The tonsils are partially responsible for protecting us from foreign matter in our bodies. They exert their influence most strongly in the childhood years, taking in any foreign material that threatens the body. This also leaves them highly vulnerable to infection during this period of life, and the resulting condition is called tonsillitis. As the child ages, the role of the tonsils becomes less prominent in the immune system, and tonsillitis decreases in frequency.

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Tonsillitis

The tonsils are partially responsible for protecting us from foreign matter in our bodies. They exert their influence most strongly in the childhood years, taking in any foreign material that threatens the body. This also leaves them highly vulnerable to infection during this period of life, and the resulting condition is called tonsillitis. As the child ages, the role of the tonsils becomes less prominent in the immune system, and tonsillitis decreases in frequency.

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Symptoms

Tonsillitis is a highly infectious inflammation of the tonsils accompanied by:

  • Fever
  • Very sore throat with red, swollen tonsils and white discharge or spots on the tonsils
  • Swollen and tender lymph nodes in the neck under the jaw
  • Dry cough
  • Headache and stomach ache are often present
  • Severe pain at the roof of the mouth, and difficulty swallowing
  • Muffled speech
  • Snoring

Causes

The infection is usually due to a virus or the Streptococcus bacterium.

Recurrent episodes of tonsillitis indicate that the body's resistance is weakened.

Food allergies, particularly to dairy products are also associated with recurrent tonsillitis.

Natural Therapies

  • Herbs such as Echinacea and Andrographis are used to treat throat infections and work by improving the body's immune function
  • Zinc lozenges have been shown to reduce the number of days of a sore throat associated with the common cold
  • Herbs such as marshmallow, thyme and licorice have traditionally been used for relief of sore throats

Diet and Lifestyle Suggestions

Gargling with salty water or sage herbal tea several times a day helps to relieve sore throat and hoarseness.

Get lots of rest and maintain a high fluid intake.

Remedy

If you or your child are experiencing ongoing problems with tonsillitis, try avoiding dairy foods for a period of 1-2 months. Dairy allergy has commonly been found to contribute to recurrent throat infection.

Eliminate all sources of concentrated simple sugars (sugar, honey, fruit juice) from the diet and instead base your diet on complex carbohydrates such as fruit, vegetables and whole grains.

Use an Echinacea, Andrographis or vitamin C supplement to help improve resistance to infection.

Important Notes

Consult your healthcare professional if your child has recurrent tonsillitis.

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