Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils in the back of your throat. Tonsillitis is caused most commonly by viral infections, but bacterial species such as streptococcus can infect your tonsils also. "Strep throat" is a term given to an especially bad case of tonsillitis, and not always meant to distinguish the causal agent. Bacterial causes of tonsillitis are treatable with antibiotics, although many herbs display antibacterial properties without the side effects of drugs. If you have an especially painful sore throat, consult your doctor about appropriate treatment options.
Streptococcal Tonsillitis
According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," the most common causes of tonsillitis are viruses that also cause the common cold, although bacteria are the second most common cause. The most common bacterial cause is known as group A β-hemolytic streptococcus, or GABHS for short, which causes strep throat. Other streptococcus species can infect your tonsils, which are glandular tissue meant to filter out pathogens. Your tonsils contain white blood cells of the immune system and are normally effective at destroying bacteria and viruses, but when your immunity is reduced, pathogens can proliferate in your throat and other areas, causing a variety of symptoms.
Common Symptoms
Common symptoms of tonsillitis include red and inflamed tonsils with white patches, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, tender neck, swollen neck glands, earache, headache, fever, cough, nasal congestion, bad breath and achy muscles, as cited by the "Professional Guide to Diseases." Antibiotics, such as penicillin, amoxicillin or erythromycin, are often effective against strep throat, although some varieties of streptococcus can become resistant to drugs. Further, you may be allergic to penicillin, so consult with your doctor before taking any medications.
About Herbal Remedies
If you are allergic to penicillin or prefer a more natural approach, there are many herbal remedies that display antimicrobial properties and are effective against bacteria, fungi and viruses. This is an important point because antibiotics should only be given for bacterial infections, but sometimes throat swabs are not taken or cultured to determine the bacterial cause of the tonsillitis and antibiotic drugs do not kill viruses or fungi. As such, some herbal remedies can be of great value if the cause of your tonsillitis is unknown. Regardless, severe cases of tonsillitis should always be monitored by a health care professional.
Antimicrobial Herbs
Antimicrobial herbs can be especially effective for throat infections because they come into direct contact with the infection while chewing and swallowing, according to "The New Healing Herbs." As such, raw, fresh herbs are preferred to dried herbs within capsules. Perhaps the most effective and economical natural antibiotic is fresh garlic cloves. It may not be good for your breath, but garlic contains allicin, which is able to attack pathogenic bacteria while preserving the beneficial flora and fauna of the gut. Olive leaf extract is rich in phytochemicals, which have strong antimicrobial properties. Diluting the liquid extract with a little water and gargling the mixture before swallowing it would be especially effective against tonsillitis. Apricot kernel oil is another antimicrobial compound, due mainly to the glycoside amygdalin, which contains molecules of cyanide that effectively kill bacteria. Oil of oregano is perhaps the strongest antimicrobial of all herbal oils and extracts, according to "Medical Herbalism," so care must be taken to properly dilute it if you are going to gargle and swallow it. Other herbs that display antibiotic properties include goldenseal root, chaparral leaf, tea tree oil and black walnut extract. Consult your doctor before trying to prevent, treat or cure any condition with herbs.
References
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; A. Fauci et al.; 2008
- "Professional Guide to Diseases: Ninth Edition"; 2009
- "The New Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 2010
- "Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann; 2003
