Alternative Treatments for Strep B

Streptococcus (strep) B, also known as Group B Streptococcus, is a bacterium that commonly exists in the lower genital tract and/intestines. The bacteria are typically harmless in adults, but can cause newborns, as well as individuals with previous health conditions such as diabetes, to fall ill. Pregnant women are strongly encouraged to treat strep B so that it is not transmitted to their babies. According to MayoClinic.com you should be screened for the bacteria between the 35th and 37th weeks of your pregnancy. While antibiotics are the most often the prescribed treatment, there are alternatives.

Echinacea

Echinacea is a type of coneflower that is native to North America. It is widely used in the herbal medicine field for both its wound healing and infection preventing properties. According to groupbstrep-ivil.tripod.com, taking echinacea can help boost the immune system and fight off the bacteria responsible for causing strep B. However, according to tgroupbstrep-ivil.tripod.com, it is unlikely that taking echinacea prior to pregnancy will eliminate bacteria colonization and help eliminate the chance of a child inheriting the disease.

Vitamin C

Taking vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is another alternative treatment for strep B.

According to groupbstrep-ivil.tripod.com, increasing your vitamin C intake with supplements and/or dieting can help heal injured tissue, which includes amniotic sacs. For pregnant women, the amniotic sac is the barrier between strep B-causing bacteria and the baby, and strengthening it can help prevent the disease from being transmitted. However, according to the above source, if mothers take too much vitamin C during pregnancy, their babies run the risk of being born with scurvy, a disease that is usually caused by a vitamin C deficiency which can cause swollen gums and excessive bleeding.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit seed extract is another alternative treatment for strep B. According to groupbstrep-ivil.tripod.com, grapefruit seed extract is believed to be a natural cure for the colonization of strep B-causing bacteria, and is often prescribed by midwives and other birthing practitioners. One of its main benefits is that it is completely side-effect free. However, according to groupbstrep-ivil.tripod.com, research done in 1999 showed that grapefruit seed extract has no anti-bacterial or anti-microbial properties.

Colloidal Silver

Another alternative treatment for strep B is taking colloidal silver, a solution comprised of a silver-based compound and water. According to groupbstrep-ivil.tripod.com, some claim taking colloidal silver orally serves as a powerful antibiotic that is effective against hundreds of diseases (including strep B). However, these claims have failed to be proven through medical research and experimentation.

Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus is a rod-shaped, naturally occurring "good" bacterium that is responsible for breaking down carbohydrates and producing lactic acid. According to groupbstrep-ivil.tripod.com, lactobacillus produced in the vagina can coat the walls of vaginal cells and has been shown to prevent and sometimes displace strep B-causing bacteria. However, lactobacillus is not currently available in commercial form.