10 Home Remedies for Tonsillitis Relief
A sudden drop in temperature during the cold season increases our risk of catching different illnesses. Tonsillitis is just one of the many uncomfortable and painful ailments to deal with. It is not only prevalent in children but puts everyone at any age at risk due to contagion.
Medically, tonsillitis is not contagious but the virus and bacteria that cause the inflammation are. A person may contract an illness like flu or cold but may not necessarily experience tonsillitis. It is the battle of the immune system that rules it out.
What is Tonsillitis?
The tonsils are the two round fleshy masses that sit opposite each other at the back of the throat. As a part of the immune system, their function is to filter out germs and viruses that go through the mouth and nose. Being on the frontline of defense, the tonsils are inevitably exposed to infections and can cause inflammation.
Simply put, tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils. It is manifested by sore throat, difficulty swallowing, earache, headache, cough or fever. The symptoms may last for about three days.
Tonsillitis is often mistaken for strep throat but they are different illnesses. Strep throat is caused by strep bacteria while tonsillitis can be due to either a virus or a bacterium. Sometimes, strep throat can infect the tonsils and you have to endure both at the same time.
How to Fight Tonsillitis
The worst thing about inflamed tonsils is the weird feeling of a lump in your throat. It is also too painful for you to enjoy any food.
These are a few of the tried-and-tested home remedies and self-care practices that have existed in traditional medicine for a long time.
- Warm salt water gargle 3 times per day
- Warm tea with raw honey
- Soothing lozenges
- Popsicles, frozen treats or ice chips
- The use of a humidifier
10 Home Remedies for Tonsillitis
Drinking warm tea is one of the most effective remedies against swollen tonsils. Herbal teas that impart their healing properties are a good enough choice.
If you are continuously battling with tonsillitis, try these effective spice and herb infusions to reduce your suffering.
Garlic
It’s dubbed “Nature’s Antibiotic” for its whole-body antibacterial properties. It contains allicin, the pungent compound that clears away infection caused by either viruses or bacteria.
Fresh garlic also boosts the immune function for a quick recovery of the tonsils while improving its function. The best way of using garlic is by chewing its fresh bulb. If that is too pungent, brewing it into tea also works.
Ginger
Ginger tea quickly relieves sore throat and tonsil inflammations. It is a staple warming beverage that can be prepared in many ways to recover from many illnesses. Garlic works wonders for tonsillitis. It also tames the nausea that often comes with swollen tonsils.
Lemon Juice
A freshly squeezed lemon juice added to a nice warm cup of tea boosts any tea’s healing effect.
Lemon serves as a pain reliever and is often used with honey to neutralize its acidity. It is an antibacterial fruit that serves as a good tonic for alleviating different types of illnesses.
Marshmallow Root
It’s a traditional remedy for throat inflammation.
When macerated, it produces a slippery substance called mucilage. This is what coats the throat and lubricates it to make it easier to swallow.
Echinacea
It’s an effective herb against infections, abscesses and inflammations. Echinacea is also an antiseptic that is good for reducing a variety of bacteria in the mouth and throat.
The tincture of echinacea or infusion of its leaves is widely used for treating colds, flu, tonsillitis and other respiratory problems.
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Licorice
Licorice is a natural aspirin that treats pain and inflammation which may alleviate the nagging tonsil pain. Additionally, it possesses excellent antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Drinking or gargling licorice tea can help ease tonsillitis and speed up its healing.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties work well in inhibiting bacterial growth in the tonsils. Try drinking 1 tsp of cinnamon powder dissolved in a cup of water and drink it warm throughout the day. It will tame the inflammation so you can go on and eat without swallowing difficulty.
Coconut Oil
Oil pulling with coconut oil is an ancient practice of promoting good oral and dental hygiene. Coconut contains lauric acid that reduces the population of fungi, viruses and bacteria in the mouth and oral cavity. It soothes the sore tonsils and helps lubricate the throat to facilitate easy swallowing.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a cure-all spice that can treat a wide range of illnesses including tonsillitis. The curcumin in turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial compound that kills pathogens and prevents their growth. For very painful tonsils, add 1 tsp turmeric and a pinch of black pepper into a warm beverage to manage and ease the pain.
Chamomile
Take a sip of the soothing chamomile tea to relieve a scratchy and painful throat and tonsil inflammation. Chamomile alleviates pain and inflammation and helps you recover from an illness quickly by boosting your immune defenses. Chamomile tea also has a sedative property to induce a deep sleep for faster recovery.
Homemade Lozenge for Tonsillitis Relief
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp ginger powder
- 3 tbsp honey
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- Flour dusting
- Little more sugar for coating (optional)
Steps:
- Add water into a pan, dissolve sugar in water and bring to a boil.
- Add the ginger, honey and black pepper.
- Simmer under low heat until the mixture is halved.
- Mix in the lemon juice and turn off the heat.
- Drop a spoonful of the syrup on a parchment paper to make circular drops. If you don’t have parchment paper, you can dust the work area with flour to prevent them from sticking.
- Let the candies cool and harden. Sprinkle sugar over them. You may omit the sugar if you like and dust the candies with more flour to keep them from caking.
You can make batches of the lozenge with different food colors for colorful tonsillitis-relief candies.
To use: Suck on the lozenges to soothe a scratchy and painful throat, but take no more than 3 per day. The medicinal properties of each ingredient work to relieve pain and inflammation.
The best thing about lozenges is you can take them with you anywhere. You can just pop one in your mouth when the need arises for immediate tonsil pain relief. It is also great for small children to enjoy and benefit from its healing benefits.
how long will these last as in the shelf life?
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your interest in this recipe!
Kept in an airtight container, they should last up to 2 weeks. If you notice that they start to crystallize, you can use them in your tea.
Many blessings and good health!