisted on vanilla milkshakes from the ice cream shop down the road for the duration of that awful infection and I still got well under my own power with no complications.
The interesting thing is that I seem to have developed an immunity to strep ever since. I’ve never had strep throat ever again in 35+ years. This is despite repeated exposures at close range. During college, I even had a roommate with strep and didn’t get sick. This despite eating pretty rotten cafeteria food and lots of sugary foods. This no doubt suppressed my immune function considerably.
Is it possible that allowing the body to fight off strep throat naturally on its own confers partial or total immunity?
I’ve often considered this possibility over the years. My personal belief is that yes, it is very much possible to develop an immunity to strep throat. Certainly, though, my anecdotal story does not in any way provide sufficient evidence.
I can say with certainty that if and when any of my children (or myself) ever came down with strep throat, hands down I would without question skip the antibiotics.
Why?
Developing Strep Throat Immunity (yes, it’s possible!)
The reason is that folks who take antibiotics for strep throat seem to get it over and over and over again. Sometimes they get strep throat again within mere days or weeks from the previous infection. Have you noticed this vicious cycle too?
Wouldn’t it be a far better and healthier approach to fight it off one time and be done with it possibly for the rest of your life?
My retired MD Dad is of the philosophy that if you give the body a crutch every time it gets ill, it will always expect and demand that crutch. This results in immunity getting weaker over time. I have witnessed the truth of this philosophy through observation. Those who have the tendency to over-medicate their illnesses whether it be with antibiotics or (gasp) even natural remedies can unwittingly experience a downside.
Attempting to squelch illness at the first sign of a sniffle, for example, is not a wise approach in my opinion even if nontoxic.
The immune system stays strong when it is allowed to fight and defeat an illness with no interference. Ideally, rest and nourishment only (including frequent mugs of homemade bone broth or soups made with it) should be provided.
Now, I do think that much consideration needs to be given to the health of the individual before forgoing the meds. A child with autoimmune issues who is not eating well in the first place probably should just take the antibiotics.
On the other hand, a robust healthy child with no autoimmune illness who is consuming an excellent diet has a superb chance of handling the infection well with no intervention.
My Daughter’s Experience with Untreated Strep Throat
Recently, my preteen daughter came down with strep. She is my youngest child, and this was the first time any of my three children had ever had strep throat.
Given that she is healthy with no underlying health issues, my husband and I decided to ride it out. We treated her with natural antibiotics only.
The result?
She recovered completely within 48 hours. In fact, the white spots on her throat disappeared in less than 12 hours once we started treatments. We used garlic, raw manuka honey, and turmeric several times a day.
It will be interesting to see if she ever gets strep throat again. My bet is that she won’t. She will likely develop partial or total lifelong immunity just like I did when I recovered at age 15 from untreated strep.
UPDATE
It’s been nearly four years including a very bad flu season with no recurrence of strep for my daughter. It’s looking good for her having developed natural immunity.
Have you recovered from strep throat with no antibiotics needed? Did you develop a strep throat immunity afterward? Please let us know your experience in the comments section.
References
Canadian Family Physician, Should we treat strep throat with antibiotics?
More Information
How to Repair Your Gut After Antibiotics
Why Antibiotics Today Could Threaten Your Life Tomorrow
This is good to know. I had strep as a kid a few times. I did have antibiotics because my parents are just “like that,” into mainstream medicine. I haven’t had it as an adult, nor have my children had it. But it’s good to read this, in case it were ever to happen.
I think it’s also so important to look at what you said about “overusing remedies” — including natural ones! I can’t stand it when I hear so-called “natural” minded people touting the latest natural fever reducer or other suppressive remedy. Just because it is not a drug does not mean it is a good idea! I have NEVER suppressed a fever in my children and they’ve never had one lasting longer than 18 hours. The fevers have gotten pretty high — at least 104 — at times, but I still didn’t administer any remedies, and the children did fine and fever broke within the 18 hours, never to return (during that illness). If you are miserable, it’s okay to take a remedy so you can rest, but every remedy — in my opinion — should be aimed at supporting the body’s own healing mechanisms, NOT ever suppressing any symptoms. I am very, very wary of suppressive medicine. I don’t think enough concern and caution is afforded to this issue, even in the natural community.
But if you’ve had a child seize from a high fever then you would be administering a fever reducer…. Every single time.
