Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNatural Home RemediesWill Strep Throat Go Away on Its Own?FAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Natural Home Remedies
Will Strep Throat Go Away on Its Own?
FAQ
This article discusses 10 home remedies for strep throat self-care that can ease symptoms of a sore throat.
LaraBelova/Getty Images
Ways to Treat Strep Throat Naturally
Symptoms of strep throat typically improve pretty quickly once antibiotics are started. This treatment is important for avoidingcomplicationsthat include kidney or heart issues. In the meantime, trying the following home remedies may help with symptoms.
Strep Throat vs. Sore Throat: Which Is It?
Get Plenty of Rest
Get as much rest as possible when diagnosed with strep throat. It will help you to cope with your symptoms and may speed up your recovery.
Drink Water
Drinking plenty of water can preventdehydrationand moisten your throat. Children, especially, are at risk of dehydration because of the sore throat experienced with strep. Talk to your pediatrician if you think they may need fluid andelectrolytereplacement beyond water.
Should I Use Gatorade or Pedialyte?
Take a Pain Reliever
Throat pain (and, sometimes, abdominal pain) is a common symptom of strep throat.You can find relief with lozenges and over-the-counter medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) for pain and fever.
Eat Soft, Soothing Foods
Foods that soothe can help during your recovery from strep throat. Applesauce, yogurt, mashed potatoes, and oatmeal are examples of easy-to-swallow foods. Or, you can put soft fruits and other foods into a blender—but avoid acidic foods. The cold from ice or popsicles also can bring relief.
Eat These 15 Foods to Speed Up Cold Recovery
Gargle Salt Water
Gargling with warm salt water several times daily can help ease discomfort and swelling associated with strep throat. It can also help kill bacteria and loosenmucus.
To make a saltwater solution, mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces (1 cup) of warm water.
Try Raw Honey
You can swirl 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey in warm tea or water to help lessen pain and suppress a cough. It’s important to note that babies under 1 year old should not be given honey.
Use a Humidifier
Adding moisture into the environment can help to relieve a sore and irritated throat.It also may help with dehydrated lips, mouth, and airway tissues that often occur with illness, though you can also try a saline spray to add moisture.
Clean your humidifier each day to avoid exposure tobacteriaor mold that can grow in the system.
How to Manage Mold Allergy Symptoms Year-Round
Avoid Irritants
Your symptoms may worsen when you’re exposed to irritants like cigarette smoke (which can lead to infection in and of itself).Avoid smoke, cleaning chemicals, and other substances while ill.
Take Vitamins
If you have strep throat, takingvitamin C supplementsmay help support yourimmune system. Some studies suggest taking vitamin C supplements may help shorten the duration of cold symptoms, such as a sore throat.
Additionally, some studies suggest that high-dosezinclozenges may shorten the duration of a sore, scratchy throat in people with thecommon cold.
Try Elderberry and Echinacea
Echinaceaextract is often used as a herbal remedy to treat colds, viruses, sore throats, and theflu. Research suggests it may offer benefits in treating strep throat pain, along with ginger and clove.Studies also suggest it may help to treatrespiratory infections, reduce inflammation and pain, and have antiviral effects.
Elderberrycontainsanthocyanins(a type offlavonoid) and has been used for years as a home remedy to treat thecoldandflu.One of the most common ways to consume elderberry is in syrup form, but it’s also available in gummies and teas. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against unproven claims and studies often focus on viral rather than bacterial infections like strep.
Dietary Supplements and Regulation
Drink Herbal Tea
Sipping warm, herbal tea can help soothe a sore throat. More specifically, certain teas have compounds that can provide additional relief.
According to one study, herbal tea made with safe concentrations ofbarberry,licorice,thyme, or oregano can relieve discomfort associated with strep throat.
Sip Bone Broth
For years,bone brothhas been used as a remedy for colds andupper respiratory infections.
Drinking bone brothcan help you stay hydrated, and its warmth can help soothe a sore throat. Bone broth containscarnosine, with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.Bone broth also contains beneficial amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Try Essential Oils
Essential oilsmay ease symptoms of strep throat. Lemon essential oil has antibacterial andantioxidantproperties and can prevent the growth of bacteria that causeslisteria. This suggests it may also be beneficial in treating the bacteria associated with strep throat. However, additional studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness in treating strep throat.
Essential oils should only be used with an oil diffuser or humidifier. Never ingest any essential oil orally.
Strep throat may go away within a few days withouttreatment. Still, it’s important to visit a healthcare provider for proper evaluation. Doing so can prevent serious complications from developing.
You should also call your healthcare provider if symptoms do not improve within 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
Summary
Strep throat is a common illness that usually requires a visit to a healthcare provider and a course of antibiotics. Additionally, you can try at-home remedies such as drinking plenty of fluids, sipping bone broth, and gargling with salt water to help relieve sore throat symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although some cases of strep throat may improve without antibiotics, it’s important to take antibiotics to kill bacteria and prevent serious complications.
Home remedies such as gargling with salt water and consuming raw honey can help improve symptoms.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Strep throat.
Olympia RP, Khine H, Avner JR.Effectiveness of oral dexamethasone in the treatment of moderate to severe pharyngitis in children.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.2005 Mar;159(3):278-82. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.159.3.278.
Mustafa Z, Ghaffari M.Diagnostic Methods, Clinical Guidelines, and Antibiotic Treatment for Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis: A Narrative Review.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020 Oct 15;10:563627. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.563627.
UCLA Health.Hot sauce and other home remedies for a sore throat.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.
Oduwole O, Udoh EE, Oyo-Ita A, Meremikwu MM.Honey for acute cough in children.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Apr 10;4(4):CD007094. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007094.pub5.
Jones ER, Cedeño Laurent JG, Young AS, Coull BA, Spengler JD, Allen JG.Indoor humidity levels and associations with reported symptoms in office buildings.Indoor Air. 2022;32(1):e12961. doi:10.1111/ina.12961
Consumer Product Safety Commission.Dirty humidifiers may cause health problems.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis.
Ran L, Zhao W, Wang J, et al.Extra dose of vitamin c based on a daily supplementation shortens the common cold: a meta-analysis of 9 randomized controlled trials.Biomed Res Int. 2018;2018:1837634. doi:10.1155/2018/1837634
Hemilä H, Chalker E.The effectiveness of high dose zinc acetate lozenges on various common cold symptoms: a meta-analysis.BMC Fam Pract. 2015;16:24. doi:10.1186/s12875-015-0237-6.
Wijesundara NM, Sekhon-Loodu S, Rupasinghe HV.Phytochemical-rich medicinal plant extracts suppress bacterial antigens-induced inflammation in human tonsil epithelial cells.PeerJ. 2017 Jun 22;5:e3469. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3469.
Mount Sinai.Echinacea.
Wieland LS, Piechotta V, Feinberg T, Ludeman E, Hutton B, Kanji S,et al.Elderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses: a systematic review.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021 Apr 7;21(1):112. doi: 10.1186/s12906-021-03283-5.
Cesak O, Vostalova J, Vidlar A, Bastlova P, Student V Jr.Carnosine and Beta-Alanine Supplementation in Human Medicine: Narrative Review and Critical Assessment.Nutrients. 2023 Apr 5;15(7):1770. doi: 10.3390/nu15071770.
Ben Hsouna A, Ben Halima N, Smaoui S, Hamdi N.Citrus lemon essential oil: chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities with its preservative effect against Listeria monocytogenes inoculated in minced beef meat.Lipids Health Dis. 2017;16:146. doi:10.1186/s12944-017-0487-5
MedlinePlus.Strep throat.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
