Tonsillitis.
Dr. Sayeed Ahmad
D. I. Hom. (London)
WHAT IS TONSILLITIS.
Tonsils play a very important role in the body
defence against allergic diseases. They are situated at the base of the
mouth at the junction of opening of pharynx and oesophagus. These
collections of lymphoid tissues are of three types :
- Pharyngeal Tonsil/Adenoids.
- Palatine Tonsils.
- Lingual Tonsils.
Both Tonsil
and Adenoids serve
to fight and collect micro-organisms from entering in the chest through
the throat.
THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE TONSILLITIS.
Tendency for repeated attack of cough and cold e. g. in 10-15 days.
These attacks may be accompanied with high fever.Pain in the throat which sometimes extends to the ear. Unpleasant smell and taste in the mouth. Hoarseness. Snoring and breathing through the mouth. Deafness. The tonsils which are like two guards fighting
and preventing the diseases from spreading ; over a period of time
become enlarged and unhealthy leading to a condition calledChronic Tonsillitis.
THE SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC TONSILLITIS.
Recurrent cough. Increases susceptibility to other respiratory infections e. g.
Sinusitis, Bronchitis, Bronchial Asthma etc.Poor health and growth. Lack of usual vigour. Development of changes in temperament such as tantrums and bouts of
crying for little reason.Difficulty in speech and swallowing. Enlarged cervical lymph nodes. The homoeopathic treatment helps in curing
tonsillitis by :
- Reducing the size of the tonsils thus converting enlarged,
unhealthy tonsils to healthy ones.- Increasing the resistance (immunity) to repeated
infections/exposure to allergens.- Reducing the intensity and frequency of recurrent attack of cough
and cold.It is an erroneous idea that the surgical removal of
tonsils decreases the individual’s susceptibility to catch infection.Experience shows that such a drastic measure
increases the susceptibility and the allergic patients suffer from
allergy all the more especially in diseases like Sinusitis, Allergic
Rhinitis and Bronchial Asthma.
PRECAUTIONS IN DIET.
The following foods should be
strictly avoided during the period of homoeopathic treatment :
- Cold Foods And Drinks.
- Cold Drinks.
- Ice Cream.
- Other cold foods.
- Sour Foods.
- Curd.
- Fruit Juice.
- Tomato Soup.
- Vinegar.
- Pickle.
- Sambhar.
- Rasam.
- Ketchup.
- Fruits – Orange, Lemon, Sour Grapes.
- Oily Foods.
Fried foods e. g. foods prepared in oil,
butter, ghee.
HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT.
Belladonna.
It is one of the chief remedies at the beginning of
Acute Tonsillitis especially in children, with high fever and all the
symptoms of congestion. The tonsils are enlarged and inflamed, throat
is dry as if glazed, especially on the right side. Dry cough with
foreign body sensation in the throat associated with difficulty in
swallowing liquids. There is hoarseness and the throat feels
constricted.
Baryta Carb.
This is perhaps the most useful and unfailing
remedy for Acute Tonsillitis especially in repeated attacks when the
tonsils inflame, smell and suppurate repeatedly leading to chronic
hypertrophy. As per Dr. Burnett this remedy is the biggest tonsil
remedy and when tonsils are enlarged due to repeated vaccinationsThuja or Silicia
should be used.
Similarly when it is due to Tubercular Diathesis, Bacillinum should be used first and then Baryta Carb.
Merc.-Bin-Iodide.
Inflammation and swelling of left tonsil, velum
elongated causing cough, next day both tonsils involved (left to
right). Painful swelling of tonsils and sub-maxillary glands.
Kali Mur.
Tonsils excessively swollen ; stringy, tough
mucus. Swallowing excessively painful, even water or the softest
bread ; must twist his neck to get it down. One of the best
remedies for Follicular Tonsillitis. Tonsils are inflamed and enlarged
so much that the patient can hardly breathe. There are grayish-white
spots/deposits on the tonsils.
Aurum Met.
Tonsils swollen and ulcerated. Drinks find a
passage through the nostrils. Stinging soreness in throat only when
swallowing.
Psorinum.
Pain in left tonsil, with swollen feeling. Quinsy,
intense pain to ears on swallowing, profuse, offensive saliva ;
tough mucus in throat, must hawk continually ; tendency to
quinsy.
Raphanus.
Heat and burning in throat, at times, chiefly in
tonsils, with lancinations. Swelling, redness and pain in tonsils, as
if raw.
Staphisagria.
Tonsillitis, on swallowing a stitch runs up from
throat into ear. Both tonsils inflamed and swollen.
Ustilago.
Left tonsil enlarged, congested, dark reddish,
right painful on swallowing at 2 p. m. ; left painful at 9 p. m.
; next morning congestion of left extending along Eustachian
Tube and causing pain in ear. Lancinations in right tonsil.
Gun Powder.
Septic tonsillitis.
Hepar Sulph.
When suppuration is inevitable. It is used after
Bell. When the sharp, sticking, lancinating pains with
throbbing and chill indicate the beginning of suppuration – it may
even then prevent suppuration, and abscess formation when given in the
incipiency of that process. The tonsils are large, hearing poor and
there is sensation of fish-bone in the throat. It is followed by Mercurius when pus has already formed.
Lycopodium.
It is indicated when the disease starts in the
right side and extends to the left with high temperature, crying out
during sleep and awakening from sleep, cross and irritable. The
tonsils become large and are apt to be studded with small indurated
ulcers.
Mercurius.
It is indicated after
Hepar and is suited to a more advanced state when pus has
been formed and you wish it evacuated. The tonsil is enlarged and
encroaches on neighbouring parts and the breathing is labored. Mercurius given at this stage, low and
repeatedly, will cause a quick-breaking of the abscess, relieving all
the symptoms.
Note of Warning :
If given earlier the case will be
spoilt and the course of the disease will be greatly lengthened.As per Dr. Burnett, to completely cure the case,
Bacillinum 200, 1M, 10M and even higher is often
required. This remedy not only helps the tonsils and adenoids, but
cures a tendency to chronic colds, sinusitis and most conditions
pertaining to nose, throat and chest.In addition to above remedies, any indicated remedy
can be used and most probablySulphur, Calc-c., Calc-p. and Sil.
are often needed.
NOTE :
Any information given in this Article is not
intended to be taken as a replacement for medical advice. Any person
with a condition requiring medical attention should consult a well
qualified classical homoeopath. If homoeopathic treatment is needed,
the Author of this Article can offer his best services and he can be
contacted by e-mail for further details.Copyright © Dr. Sayeed Ahmad
2004