I’m sorry, but this information is wrong and harmful, and I would ask you to please retract this article.
WebMD is correct when it says that strep will go away on its own. The only reason physicians treat strep is to prevent rheumatic heart disease, which will cause heart failure later in life. So yes, strep goes away, but you can develop rheumatic heart disease. When you treat strep with antibiotics, however, it prevents rheumatic heart disease. If you don’t believe me, take a trip to South America. Rheumatic heart disease is nasty stuff, and it was the leading cause of death in people 5-20 years old 100 years ago. Antibiotics, used properly, are a wonderful thing (though I’ll be the first to admit that they are overused improperly here in the US).
[http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/891897-overview]
Hey MIchael, I disagree with your request for retraction.
I’m not sure how many times you’ve ever had strep, but I’ve had it *lots*. I’d say no less than 20 times in my life. No matter how many times I took antibiotics, it never “treated” my strep, it only *postponed* it. Anecdotal as my evidence may be, only antibiotic *avoidance* got rid of my strep for good.
I wouldn’t go around comparing badly nourished 3rd world strep sufferers and use them as a basis for untreated strep causing heart disease. Not only is my heart fine, I went on the have a baby with a fine heart, and did I NOT test positive for strep in pregnancy. Is that possibly because I let strep run it’s course and let my body build a resistance to it in my 20’s even though I was suffering from autoimmune disease at the time? Probably. There is a time and place for getting antibiotic assistance. I’d say if I were having heart failure from complications, of strep, of course I’d take antibiotics! That is what they are supposed to for- present life threatening emergencies, not hypothetical possibilities of what could go wrong if…. I’ll take the discomfort and a fever of 104, some home made soup and extra sleep, once to be over it instead of having it 4x per year forever. The author is simply stating that some people might be better off and get rid of it for real, if they work on building a healthy immune system and save the antibiotics for real emergencies. That is believable, and might help lots of people, who are currently suffering to end the nasty strep cycle once and for all.
shaniqua, i’m sorry you have suffered from strep so many times. it is very painful! but you stand to be correct on a few errors. One, the term “strep” is a generic term that means a bacteria that grows in chains. there are several species of bacteria that commonly infection humans…group A strep is what causes strep throat. group B strep is what they test for in pregnancy, it is a common bug in many vaginas and can cause severe and fatal infections in newborns. but they are 2 different bacteria.
secondly, like Michael said, and to elaborate, the heart damage is not caused directly by the bacteria…so taking antibiotics will not help those with the heart failure. only by treating initial strep throat infection can you prevent the heart disease. it is a VERY rare complication…and thankfully it dose not sound like you have had this complication. but for those who do, it is often fatal. it is very serious. it is not merely a “hpothetical possibility”…it is an actual disease that many people die from. those deaths could have been prevented by a very inexpensive course of penicillin.
all that said…i am all for people making a truly informed decision before taking an antibiotic. you must weigh the risk of serious complications with the risk of the effects on your body of the antibiotics. i am willing to bet that Michael does not agree with the serious negative side effects of the antibiotics on the gut and brain that Sarah documents. So his decision is a risk – free antibiotic vs a unlikely but possible fatal heart disease. i’d take the abx.
but what sarah repeatedly writes about are the actual harmful effects on the gut and brain, resulting from taking antibiotics. and THAT is what you must weight…risk of taking the abx to the risk of not taking them.
Yeah. You are right that the streps have nothing to do with each other, but would it be such a leap that if your body can fight one pathogenic strain of strep, that it could do the same for a similar pathogenic strain? Antibiotics can’t do that for you and most people who rely on antibiotics never find that truth out.
Antibiotics save lives. I have nothing against going all out when it is shown that my life, right now is on the line. I have done this before with other medical intervention in my lifetime. I would do it again.
ALL drugs have unwanted side effects.
Antibiotics, life savers that they are, are NOT Risk-Free.
Not by a long shot.
My MAIN problem with antibiotics is not with the antibiotics themselves, it’s that TOO MANY laypeople and medical personnel believe that they are risk free. If they acknowledge the risks and were equally prepared to help that sufferer deal with the consequences, I’d have no problem. Instead doctors talk as if they saved your life from strep, then turn their back and throw up their hands in denial when those side effects rear their ugly head. They do this with every drug on the market.
