Expert: Dr. Kristina Conner - 11/14/2010

Question
QUESTION: For the past five to six days I have been suffering a sore throat that leads to burning coughs and small amount of yellow mucus coming up every other cough. I have no fever or spot on the tonsils. I looked up on the web seeing that my signs could be strep throat. I cannot afford to go to the doctor and is offshore on the water. I just wonder what remedies can I try to get rid of it while im gone from land for a month. I been drinking warm hot green tea with honey mixed in it and eating soup and drinking water too and gargling with warm salty water I just started today though with the remedies. Will this help…How long will it take to cure…Please give me advice to treat this on my own and monitor it from step one to the end without going to a doctor, which would be a waste of going when I can get rid of it myself….as I say I have bills and gotta work…what to eat and drink also to make me stronger in this healing process and what to do when it has healed also to prevent it from coming back

ANSWER: Hello Cornell,
Sore throat can be treated using some home therapies, but if it is strep throat infection there is an additional concern of the possibility of scarlet/ rheumatic fever developing. If this does occur, it can lead to more serious outcomes, which is why it is treated with antibiotics typically (because we have no evidence that self-treatment can prevent this from occuring).  So that is what you want to weigh when thinking about seeking medical advice for this condition.  If you do want to self treat, what you are already doing should be helpful.  In addition, you can support the immune system by resting, eating a simple diet (like broths, porridge, etc) & avoiding sugars, alcohol, and caffeine, and staying well hydrated.  Immune supportive nutrients, herbs, and foods like vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, garlic, reishi mushroom, astragalus, echinacea, goldenseal, and elderberry may also help.  Most infections should pass within 5-10 days, active treatment may accelerate this or may just improve symptoms without changing the length of the condition.  
In health,
Dr Conner

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok my throat is better and the coughing and soreness is not bad as it was but now i feels this popping sound in my throat overtime i swallow.

Answer
It could be mucous in the back of your throat, or it could be fluid accumulating in your middle ear that causes a popping when you move anything in that area.  Either is fairly common after an upper respiratory infection, and usually resolves without issue.  But if it persists, I'd suggest seeking out a practitioner for an examination.