Homeopathy for Strep Throat

Understanding Strep: A Holistic and Homeopathic Perspective

What is Streptococcus?

Streptococcus is a genus of sphere-shaped bacteria that are part of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) group. They are among the most studied types of bacteria for multiple reasons. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a significant role in food production, health, and overall ecosystem balance. Some bacteria in this group are probiotics in humans, promoting gut and immune health.

Some bacteria in the streptococcus group are used in traditional and modern food preservation, because they extend shelf life and create the great flavor of products such as cheese, sauerkraut, and yogurt among others. Fermentation can increase the bio-availability of nutrients and produce new beneficial compounds that are not present without the work of the bacteria. For example, in whole grain fermentation, LAB can enhance the digestion of phytates, making minerals like iron and zinc more accessible for absorption when eaten.

However, when people refer to a strep infection, they are referring specifically to symptoms that occur followed by tests for or suspicion of the presence of streptococcus pyogenes, also called group A streptococcus or strep A. The presence of strep A causes no problems much of the time, and it is not rare to have it present on our bodies. However, strep A is also considered the cause of many infections, especially in children.
(https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/05/group-a-strep-what-you-need-to-know/)

The complex makeup of the microbiome

The Human Microbiome refers to the diverse community of microorganisms that reside inside and on the human body. This invisible ecosystem includes several types of microscopic life forms, including bacteria like strep and viruses. What if there’s a more complex role of strep A in human health as part of the human microbiome?
(/www.hmpdacc.org)

We will consider another lens through which to look at streptococcal bacteria, as well as homeopathic strategies to potentially manage the body’s healthy relationship with them. Every good homeopath has been charged by the founder of this health care technique to consider how health is strengthened and how it is damaged. This is a goal of this article.

Let’s look a bit more at the role of strep A. Researchers have found the bacteria that reside in the human throat, a relatively common location of strep A populations, have an active role in preventing respiratory tract infections. This is such a surprising conclusion that I think it bears repeating: Bacteria living in your throat can keep you from getting sick.

This research found that the bacteria that make up the throat microbiome interact with human immune cells to stimulate a person’s immune system and to eliminate invading species. Interestingly, researchers also noted that both temporary damage to throat tissue and to the microbiome in the throat were important predisposing factors that make getting sick more likely.
(www.sciencedirect.com
/science/article/pii/S1672022914000485)
Another team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego, studied the role of the skin microbiome, including both strep and staph bacteria. They wrote,“Advances in microbiology and immunology are revising our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of microbial virulence…Current data contradict some historical classifications of cutaneous microbiota and suggest that these organisms may protect the host…One must recognize…the same microbe may take on different roles at different times.” (emphasis added)
(pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2746716/)

That is to say, there is evidence that strep A bacteria in the throat on the skin may potentially play a role in helping protecting our health. Damage to the human cells or the cells of the microbiome were observed to precede an “infection”. To be clear, this strep A is currently not in any way considered a probiotic, but its role in our health is being found to be more flexible and more complicated than we knew. This could lead to an important shift for providers and consumers of health care, as we come to value the microbiome as foundational for health.

Body ecology and holism

This hypothesis makes sense within the holistic concept that everything present in the body is there for a purpose and can only be understood in its context as part in a complex, interrelated system. For example, our bodies are continually replacing old cells that have come to the end of their useful lives. This happens in all organs and even the skeleton of the body, which are mostly invisible to the average person.

The skin, being the largest organ of the human body and the one we can see, undergoes a lot of cell turnover. Most people have noticed that we normally shed dead skin, at some times more than others, but typically at a rate of about 40,000 cells a day. It’s not a problem, because in healthy individuals this shedding is matched by the creation of new, healthy skin cells. It’s out with the old, in with the new.

Sometimes cells die for other reasons. These include accidents and injuries, such as in sun burns, for example, which normally results in a lot of extra skin shedding. Other causes of cell death include poisons; toxins present in food, the environment or personal care products; drugs, over-the-counter and prescription; antibiotics, recreational drugs, and radiation therapy.