When the fear of illness rears it’s ugly head, they go out with heavy ammo, like they are hunting a murderous psychopath, when all THIS person is dealing with is a schoolyard bully. They make no distinction because they believe antibiotics are RISK FREE.
Dangerous mistake.
While they are going after the bully, the real psycho blindsides you from the back, and you are left defenseless as in an antibiotic resistant something else that WILL kill you SLOWLY or diminish the quality of your life to the point that you often WISH the strep killed you quickly.
Too many doctors (not all, but too many) lead with their ego, their medical school plaque and FEAR and NOT with their critically thinking brain. Their attitude is “I’ve been taught this in medical school and I have more than you memorized from my schoolbook than you.
Then you have cutting edge brilliant Medical researchers making great advances and discoveries and by the time the tune changes in medical school text books, and then to the general public, too many people have since died or suffered. Some truths are so vilified and buried so deep, that people have been tricked into dis-believing the truth.
Anyone out there who believes that antibiotics are risk free, I pray that they are on the prescribing end and not the receiving end if -God forbid- those side affects rear their ugly head with unexplained, life stealing illnesses that their medical doctor has no answers for. I keep them in the top of my prayers, because only a divine miracle or a GOOD naturopath (who I personally believe do God’s work), will be able to save them from suffering by encouraging/coaxing out/tapping into the healing ability of that persons body.
Totally agree with your comment about strep bacteria- whether it’s in your throat or vagina- being related. All of the women that I know of that have tested positive for GBS in pregnancy have poor, misguided diets (mostly processed, high-carb food). I often tell women who test positive at 32 weeks or in a previous pregnancy that they should think about adjusting their diet- cutting out sugar and processed foods and adding a probiotic and other nutritious foods, and be tested again before birth to avoid the antibiotics that regularly follow a GBS + diagnosis.
I understand where you’re coming from Michael, but I don’t think you understand where I’m coming from. I do not intent to retract anything. What is said is this article is long overdue and folks need to understand how overmedicated strep throat is and that there can be benefits to riding it out as in my situation.
Remember, an MD declined to give me antibiotics for my strep. This was not a lay decision. This was an informed, medical choice by a qualified medical professional. I think he knew full well what he was doing and other folks need to know that there are other options than the antibiotic merry go round for strep.
I’ll respond to you both to save space:
1) Once the damage is done from rheumatic fever, you can’t go back and take antibiotics, and rheumatic heart disease is a silent killer that is usually discovered only when it’s too late. Rheumatic fever has to be treated with antibiotics before it begins. If you read the article I posted, you’ll see that rheumatic heart disease was one of the most common diseases and biggest causes of mortality in kids 100 years ago. People still get strep today, so it’s not a matter of sanitation, like most diseases. The improvement has come from antibiotics.
2) There is a big difference between what a single family physician (who has very broad training in many fields) says, and what the entire body of pediatricians (as well as the academy of family physicians!) say. I’m training to become a pediatrician, and I say kids with strep need to take antibiotics. Hear me on this: I’m a big advocate for not treating every sniffle a kid gets with antibiotics. They’re overused, we’re creating resistance through evolutionary pressures, and there are side effects that require carefully weighing costs and benefits. But strep needs to be treated.
I’m not asking you to retract your entire body of work. I disagree with many things you write, but I’m willing to say there’s wiggle room on most things. After all, only parents can decide what we think is best for kids. However, when you write to such a broad audience about subjects that are this crucial, I think you do the many people who trust you and look to you for advice a grave disservice. Please reconsider, as 90,000 children die worldwide every year from the long-term complications of this disease.
it is true that the post-infectious sequella (ie. complications) from strep throat can include post-strep GN – kidney diease (though its a benign, self-limiting form of kidney damage) and rheumatic fever. in order to make a decision on abx tx, you need to weigh risks vs. benefits. the risk of rheumatic fever is very very small. but it does happen. and treating the strep throat with abx will decrease the chances of rheumatic fever. antibiotic therapy does NOT prevent the kidney disease. the consequences of the abx are known (and documented many times on this blog and elsewhere). Of course it is ALWAYS the decision of the parent in how to treat their child and themselves. I think it is so important to have all the facts, so as parents and patients ourselves, we can make a truly informed decision.
