Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is defined as inflammation of the tonsils: the two oval shaped pads of tissue at the back of your throat, one tonsil on each side. Signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing and tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck. The cause can be a result of a viral or bacterial infection. Children get tonsillitis more often than adults, because it is often caused by a virus that they have not had time to develop resistance to and their organ systems are much more delicate. Treatment ranges from home remedies to surgical removal. 

We do now know how important our tonsils really were, so we remove them Each part of our body is there for a specific job, to make up one whole system that runs efficiently. The tonsils are quite important to our body, they are immune glands, fighting germs that enter through the mouth and nose. They are part of our lymphatic system which is a network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials.

From a TICM perspective, there are three main problems that lead to tonsillitis:

Wind Heat pathogens attack the throat: swollen tonsils, sore throat, uncomfortable to swallow, fever, chills, runny nose and cough, tongue has a light yellow fur.

Improper diet leads to an overheated Stomach: severe sore throat, high fever, tough to swallow, bad breath, thirst and constipation, throat is red, swollen with yellow patches, tongue is red with greasy yellow fur.

Lung and Kidney deficiencies: recurring sore throat, red tongue covered with a thin fur.

How can we help?

Diet: eat nutritious food, don't skip breakfast or lunch. Children have a more sensitive Stomach, what you feed them when they are young matters as it builds their constitution and how resilient they are. Avoid damp forming foods like excess dairy, iced drinks, fried foods and feed them vegetables, proteins and whole foods. Avoid frozen, raw, spicy, greasy foods, and things like crackers and chips that are dry and sharp. Hydrate with warm water or room temperature.

Balance: get enough good quality rest along with moderate exercise. Infrared sauna, jumping, rebounding are great methods to make the lymph nodes move.

Herbal medicine: strengthen Stomach and Lung function while dispelling dampness and mucous.

Energy herbs such as Astralagus root: protect against pathogens; bacterial and viral invasions with this ancient formula.

Ginger extract: kills bacteria, inflammation and boosts the immune system.

Clove extract: kills bacteria, especially in the mouth and fights inflammation.

Make a cup of tea with ginger powder and 3 cloves adding raw honey is sweetness is required.

Important note: please note that when you are sick with tonsilitis and due to the inflammation, difficulty swallowing and tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck, many doctors will wrong diagnose and prescribe thyroid medication to patients based on blood test results alone. One of the reasons I request that you take note of your emotions and whether you were unwell when bloods were taken as these things will show up in your results when I read them, compared to if you were in the best of health and joyful on the day. Many people do not like needles so get anxious, this will show up as stress under your Liver function test when I read it.