Choosing a non-toxic lifestyle can make a big difference in long-term outcomes for your health. Working with a health coach is one way to help you make the desired changes in your habits and lifestyle by empowering you with support, strategies and resources.

Accidents, certain lifestyles, geographic locations, and products choices can lead to faster rates of damage and death to cells. These dead cells must then be cleaned up. Certain inhabitants in every biome specialize in this kind of work.
(clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/cell-death)

Healthy skin hosts a diverse range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Strep A bacteria are frequently found on the skin as well as the throat without causing illness, as previously discussed. Their presence there is not considered to be an infection in itself, but a part of the microbiome. One has to ask: why are they there?

The clean up crew

“Saprophytic bacteria” are essential microorganisms that decompose dead organic matter, playing a critical role in nutrient recycling and ecosystem health, including that of the human microbiome. Certain types of strep are already categorized by scientists as saprophytes in human bodies, especially the mouth, which has especially rapid cell replacement. They play an important role in our body systems.
(www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1672022914000485)

To understand this model on a larger scale in nature, let us consider the role of bacterial saprophytes in healthy soil.

Saprophytes:

1. Release nutrients: Saprophytic bacteria break down complex organic substances into simpler compounds, releasing vital nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur back into the soil. This process is fundamental for the nutrient cycle. They help to maintain soil fertility and promote healthy plant growth. Does this remind you of the LAB driven fermentation of human food works to liberate nutrition for easier absorption?

2. Cooperate with other inhabitants of the soil: Saprophytic bacteria interact with other microorganisms, including fungi and beneficial bacteria (probiotics) in the ecosystem. These interactions create a balanced soil microbiome that functions more efficiently than any of the microbes could without the interaction. That supports the life of the soil and everything that grows in it.

3. Clean up toxins: Some saprophytic bacteria have the capability to break down environmental pollutants such as hydrocarbons, pesticides, and heavy metals. This bio-remediation potential is vital for restoring contaminated environments.

Detox, anyone?

This leads to the next question: could the primary role of strep be acting as a saprophyte, transforming dead cells into the stuff that allows for new, healthy life? All that dead skin needs sorting and recycling. Is that part of why strep A is present in a healthy microbiome?

Strep has frequently been found at the site of a variety of diseased body systems. Could it be there as part of the clean up crew trying to re-establish balance in the body? Is strep A the cause of so very many varied diseases? Or is it, as the research may be starting to suggest, more complex than that?

Recent research has made it abundantly clear that human health – just as soil health — is closely interconnected with the health and the diversity of the microbiome. In fact, there are more cells in the microbiome living in and on the human body than there are human cells. The microbiome is, in a real sense, the soil in which our human bodies grow.

The problem at hand

Researchers have generated good amounts of research in the 21st century to help us understand the human microbiome’s vital role in maintaining immune function, digestive health and metabolism, and even mental health. Here’s the challenge:

Many mainstream medical treatments of common health problems cause irreversible harm to the delicate ecosystem that is the human microbiome. That damage can lead to chronic immune problems and chronic inflammation.
(pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32408372/)

To quote researchers from the University of Edinburgh “Antibiotics can cause significant and prolonged damage to the patient’s microbiome which have been associated with adverse health outcomes, including obesity, asthma, diabetes, IBS, colorectal cancers, and neurodevelopmental disorders.” (emphasis added)
(pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10487351/)

These are plagues of our times.

Each year millions of children and adults visit their doctors and leave with antibiotics for suspected or confirmed strep infections, even though most sore throats are caused by viruses. Physicians and researchers have been concerned about the over-use of antibiotics for years.

