The throat, technically known as the pharynx, is a muscular tube in the neck that connects the nose and mouth to the esophagus. When mucous membranes lining the pharynx become inflamed, a viral or bacterial infection is usually to blame.1Wolford RW, Goyal A, Syed S, Schaefer TJ. Pharyngitis. StatPearls. 2023;May 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519550 In some cases, sore throats are caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A streptococci (GAS).2Ashurst JV, Weiss E, Tristram D, Edgerley-Gibb L. Streptococcal pharyngitis. StatPearls. 2025;Feb 15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525997 S. pyogenes accounts for 5 to 15 percent of sore throats in adults and up to 30 percent in children.3Baila M, Babicki M, Malchrzak W, et al. Frequency of group A streptococcus infection and analysis of antibiotic use in patients with pharyngitis—a retrospective, multicenter study. Pathogens. 2024;13(10):846. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13100846
Diagnosing strep throat
“Strep A is a naturally occurring bacterium found in the respiratory tract and on the skin of many people,” says Jen Green, ND, FABNO, naturopathic oncologist at KNOWintegrativeoncology.org. “Healthy individuals can carry the bacteria [and] not show symptoms, while others can have significant throat pain and other symptoms.”
While many sore throats resolve on their own, strep throat requires special attention. If confirmed with a rapid antigen detection test or culture, antibiotics may be necessary.4Clinical Guidance for Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published March 1, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/group-a-strep/hcp/clinical-guidance/strep-throat.html These medications usually bring relief within one to three days. Still, about 10 percent of people previously treated for strep experience relapse or treatment failure.2Ashurst JV, Weiss E, Tristram D, Edgerley-Gibb L. Streptococcal pharyngitis. StatPearls. 2025;Feb 15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525997 Antibiotics are only effective against bacteria, not viruses, and shouldn’t be used for viral infections.
Strep throat is highly contagious. Symptoms often appear suddenly and may include soreness, painful swallowing, fever above 100.4°F, red or swollen tonsils with white or yellow patches, and tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth. Symptoms usually occur without coughing or a runny nose. In rare cases, a rough-textured rash, known as scarlet fever, can develop as a complication.5Rayborn CH, Jackson CD, Summers NA. What is strep throat? JAMA. 2024;331(20). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2818355
“Delaying antibiotic treatment for children under 12 [may] lead to acute rheumatic fever, which is a rare but serious autoimmune condition that can injure the heart,” warns Dr. Green. “If strep A is left untreated in people with a weakened immune system, it can progress to abscesses around the tonsils or infection in the mastoid bone behind the ear.”
A natural approach promotes recovery
“Because antibiotics are often necessary, naturopathic medicine offers supportive care to mitigate some of the collateral damage from antibiotics,” says James Munro, ND, medical director at Xymogen, a dietary supplement manufacturer. A well-rounded natural treatment plan, Dr. Munro adds, “supports the body’s overall vitality with probiotics, nutritional support, herbs, and other natural remedies to relieve sore throat pain and restore health.”
Still, it’s essential to follow a doctor’s orders for treating confirmed strep. “Because there can be concerns of other health consequences caused by strep throat,” Dr. Munro explains, “such as rheumatic and scarlet fever, the naturopathic and conventional strategies to diagnose and treat it are fairly aligned. I don’t think it is worth trying to treat strep with anything other than antibiotics.”
Prevention with probiotics & vitamin D
Preventing strep throat starts with avoiding close contact with infected people, frequently washing hands, and not sharing food, drinks, or utensils.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of streptococcal infections, including GAS. Supplementation can help reduce not just strep risk but also frequency and severity, due to its immune-supporting properties and direct antimicrobial activity.6Guevara MA, Lu J, Moore RE, et al. Vitamin D and Streptococci: the interface of nutrition, host immune response, and antimicrobial activity in response to infection. ACS Infect Dis. 2021;6(12):3131-3140. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00666
“Probiotics, particularly S. salivarius K127Di Pierro F, Colombo M, Zanvit A, et al. Use of Streptococcus salivarius K12 in the prevention of streptococcal and viral pharyngotonsillitis in children. Drug Health Patient Saf. 2014;6. https://doi.org/10.2147/DHPS.S59665,8Wilcox CR, Stuart B, Leaver H, et al. Effectiveness of probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 for the treatment and/or prevention of sore throat: a systematic review. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2019;25(6):673-680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2018.12.031, have been shown to reduce the incidence of strep throat infections in both adults and children,” says Dr. Green. She also recommends a classic home remedy: saltwater rinses. “Gargle one-half teaspoon of salt with warm water at the first sign of a sore throat.”
Home remedies to ease soreness
“From a naturopathic perspective, through a combination of rest, natural remedies, and other supportive strategies, our bodies are designed to recover from strep A infections,” says Dr. Green. “As with all things medical, you have to judge how sick you are and when things feel serious enough to seek medical help. With children, it’s best not to delay, given the risk of acute rheumatic fever.”
Dr. Green suggests the following natural remedies to lessen discomfort:
- Rest and humidify: A humidifier with antimicrobial essential oils (lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, and thyme) can offer added benefits while you sleep.
- Raw honey: Stir raw honey into hot water or sage tea. Its antimicrobial properties are effective against even antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.
- Soothing teas: Opt for throat-calming herbs like chamomile, licorice root, and slippery elm to reduce inflammation.9Wijesundara NM, Rupasinghe HPV. Herbal tea for the management of pharyngitis: inhibition of Streptococcus pyogenes growth and biofilm formation by herbal Infusions. Biomedicines. 2019 Aug 24;7(3):63. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines7030063
- Herbal throat sprays: Antibacterial blends include echinacea, propolis, hyssop, and oregano.
Dr. Munro likes to complement antibiotics with broader-spectrum herbal antimicrobials. “To help prevent secondary infection,” he says, “I often recommend goldenseal, grapefruit seed extract, oregano, and/or caprylic acid.”
Footnotes
- 1Wolford RW, Goyal A, Syed S, Schaefer TJ. Pharyngitis. StatPearls. 2023;May 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519550
- 2Ashurst JV, Weiss E, Tristram D, Edgerley-Gibb L. Streptococcal pharyngitis. StatPearls. 2025;Feb 15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525997
- 3Baila M, Babicki M, Malchrzak W, et al. Frequency of group A streptococcus infection and analysis of antibiotic use in patients with pharyngitis—a retrospective, multicenter study. Pathogens. 2024;13(10):846. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13100846
- 4Clinical Guidance for Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published March 1, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/group-a-strep/hcp/clinical-guidance/strep-throat.html
- 5Rayborn CH, Jackson CD, Summers NA. What is strep throat? JAMA. 2024;331(20). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2818355
- 6Guevara MA, Lu J, Moore RE, et al. Vitamin D and Streptococci: the interface of nutrition, host immune response, and antimicrobial activity in response to infection. ACS Infect Dis. 2021;6(12):3131-3140. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00666
- 7Di Pierro F, Colombo M, Zanvit A, et al. Use of Streptococcus salivarius K12 in the prevention of streptococcal and viral pharyngotonsillitis in children. Drug Health Patient Saf. 2014;6. https://doi.org/10.2147/DHPS.S59665
- 8Wilcox CR, Stuart B, Leaver H, et al. Effectiveness of probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 for the treatment and/or prevention of sore throat: a systematic review. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2019;25(6):673-680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2018.12.031
- 9Wijesundara NM, Rupasinghe HPV. Herbal tea for the management of pharyngitis: inhibition of Streptococcus pyogenes growth and biofilm formation by herbal Infusions. Biomedicines. 2019 Aug 24;7(3):63. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines7030063