Hey Michael,
Not to change the topic too much, but have you heard of fecal transplants?:
Unless you are unconcerned with what happens to your patients when they are too old to be seen by a ped, you may want to ask yourself, how do I get my clients to be on the fecal donor list at age 18 rather than the transplantee list? The lives of those patients are completely dependent on the fecal material of a person who most likely did not depend on antibiotics. Real physical problem, not a hypothetical one.
The answer is a healthy immune system, and that begins in the gut. I’m sure that you have read of the havoc that antibiotics wreck on the internal gut flora. You may have even read that correcting that imbalance has helped manage the symptoms of autism, asthma and autoimmune diseases, allergies etc. Not sure if you believe that, but some have found it helpful. You know, those illnesses that don’t kill you but basically make life for the sufferers and their family a living hell.
Strep sufferers are at an extreme disadvantage because their internal flora will have been nearly obilterated by the time they are a young adult, with the many courses that are taken to keep this at bay.
When it comes to internal biological diversity, I believe in keeping up with the joneses. Given the right tools the immune system of a well built healthy human specimen will run circles around the immune systems that depend on a factory produced pill any. Generally the one depending on the factory is at least 6-18 months behind. Our only hope as a society is to get all of our needlessly suffering fellow humans up to speed, intestinally speaking.
As a future pediatrician, I see you as a helping arm of the parents protecting or creating whatever immunity that child is born with, acquires during breastfeeding and building on that, making that kid as strong as possible. C Difficile is antibiotic resistant, as well as many bacteria are now becoming. As a pediatrician, you may pat yourself on the back for giving 20 scrips of antibiotics to a child before they are 18, and yes that child did not develop the heart problem, that they had a possibility of developing have, but most likely they will keep getting strep long past when it is your job to prescribe to them. What happens when they ACTUALLY acquire something like C Difficile or an autoimmune diseases at age 25? You played the internists ace, on strep for the first years of their life, now they have nothing to fall back on in an ACTUAL emergency. In those cases you have done more damage treating a hypothetical and not even helpful treating the strep as they are still fighting off the same strep they got when you gave them their first scrip when they were 5.
I disagree with the practice of treating possible complications that have not happened. Sure. The person could develop a complication. Treat the complication. I’m no doctor, and I don’t plan on being one, but I believe the fastest way to get over being sick is to not touch a fever, and I got this advice from many sources, but one that may jibe with you is the opinion of a well respected pediatrician http://www.amazon.com/Raise-Healthy-Child-Spite-Doctor/dp/0345342763/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1317616523&sr=1-1-catcorr
I think this is an excellent read from a fiesty old school doctor who had nothing to loose but to say his piece after being a well respected ped for over 40 years, 20 years ago.
WOW!! Really? I’d love to know where some of these people come from. I myself, have a 5 year old laying next to me with a 102.3 fever, from strep throat. Which she got from her brother, who just started antibiotics after testing positive for strep after having it for 1 month. We decided to try to ride it out. However, after 30 days, the risk of infection to my oldest (13 with MAJOR health issues-mostly respiratory) was just too high. I suffered from strep numerous times as a child, and even had scarlett fever. Have you ever been that sick?? To treat it before it gets that bad is what any sane parent would want to do to prevent not only pain and suffering but long term health problems!!
What the author of this post, and many of the people commenting have failed to mention, is to have the person monitored by a physician! Moms and Dad’s are not doctors. We can not diagnose wether the strep is gone, or merely lying dormant (as it does often in my son).
To address your info on fecal transplants….. have YOU ever had to go there??? Because I HAVE! It was our last option to cure my son from C. Diff, and luckily we didn’t have to take that last option. I won’t go into more details, but it purely seems you are looking for an arguement with very little knowledge of what you’re really talking about. Reading an article and actually being faced with a complication that serious are two very different things.
Well said. While I agree with this article that immunity can develop if illnesses are naturally overcome, it should not be advocated to a wide audience who may take that advice without a grain of salt. I had strep throat five years ago and I (stubbornly, and drunkenly) decided to ride it out with no medication.
After eight days of running a high fever that got progressively worse by the day and barely being able to swallow down water or walk, I had no choice but to be dragged into the physician for the antibiotics. Sure, the antibiotics screwed up my immunity and digestion for years after that, up until recently, when I started seeing doctors of both western medicine and traditional chinese medicine to fix the long term repercussions of taking just three days worth of antibiotics.