Here’s the good news. “Homeopathy, one of the oldest forms of clinically validated, evidence-based, and environmentally sustainable medicine is a traditional therapy that preserves the integrity of the microbiome.” (Whitmont) With the trajectory of our health, especially in the US, and the dangers associated with excessive antibiotic use, this could matter a lot.
(pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32408372/)

The role of homeopathy in managing strep

Homeopathy is a traditional healing practice that uses highly diluted substances to gently support the body’s immune system and engage its innate intelligence. There are three levels at which homeopathy is used to help people with sore throats, potentially including those involving strep A.

Acute homeopathic care is beneficial for individuals experiencing a newly developed sore throat, particularly when this issue is uncommon for them. While a sore throat may occur alone, it can also present alongside typical cold symptoms. Classical homeopaths will ask detailed questions about all symptoms being experienced. Is the throat pain stinging or burning? Does ice water provide relief, or is hot tea more soothing? Is the discomfort worse in the morning or at night?

Non-medical homeopaths do not rely on diagnosis or identification of specific pathogen involvement. They do not perform throat swabs before they select a homeopathic remedy. Instead, homeopaths rely on observation of and reports of the sick person regarding the specifics of what they are experiencing.

Classical homeopaths will also consider other symptoms affecting any of the body systems, as well as the client’s emotional state, recent stress levels, and any life changes. The details about the individual are taken into account to provide a comprehensive and personalized approach to help that person.

This is because homeopaths consider every problem a reflection of a larger imbalance. This is true in acute care, as well as support with other classes of health problems. These personal details are required to help you and your homeopath find the most useful homeopathic remedy.

Historically, a few of the most frequently used homeopathic remedies used by people suffering from acute strep throat have been Belladonna, Mercurius solubulis, Ferrum phosphoricum, Lycopodium clavatum, and Lachesis mutis. Homeopathic remedies are known by Latin names, a relic of the time when botanical and taxonomic Latin were more widely taught.

The remedy preparation process commonly used in homeopathy is called “potentization.” Potentization consists of a series of repeated dilutions and agitations. It is a technique originally designed to remove any toxicity from the substances, making them safe to use for human health. This has been true for over 200 years, long before the advent of antibiotic therapy.

Interestingly, a 2021 published study examined the above mentioned homeopathic remedies for their anti-bacterial effect on strep A. It was done in a laboratory in vitro (test tube) setting. Since no patients were involved, no placebo effect was possible. “The experiment clearly showed that all of the homeopathic medicines have antibacterial property against Strep A.” The researchers concluded, “This important finding may be utilized in direct or supplementary treatment of S. pyogenes infection in future.”
(researchgate.net/publication 51250066_Antibacterial_Activity_of_Homoeopathic_Medicines_on_Streptococcus_Pyogenes_An_In_Vitro_Study)

Even as a homeopath, this research was somewhat surprising to me, because the dose size in any potentized homeopathic medicines is so small it’s not generally considered an antibiotic, but rather a stimulant to the immune system. Obviously more research is needed to clarify the action of these homeopathic medicines, but it is certainly exciting to learn more about living cells’ response to them. Funding on such basic science is ongoing is various parts of the world, but it is rarely in the United States due to political and funding issues.

Strengthening the physical constitution

The next level of care that a homeopaths provide is best for people with a tendency for recurring infections or other types of health problems that keep coming back. This kind of care is called “constitutional treatment”. When we talk about someone’s constitution, we’re talking about their make up, their health, their strength and appearance. Someone with a strong constitution is understood to not get sick very often.

In homeopathy, we see illness and its symptoms as indicators of a systemic problem, as described earlier. A biome, as opposed to a microbiome – which is specifically on a microscopic level – is defined as the totality of a complex ecological community where the plants and animals that live there are adapted to the specific environmental conditions of that region.

An analogy for the way that an infection might develop within a particular microbiome/human body can be illustrated with the problems of mosquitoes and swamps. (Thanks to Dana Ullman for this.)

Swamps are a type of biome. Mosquitoes infest swamps, because swamps provide the still waters necessary for the mosquitoes to lay their eggs and hatch. The land owner, theoretically, might try to rid the swamp of its mosquitoes by spraying the swamp with insecticides.

