|  | Conditions Treatments | Medical Conditions

Strep Throat Cures, Causes, & Home Remedies

Strep throat is a contagious disease that's most common among children and teens, although adults also get it. Children and teens tend to become infected during the school year when they're surrounded by other students in an enclosed space where the infection can spread. There are ways to treat and prevent it.

  1. Cayenne Pepper

    • You can try one or both of these cayenne pepper remedies for strep throat. For the first remedy, you'll need 4 tbsp. of honey, 1 tsp. of cayenne pepper and 16 pressed cloves of garlic. Combine and mix the ingredients. Every 30 minutes or every hour, take between 1/2 tsp. and 1 tsp. of the mixture. Don't drink anything with it, just let the honey, cayenne and garlic coat the throat. Cayenne is great for giving the immune system a boost, and the garlic will fight the bacteria that caused the infection. If you follow the remedy, you should begin feeling better in 24 hours.

      The second remedy for strep throat involves cayenne pepper and milk. Measure 1/8 tsp of cayenne and swallow it every hour. Allow the cayenne to coat the throat for several minutes. It's going to feel like it's burning, but endure it for at least five minutes, then drink a cup of milk. You should begin feeling better in about 24 hours.

    Apple Cider Vinegar

    • Apple cider vinegar will have you feeling better in 24 hours, as well. You'll need 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar and 6 to 8 oz. of water. Now, add the vinegar to the water. Take a tablespoon of your mixture, gargle and spit it out. Then take another tablespoon, gargle and swallow the mixture. Do this every hour for at least 48 hours, even though you should be feeling better in about 24 hours.

    Causes

    • Strep throat is an infection caused by streptococcal bacteria. The bacteria multiplies in the nose and throat. The bacteria is spread by an infected person to another person through coughing, hand shaking, sneezing or laughing. So, it's important to always wash your hands, especially when you've used them to cover your mouth when sneezing and coughing.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of strep throat can be mild or severe and include redness and swollen tonsils, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, headache, swelling of the lymph nodes, white patches, fever, chills and sore throat.

    Prevention

    • Proper hygiene is the best method of preventing the spread of strep throat. Hand washing is the first line of defense against spreading germs. Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and remember to wash your hands. And if someone in your home is infected with strep throat, don't eat and drink behind them. Never use the utensils and dishes as someone who is infected.

Medical Conditions - Related Articles