Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis refer to acute inflammation of the tonsils. It is also known as acute sore throat. Chronic tonsillitis is aterm applied to cases inwhich there is enlargement of the tonsils accompanied by repeated attacks of infection.The tonsils are two small lymphoid organs that lie one on each side of the throat. They can be seen just behindthe back of the tongue between two folds of membrane running upto the soft palate. Normally, they are aboutthe size of a lima bean but they can become very much larger if severely infected. They are valuable organs ofselective elimination and perform a two-fold function. Firstly, they protect the throat against disease germs.Secondly, they serve as barometers for indicating infection elsewhere in the body, when they become sore andswollen.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of tonsillitis are sore throat, fever, headache, pain in various parts of the body, difficulty inswallowing and general weakness. The tonsils are seen to be inflamed and red when the mouth is openedwide. In many cases, spots of pus exude from them. Externally, the tonsillar lymph glands which lie just behindthe angle of the jaw are tender and enlarged. In several cases there may be pain in the ear.

Causes

The chief cause of tonsilities is a toxic condition of the system generally and is brought to a head by suddenlowering of vitality resulting from exposure and sudden chill. Tonsils enlarge and get inflamed when the toxinscannot be got rid of through the normal channels of elimination such as the bowels, kidneys and skin. Throatafflictions of this kind is also associated with the result of chronic constipation, when toxin, which should shouldhave been ejected from the system in the normal way, are reabsorbed into the blood-stream.

Treatment

The treatment of the tonsillitis on the lines of modern medical system by means of painting and spraying is bothharmful and suppressive. It does not help to rid the system of the toxins, which are the root of the trouble. Infact it forces these toxins back into the system, which may cause more serious trouble later on. The correctway to treat the disease is to cleanse the system of toxic waste through proper dietary and other naturalmethods. To begin with, the patient should fast for three to five days by which time serious symptoms wouldsubside. Nothing but water and orange juice should be taken during this time. The bowels should be cleanseddaily with a warm water enema during the period of fasting. A cold pack should be applied to the throat at twohourlyinterval during the day.

The procedure is to wring out some linen material in cold water, wrap it two orthree times around the throat and cover it with some flannelling. The throat may be gargled several times dailywith neat lemon juice. Gargle made from the fenugreek seeds is very effective in severe cases. To make sucha gargle , two tablespoonful of fenugreek seeds should be allowed to simmer for half an hour in a litre of waterand then set aside to cool. The entire quantity should be used as a soothing gargle in a day with beneficialresults. A hot Epsom -salt bath taken every day or every other day will also be beneficial. After the acutesymptoms of tonsillities are over, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for further three or four days. In this regimen, three meals of fresh, juicy fruits such as apples, grapes, grapefruit, oranges, pears, pineapple,peaches and melon may be taken.