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Tonsillitis and Homeopathy

  Tonsils
  Tonsillitis
  Symptoms of Tonsillitis
  Homeopathic approach
  Common myths about Tonsils and Adenoid

Tonsils     Top
The tonsils are a pair of small almond-shaped mass of lymphatic tissue on either side of the throat. These structures act as a defense against infections (bacteria, viruses and allergen) that invade the body through the nose and mouth. Tonsils are part of the body's protective lymphatic system which dispatches white blood cells  that literally devour bacteria. The Adenoid is a grape-like mass of tissue located above the tonsils, behind the nose. Its role is to help fend off respiratory-tract infections.

Tonsillitis:     Top
Tonsils produce antibodies to fight against germs and microbes for protecting the body. Sometimes, when the bacteria takes the upper hand, the tonsils get infected (called tonsillitis). If the swelling and pain remain for more than few days or if they are recurrent in nature, the tonsils need to be treated but do not necessarily need to be removed. The human system loses the constant protection given by the tonsils if they are removed, thereby increasing the chances of getting more infections in other parts of the body.

Tonsillitis is simply an inflammation of the tonsils. The major causes of Tonsillitis  are certain bacteria, virus, and allergen (food colors, artificial flavors, pollen, etc...).

Symptoms of Tonsillitis:     Top
  • Sore throat: Pain in the throat is the most common symptom
  • A white or yellow coating on the tonsils.
  • Pain or discomfort when swallowing (Dysphagia): This could be due to pain or to an increase in the size of the tonsils because of frequent inflammation.
  • A slight voice change due to swelling.
  • Bad breath.
  • Fever: Acute infection of the tonsils may be accompanied by high to moderate rise in body temperature.
  • Sleep disorder (Sleep apnea): Temporary cessation of breathing while sleeping may be experienced due to an obstruction in the air passage because of heavily enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
    However, most children with sleep apnea do not recover from this disorder after the removal of the tonsils. (This is because, in many cases, there are associated causes for sleep apnea, such as obesity, adenoids, small jaw, bony skull deformity, neuromuscular disorder, etc...).
  • Snoring: Due to an obstructed air passage caused by enlarged tonsils, snoring may be one of the symptoms in many children suffering from recurrent tonsillitis.
  • Other symptoms: General fatigue, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, low energy level are among the symptoms that may be associated with tonsillitis.
Homeopathic Approach:     Top
Homeopathy strongly believes in enhancing the body's own defense mechanism to maintain good health. Tonsils are looked upon as immunological organs. The homeopathic approach is to encourage the immunological activities of the tonsils, and to save them for the body's own long term protection.

Frequent infections of the tonsils simply suggest that the body's defense mechanism is low. When the tonsils are repeatedly infected, they become enlarged. Enlarged tonsils are not the causes of infections - they are the result of the poor immunological state of the body. Removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy), therefore cannot be the solution to this problem.

The homeopathic approach to tonsillitis can be summarized as:
  • The tonsils are part of the body's immunity system.
  • To treat the patient, not the diseased organs.
  • To save diseased tonsils by enhancing the body's general immunity. Healthy tonsils in turn, strengthen the body's defense mechanism.
Common myths about Tonsils and Adenoids:     Top
   Tonsils are useless- Not true. Researchers continue to report new evidence showing that tonsils are a valuable part of the body's defense mechanism against invading germs and viruses.
   Tonsils are making my child sick- Chances are your child is going through a normal stage of growth, irrespective of the condition of the tonsils. Before children can build up antibodies to fight off germs, they must be exposed to them. So a certain number of mild respiratory diseases are expected during a child's early years.
   Children are healthier without them- It's not true that a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy makes a child less susceptible to colds, sore throats and other respiratory ailments nor do the operations relieve an allergy or a chronic problem such as asthma.
   They're swollen- There is no standard size for tonsils; they can be large or small. What you perceive as swelling may be the tonsils' normal size. Tonsils are very small at birth, enlarge gradually, and reach maximum size at age six or seven. After that, they usually shrink to walnut size. An adenoid grows between the ages of three and five and then shrinks, eventually disappearing altogether during puberty. Unless a medical problem is diagnosed, enlargement alone is no basis for surgery.

  
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