If lucky, this will kill all the mosquitoes. However, because the swamp is still a swamp, it is still a perfect environment for new mosquitoes to fly in and to lay their eggs. So they do. Then a new round of insecticides are used again, but more and stronger insecticides this time. Again, it could work well for a little while, but after some time the mosquitoes return to infest the swamp again.

Over time, some mosquitoes develop resistance to the insecticide, surviving doses that would be fatal to others. Each subsequent generation passes on this increased immunity, requiring stronger insecticides. Despite these efforts, certain mosquitoes adapt and continue to thrive, demonstrating the limitations of this approach. The swamp is still a biome where many mosquitoes do well.

In fact, there are experts in the field today who hold that mosquitoes are a natural part of wetland ecology and form a central component of the food web that supports a rich wild-life community. “Broad-scale chemical control harms wildlife and does not provide a long-term solution for humans,” they say.
(https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/13-006_01_XercesSoc_Summary-Ecologically-Sound-Mosquito-Mgmt-in-Wetlands_web.pdf)

This analogy can be applied to understanding the presence of Strep A bacteria in a child’s throat. The mere detection of strep A does not necessarily indicate it is the cause of a sore throat in the way that the swamp does not directly cause the presence of mosquitoes. For various reasons that child’s system is a place where strep A can thrive.

Strep A exists in the throats of some healthy individuals without causing any symptoms. Symptoms of strep throat typically arise only when conditions promote them. This can happen over and over, even with repeated use of strong antibiotics.

Professional homeopathic constitutional care can significantly enhance a body’s natural defenses, boosting resilience and helping to break the cycle of recurrent infections. This kind of care usually takes place over a more extended timeline than is required in acute problems like a cold or a minor injury, over months instead of days.

What to expect from constitutional care

Here’s how the process typically unfolds:

1. Comprehensive case taking
• Your homeopath conducts a thorough interview to gather detailed information about your health and life history, current lifestyle, emotional state, and specific symptoms.
• Expect questions about your family history, past illnesses, and any emotional or psychological traumas you may face or have in the past.

2. Case analysis
• Symptoms are examined not just for their physical aspects but also for their emotional and psychological context.
• For instance, if you have recurrent sore throats, your homeopath will also consider any anxiety you might experience, the kind of toxic exposures you may have had, any major life changes that happened around the time that the problem started and more, as these can impact your overall health.

3. Remedy selection
• After analyzing your case, your practitioner will choose a homeopathic protocol that aligns with your unique complex of symptoms.
• Remedies are derived from natural sources, including plants, minerals, and animal products, and are selected for their ability to encourage the body’s own healing abilities.

4. Follow-ups and case management
• After starting the protocol, follow-up appointments are crucial in order to support the person’s progress.
• Management of responses to the remedy, dosing, and timing are an important part of this process over time.

Immune system education

A third technique that some homeopaths use to help people avoid sore throats is a system of immune system education called homeoprophylaxis (HP or HPx). The goal of HP is to use a specific homeopathic remedy or series of remedies to educate the immune system regarding infectious disease processes. Practitioners of this method seek to support the body in developing a competent immune system that can fight and win when infection comes around during times of stress. That’s part of everyone’s life at some points.

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, first became aware of the technique in 1801 through his use of Belladonna for scarlet fever in Germany. Since then, homeopathy has been used to support recovery and prepare for all forms of infectious disease, from the likes of childhood illness, to epidemics of polio, influenza, meningitis, dengue, and leptospirosis, coronavirus and others.
(freeandhealthychildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/homeoprophylaxis-human-records-studies-trials.pdf)

The Vital Force

One concept that is often confusing for people new to homeopathy is what is called the “vital force”. Homeopathy operates on the concept that each individual has a “vital force” that maintains health like a well-tuned machine when it is in balance. It is not a spiritual concept.

