What do you do for strep throat?

**BraggSurvivor** · 06-17-2008, 10:12 PM

I've had a burning sore throat for almost two weeks. If I go to the quacks they will either prescribe anti-biotics, or tell me to be a man and tough it out.

I don't ever like to take antibiotics, but I also don't want to share strep with anybody.

I once talked with a phd in micro-biology who told me that our use of antibiotics is going to wipe us all out, as the germs will develop resistences to our drugs. Gargling with hot salty water isnt doing it for me.....

What is the forum consensus on this dilemna?

**rebel** · 06-17-2008, 10:21 PM

Go see a doctor. What if it's something else?

**crashdive123** · 06-17-2008, 10:28 PM

High doses of vitamin C. When I was a kid I had strep throat so bad that the doc was concerned at how much my throat was swelling. He put me on a high dose of vitamin C (when I say high does, it was something like 5000mg every 4 hours). It worked. I wouldn't do it without talking to a doc, or at least getting the opinion of one of the docs that frequent the forum.

**wildWoman** · 06-17-2008, 10:35 PM

According to "prescription for herbal healing" by Phyllis Balch, Crash is right on. Suggests the following:
-take 250 - 500mg of Vit C 4 to 6 times a day
-change your toothbrush every 2-4 weeks because it can be a reservoir for repeated infection
-take garlic oil to relieve difficulty in swallowing (3-4 drops in 1/4 cup of water as gargle)
-take Echinacea purpurea tablets, min 900mg daily to keep strep from forming new colonies
-take goldenseal or Oregon grape root tincture, 15-20 drops in 1/4 cup of water 3x/day for 10 days, keeps strep from attaching to lining of the throat

It says to see a doctor if it lasts past 3 weeks. Can lead o rheumatic fever, arthritis and heart inflammation.

**nell67** · 06-17-2008, 10:39 PM

GO to the quack,strep is nothing to mess around with,it can cause heart problems at the very least if not treated properly,as well as rhuematic fever:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rhe...-fever/DS00250

**BraggSurvivor** · 06-17-2008, 10:51 PM

Thanks everyone......<swallow>

**Rick** · 06-18-2008, 07:22 AM

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a bad thing. Of course, dying of sepsis is, too. See the doctor. Oh, by the way. They tend to get a bit upset when you insult them and call them quaks. Imagine that.

**BraggSurvivor** · 06-18-2008, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by Rick

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a bad thing. Of course, dying of sepsis is, too. See the doctor. Oh, by the way. They tend to get a bit upset when you insult them and call them quaks. Imagine that.

I'll pass, rather take my chance dying of sepsis.

**trax** · 06-18-2008, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Rick

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a bad thing. Of course, dying of sepsis is, too. See the doctor. Oh, by the way. They tend to get a bit upset when you insult them and call them quaks. Imagine that.

What is it they get upset with exactly?

Bragg: I recommend trying WW's solution and then if that doesn't work, go see the medic. You probably know a good veterinarian right? I mean given the quality of health care in our great nation, you might as well....

**canid** · 06-18-2008, 10:40 AM

scarlet fever sucks. rheumatic heart failure sucks. better to get streptococcus cleared up than to die. it happens.

i like to avoid the use of mycoantibiotics aswell, but after two weeks or more with strep infection, the risk of developing more serious complications, such as progression to scarlet fever and rheumatic fever begin to mount. your call bragg.

**jrock24** · 06-18-2008, 11:27 AM

Gargle with fresh lemon juice / salt. Squeeze a hole lemon and pour in some salt, gargle with half and spit out, then gargle with the rest and swallow.
Repeat this 2 times a day or more.

**klkak** · 06-18-2008, 12:18 PM

I reckon if you don't go to a doctor you will either be taking heart medication for the rest of your life or your family will have to plan a memorial. Choose wisely!

**Rick** · 06-18-2008, 02:12 PM

I got dibs on Bragg's new chariot!!! I mean, just in case. You know.

**Assassin Pilot** · 06-18-2008, 02:33 PM

Of course they will become resistant. Hence why penicillin no longer works for a lot of things. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't take the drugs. The point of them is so we can make them to cure us of these diseases, not leave them sitting around worrying of them becoming resistant.

**tacmedic** · 06-18-2008, 03:50 PM

Bragg, a few questions before I offer any advice. Do you have any other symptoms other than the sore throat? Such as a cough, headaches, chest congestion, fullness in your ears or earaches? If you have a cough are you coughing anything up? If so what color is it? Do you have any trouble breathing? Do you still have your tonsils? Has the sore throat been getting worse or stayed the same over the past two weeks?

A competent doctor will not prescribe antibiotics for you without doing a strep culture (can be done in the office with a simple swab and takes about 10-20 minutes to complete), if the swab comes back positive taking the antibiotics is a good idea. Like others have said here, a strep throat is nothing to sneeze at. Besides the heart problems that everyone else has talked about, there is also the possibility of it spreading to your brain and causing meningitis. If the strep test comes back negative it still could be a bacterial infection besides strep that could need to be treated. At the very least, if you don't want to take the antibiotics the quack could prescribe you something better for pain that will make it more bearable. Such as a tylenol with codeine syrup. Good luck!

**crashdive123** · 06-18-2008, 06:13 PM

Bragg - You may not like taking antibiotics or seeing a doc, but your family probably likes having you around. (if I'm wrong on the second part - sorry - and I get dibbs on the fifth wheel since Rick called for the new coach)