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Tonsillitis
refer to acute inflammation of the tonsils. It is also
known as acute sore throat. Chronic tonsillitis is a term
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 behind the
back of the tongue between two folds of membrane running
upto the soft palate. Normally, they are about the size
of a lima bean but they can become very much larger if
severely infected. They are valuable organs of selective
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 and swollen.Symptoms
The main
symptoms of tonsillitis are sore throat, fever, headache,
pain in various parts of the body, difficulty in
swallowing and general weakness. The tonsils are seen to
be inflamed and red when the mouth is opened wide. In
many cases, spots of pus exude from them. Externally, the
tonsillar lymph glands which lie just behind the 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 sudden lowering of
vitality resulting from exposure and sudden chill.
Tonsils enlarge and get inflamed when the toxins cannot
be got rid of through the normal channels of elimination
such as the bowels, kidneys and skin. Throat afflictions
of this kind is also associated with the result of
chronic constipation, when toxin, which should should
have 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 both harmful and
suppressive. It does not help to rid the system of the
toxins, which are the root of the trouble. In fact it
forces these toxins back into the system, which may cause
more serious trouble later on. The correct way to treat
the disease is to cleanse the system of toxic waste
through proper dietary and other natural methods.
To begin with, the patient should fast for three to five
days by which time serious symptoms would subside.
Nothing but water and orange juice should be taken during
this time. The bowels should be cleansed daily with a
warm water enema during the period of fasting. A cold
pack should be applied to the throat at two-hourly
interval during the day. The procedure is to wring out
some linen material in cold water, wrap it two or three
times around the throat and cover it with some
flannelling.
The throat may be gargled several times daily with neat
lemon juice. Gargle made from the fenugreek seeds is very
effective in severe cases. To make such a gargle , two
tablespoonful of fenugreek seeds should be allowed to
simmer for half an hour in a litre of water and then set
aside to cool. The entire quantity should be used as a
soothing gargle in a day with beneficial results. A hot
Epsom -salt bath taken every day or every other day will
also be beneficial.
After the acute symptoms 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. The
juice of fresh pineapple is most valuable in all throat
afflictions of this kind. After the all-fruit diet the
patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet on
the following lines :
Breakfast : Fresh
fruits, or grated raw carrot or any other raw salad, and
milk. Prunes or other dried fruits may be added , if
desired.
Lunch : Steamed
vegetables, as obtainable, and whole wheat chappatis.
Vegetables likes bitter gourd and fenugreek are specially
beneficial.
Dinner : A
good-sized raw salad of vegetables as obtainable, sprouts
seeds as mung beans and alfalfa seeds, wholemeal bread
and butter or cottage cheese.
Raw vegetable juices are also valuable in the treatment
of tonsillitis. Juice of carrot, beet and cucumber taken
individually or in combination are especially beneficial.
Formula proportion found to be helpful when used in
combination are carrot 300 ml., beet 100ml., and cucumber
100 ml.
The daily dry friction and
hip bath as well as breathing and other exercises should
all form part of the daily health regimen. A hot
Epsom-salts bath once or twice a week can also be taken
regularly with beneficial results.
Tonsillits canbe successfully treated by the natural
methods outlined above. Surgery for the removal of the
tonsils is necessary only in very rare cases, when
tonsils are seriously diseased, rugged and contain
hopelessly incurable pus pockets.
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