Some contemporary homeopaths have suggested that an updated term for what we have called the “vital force” might more appropriately be “the human microbiome”. Surprisingly, homeopath and medical researcher, Edward Bach, MD, and his colleagues were studying the impact of individual homeopathic remedies on gut bacteria in patients in Scottish hospitals as early as the 1930s.

Looking forward

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, in most countries homeopathy has come and gone in major waves over the last 200+ years. Currently, we are witnessing its renaissance both in the United States and Europe. (jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/622531)

Those of us who have experienced homeopathic care or who have seen the benefits in others, know that homeopathy represents a truly amazing form of holistic care that can help with a wide range of health concerns, including a tendency to strep infections. And it’s not just based on experience or perception, although such evidence should not be discounted.

Numerous studies show the effectiveness of homeopathy, and of course, more research is needed. Happily, modern research into homeopathy, its application and the basic science behind it, is continuing to take place thanks to organizations like the British Homeopathic Research Institute (HRI.org) and others.

This article considers the possible role of streptococcus and strep A/streptococcus pyogenes as possible saprophytes that consume dead cells and liberate the building blocks of life used by those cells for creation of new cells, just as saprophytes do in other ecosystems. A variety of streptococcus strains and many other bacteria normally exist in a balanced state in a healthy human microbiome. However, certain members of the microbiome, including strep A, are capable of causing serious problems when there is already damage to the body, and overgrowth of strep A ends up where it should not be.
(/jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/539536)

So how can we prevent this from happening? We should try to avoid the things that damage tissues and organs as well as the things that hurt our microbiome. A diet free of toxins is extremely important. So are our choices in personal care products, cleaning supplies, and where we choose to live and work. The toxins that are damaging to our own cells are at least as dangerous to the microbiome we rely on to help us function properly. As much as possible, we can also avoid drugs and pharmaceuticals that damage our bodies and microbiomes.
(pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7306068/)

Homeopathy offers a time tested option for supporting healthy humans and healthy microbiomes. Of course, mainstream medicine also has an important role to play. We would never suggest that appropriate medical diagnosis or care be delayed. Decisions on the type of care that is best used may be more complicated than we have realized before we started to understand the complex, powerful interaction of human cells and microbial ones. Ideally, physicians and homeopaths will work together to support each other’s work for better long-term outcomes of those in their care.

Conclusion

In considering the multifaceted role of Streptococcus pyogenes (strep A) within the human microbiome, we question whether there doesn’t exist a more nuanced role for its behavior in the human body. Recent research suggests that while strep A can be involved in infections, it may also play a different role by participating in the delicate balance of our microbiomes, including as saprophyte. This holistic perspective encourages us to expand our of view of the intricate ecosystem that, when functioning optimally, supports our immune health, healthy energy levels, and overall functionality.

Homeopathy emerges as a viable option for those seeking a gentle, holistic approach to managing strep-related health issues. By focusing on the individual’s symptoms and overall function, homeopathy aims to restore balance and enhance the body’s innate healing abilities by encouraging a healthy, diverse microbiome an appropriate immune function. As we navigate the complexities of health care today, embracing a multifaceted approach that includes conventional methods for diagnoses and life saving emergency care as well as holistic and integrative methods can lead to better health outcomes.

Call to Action

If you find yourself or your loved ones stuck in a loop of conventional treatments for symptoms that keep coming back, consider exploring homeopathy as a complementary option. Paying attention to the underlying imbalance the body is trying so hard to tell you about when it produces sore throats, frequent colds, unhealthy skin, or others signs, can help you achieve holistic long-term wellness.

Consult with a qualified homeopath who can guide you through the process of understanding your unique health needs. Additionally, it is important to take proactive steps to support your microbiome by choosing a well balance traditional diet, avoiding toxin exposure, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you’re not sure exactly what that would look like for a you, a health coach can help. Let’s prioritize holistic health and empower ourselves to cultivate a thriving microbiome and well functioning immune systems for a healthier future for our children and ourselves.