Had I tried to follow the advice of this article, or if my parents had followed this advice, I would have been near death or at the very least, suffered from irreparable consequences from practicing a strict no meds rule. Parents, children, readers, please gauge each illness by case, and not by examples of what worked for some, because it may not be what is best for others.
Michael,
Just like you said regarding rheumatic heart disease, same goes for the use of antibiotics. Although, you are bringing up a statistically irrelevant complication of the streptococcus infection compared to the side effects of antibiotics.
I am a 20-year old nursing student, and I feel that antibiotics are over prescribed, and highly destructive for the human body. As Sarah said metaphorically, “antibiotics provide your body with a crutch.” This crutch can hinder a person way more than you would believe. I will use myself as an example. Many other people have experienced similar outcomes as I have.
I, like many of the people on here, have had numerous strep infections, between 25 and 50 total, starting at about age 10. I’m only 20, so that is appalling. I would be prescribed amox. every time, only for the bacteria to recolonize and wreak havoc on my body further. I’ve even had the strep vaccine. Just after I got this vaccine, I contracted the worst case of strep I’ve had to date. This case became scarlet fever. Unless you’ve had it, you wouldn’t know the agony it ensues. Your skin burns. Literally burns, that how painful the rashes are. Not to mention that your tongue is swollen, and you still have the strep symptoms, along with nausea and vomiting. My doc prescribed yet another antibiotic. And my frequent use of antibiotics has caused many problems for me, that a young individual shouldn’t have to endure. Like Shaniqua, I have been plagued with UTIs, skin infections such as staphylococcus but also prolonged GI problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diverticulitis, and impaction. Antibiotics have also cause a lesion in my brain that was operated on this March. So I don’t think antibiotics are something that should be as quickly prescribed as they are, for EVERYTHING. Take it from me, I would rather deal with strep at its worst than all of the complications I’ve had from antibiotics. We have found that I am actually allergic to antibiotics, as someone earlier in this thread has mentioned. Many people, like me, are allergic to antibiotics, and that’s why they keep getting the infections that the antibiotics are supposed to be treating. I’ve had the same outcome with UTIs. I actually just had a nasty one not too long ago, and was yet again on antibx. Which caused another vicious cycle of recurring infection both there, candidiasis, my stomach, and intestines. So don’t preach so highly of antibiotics until you know the full extent of what they can do for, and to, the human body. Not only do antibiotics kill the bacteria causing the infection, they also wipe put your normal flora, causing your body’s immune system to be severely compromised to opportunistic pathogens, even nosocomial staphylococcus aureus, if your infections have gotten to the point where you need hospitalization. I’m sure you’ve heard of that. It’s on every medical professionals mind, the impact of MRSA. That being said, I do agree that antibiotics are necessary for immunosuppressed individuals, since they could die trying to fight an infection alone. But that’s a whole different animal.
I agree Michael!
http://www.centerforhomeopathy.com/strep-throat/
This article gets into how strep strains have changed over the years and no longer results in Rheumatic fever, or almost never. I am on my fourth day of strep but the fever was gone after second night. I am getting better incrementally but really resting and taking natural supplements.
Here is another article about homeopathically treating it.
I agree Michael. Go to the doctor. More importantly, please take your children to a doctor. Antibiotics are wonderful as long as you don’t use them improperly or too frequently.
How often does strep actually lead to rheumatic fever or is the warning similar to telling someone if they drive they can die in a car wreck?
My question is to Shaniqua. I would LOVE to know how you totally eradicated the Candida problem you had, especially if it was systemic! You can email me.
[email protected]
Sure.
I would suggest GAPS. With modifications it can be used to get candida under control. You can also join the GAPShelp yahoo group:
I would also like to know how to eradicate candida.
Thanks! I’ve gained some new insights about all of this, and have much to think on. As always, I appreciate what you’re doing!
After we opted out of our health insurance and stopped going to the pediatrician, my daughter came down with strep throat. Ahhh, what was I to do with no doctor to write a prescription! When her fever shot up to 105 and she was laying around, I thought of the amazing manager of the health food store around the corner. I called and sure enough she had an alternative and said to try oil of oregano. She shared with me some research and within 3 doses by next evening the pus was gone and she was running around with her siblings. Not one of the 10 of us have had strep again even with exposure. I would love to know if anyone else has used this and have had the same success!
