Tonsillitis

Tonsils and the adenoid are both lymphoid tissue, meaning that they are similar to lymph node tissues.  Tonsils are located at the back of the throat while the adenoid sits on the posterior wall of the throat, behind the nose and above the palate. 

Both are strategically positioned at the entrance of the airway, where they can react to invading infectious agents.  Incoming virus and bacteria come upon the tonsils and adenoid right away, which allows the immune system to launch its defence quickly and produce antibodies. 

Because they are so often exposed to germs, tonsils and adenoids do get infected, especially in children. 

Tonsillitis – an infection of the tonsils - can be very painful, particularly when swallowing.  When it occurs, glands in the throat are usually swollen as well.  Such an infection can develop when the immune system is not as effective as it should.  

On the other hand, chronic tonsillitis weakens the immune system, making us more susceptible to infection.  When the adenoid gets infected, it swells, becomes painful and can obstruct the upper airways causing congestion and snoring.

• Drink a lot of water (6-8 glasses per day) to flush out toxins
• Drink herbal tea, good quality vegetable juice, soup and broth.
• Eat a lot of garlic, horseradish and dark green veggies (rich in chlorophyll), for their antiseptic properties.
• Drink the juice of a fresh lemon in a glass of water, to benefit from its high vitamin C content and its antiseptic action.
• Avoid sugar, except for honey, because it decreases the immune system’s efficacy.
• Avoid food with high animal fat contents (meat and dairy products) or containing trans fat, because they congest the lymphatic system and slow healing down.

Echinaforce from A.Vogel is great to support the immune system in its effort to eliminate viruses and bacteria. It is effective even when the infection has already set in. If your throat is very painful, the better choice is Echinaforce sore throat spray which combines Echinacea (antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory), sage (anti-inflammatory, astringent and anti-infective) and peppermint essential oil (analgesic). The spray can be used until the pain is relieved.

Echinaforce in drops or tablets can then replace the spray until the infection is gone. Daily intake of Echinaforce for a few months will reduce the risk of reoccurrence. It is a good idea to combine Echinaforce with an Ester C supplement (buffered vitamin C with bioflavonoids).

If the infection is chronic, A.Vogel’s Stinging Nettle could help thin the lymph in order to ease its flow and relieve congestion in the lymphatic system. It also promotes the elimination of acid toxins and supports the immune function.

Massage your throat with A.Vogel St-John’s Wort oil to help soothe the tonsils and glands in the throat.

Before having tonsils or the adenoid removed, consider the fact that they are an active part of your immune system and their removal affects its efficacy.  This surgery should only take place once all other options have been tried.