| When the doctor's office calls you back and tells | | | | this supplement with antibiotics. If you take blood |
| you the swab has come back positive for strep, | | | | thinners, including aspirin, ask the doctor as well. |
| you probably won't be very surprised. The pain is | | | | Garlic may also act as a blood thinner. |
| bad, and finding a means to stop it can be | | | | Gargles: Several liquids can be used as a gargle, |
| problematic. Many over the counter sprays can | | | | both to help ease the pain and help kill the |
| only be used once every four hours. The relief | | | | bacteria. Listerine is one obvious option, but there |
| they afford seldom lasts more than twenty | | | | are others. A teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm |
| minutes. What else can you do? | | | | water can also be useful, though be careful not to |
| Cinnamon and Clove Tea: Both of these spices | | | | swallow it. That could cause nausea and vomiting. |
| contain eugenol, which dentists use to numb | | | | Peppermint tea is another idea, and if that's |
| toothache pain and injection sites. A decoction of | | | | swallowed, it shouldn't be a problem. |
| them can dull the pain. Put a stick of cinnamon | | | | Licorice and Marshmallow: Both of these herbs can |
| and a tablespoon of whole cloves in a pan. Add | | | | help coat your throat, which soothes the pain. The |
| two cups of water and simmer until it is down to | | | | root is the useful part in both plants. Prepared |
| one cup. An ounce of this fluid can be taken once | | | | licorice, in the form of DGL tablets may be the |
| an hour as needed. Store the remaining liquid in | | | | best choice if you are diabetic, as this root has a |
| the fridge until you need it. If you are diabetic, | | | | lot of sugar in it. Don't use licorice at all if you |
| talk to your doctor before using cinnamon and be | | | | have high blood pressure, as it can cause it to |
| sure to check your sugar often as it can cause it | | | | spike. |
| to go down. | | | | Willow Bark: This herb can be useful in three |
| Eucalyptus: The oil of this plant can be used as | | | | ways. It is a topical pain reliever, internal pain |
| aromatherapy, and may help open breathing | | | | reliever and an anti-inflammatory. If you are |
| passages which can sometimes be affected by | | | | allergic to aspirin or take aspirin therapy, you |
| strep bacteria. In cough syrups and cough drops, | | | | should avoid it, as it contains the same active |
| it can help the cinnamon and cloves with some | | | | ingredient. |
| numbing. Don't use the oil around children under | | | | One other thing to keep in mind. Strep throat is |
| two, and children under six should not be given | | | | extremely contagious and the danger of spreading |
| anything with eucalyptus in it, as it can cause | | | | it isn't past until you've been on the antibiotics at |
| serious health problems. | | | | least twenty-four hours. Don't forget to tell your |
| Garlic: Studies indicate there may be a weak | | | | doctor of any medications, supplements or herbal |
| antibiotic effect in raw garlic. This may help boost | | | | remedies you are taking so that an interaction |
| the effectiveness of your prescription antibiotics. | | | | can be avoided. |
| Be sure to check with your doctor before taking | | | | |