Oil of Oregano worked well for my strep too. I haven’t had it in about 6 years. I used to get it all the time. I also took probiotics and improved my nutrition, but in an acute case of strep that stuff works, and does not break you down as much as a scrip antibiotic does.
How much oil of oregano do you use, and how is it used? Thanks!
EXCEEDINGLY well done!
I have successfully treated strep in my children using herbal teas, olive leaf extract, oil of oregano, bee propolis (all orally) and peppermint oil on the neck and chest (externally). I would not let it go without helping the body fight it. It is tempting to head to the doctor after day 4-5 when the throat is so incredibly sore and raw, but when you research it on the internet and find that the anti-biotics do NOT take away the symptoms (which is what the person would want relief from) and there is still a likelihood of it returning, I say it is sooo much better to help your body fight it naturally and let it runs it’s course. It does take a good week to get over it even with the help of these things, but there is always that turning point and I do not fear it spreading.
I have also treated the swine flu that turned into secondary pneumonia naturally (this took a lot of diligence and consistency). It is up to us to learn and have the tools on hand before sickness strikes, then we can use them to fight whatever it is. With this sort of treatment we are also passing wisdom and self-sufficiency on to our children as well.
Vanilla milkshares? No wonder it lasted a couple weeks lol! When my daughter has signs of strep, she goes to bed and only drinks raw fruit smoothies if she’s hungry or fresh fruit. She’s always better the next day. Her fever is gone and she’s back to 100% within 2 days! Tonsillitis is nothing more than too many toxins in your body trying to get out. Fruit is what the body is designed to eat and is easiest on your body as far as digestion and elimination. Healthy bodies do not develop tonsillitis. Dairy is very mucus forming and eating it during illness will only prolong the body’s attempt to get rid of the toxins.
Well, I never said the milkshakes were a great idea. I only told you what I ate during my illness which was over 30 years ago long before anything holistic had ever crossed my mind.
The point of me telling that is to show that you can get over strep with no meds even when the nourishment during recovery leaves a lot to be desired.
I have to say that raw fruit wouldn’t have been much better though. Way too much fructose and where is the fat to slow down the huge glycemic response to such a huge infusion of carbs? The best foods for recovery would be homemade soups, broths, and of course fermented cod liver oil and butter oil.
well, actually tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils. it can be caused by different things, but in the case of strep throat, the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection (group A strep). it is true that the bacteria secrete toxins (found in their cell walls) that cause your immune system to react (like elevating your temp) as you fight off the bacteria.
I have never had strep in my life nor have my children. Knock on wood.
However, when pregnant I tested positive for being a strep carrier. After reading your post it intrigues me to do some research regarding what that really means etc…
My Mom was always of the belief to try and let your body fight an illness/infection. She rarely took us to the doctor and yes we usually got over it. There were of course a few exceptions but few. I find myself doing the same with my kids. My daughter had her 6 year old check up the other day and she hadn’t been in for an illness in over 2 years and the Doc. kept questioning whether that was accurate!
its a different kind of strep SWEST…group A gives strep throat, group B is what they test for in pregnancy. :wink actually the term “strep” means the bacteria grown in chains, but there are many species that do this. A and B are the 2 most common that cause infection in humans.
My family never has been prone to strep throat, thank the lucky stars, but when my kids were growing up they had a number of friends who suffered through this annually, sometimes more often. I always suggested apple cider vinegar (mixed quite strong) to those families and it never failed to help without hours. 4 oz filtered water, warmed, add 2 TBSP raw apple cider vinegar (like Bragg’s or another organic brand) and use it like this: gargle the first mouthful, then take a very small sip and swallow it; repeat until the glass is gone. It’s gaggy, I’ll admit that, but it DOES work. I always recommended using this mixture every 3-4 hours. Usually by the third application it was so much better they didn’t want to continue, but it’s best to do this for at least two days and REALLY get it outta there. The second day could be every 4-6 hours, instead of 3-4 hours if you’d rather.
Scientifically, I have no clue if it’s ever been proven or if it ever will be, because after all it can’t be patented for sale by the pharma doods. I highly doubt any doctor would recommend it but I surely do because I’ve seen it work hundreds of times.
The sooner the gargles begin, the sooner it helps. It’s sometimes hard to get littler kids to do this, but even off a spoon (small amounts) helps immeasurably.
** CORRECTION TO THE ABOVE POST: It should read within hours, not without hours. Sheesh.