You may have heard one or both of these terms. Do you know they are different? 21% of UK people suffer with adenoid issues and 11% suffer with recurrent tonsilitis.
Tonsils: small round lumps of tissue at the back of the mouth on either side of the throat.
Adenoids: singular clump of tissue behind the nasal cavity and above the roof of the mouth.
Both help the body to fight infection and stop it travelling deeper into the body. They trap germs and clear them out as well as excess fluid via the lymphatic system. Tonsils and adenoids are still frequently removed if they become repeatedly infected. This is common in children but adults can have recurrent tonsilitis too.
Symptoms of tonsilitis: sore throat, painful swallowing, loss of appetite, bright red tonsils, fever, and offensive breath
Symptoms of swollen adenoids: sinusitis, difficulty breathing especially at night which may present as snoring.
In TCM the throat is linked to the lung energy. The triad here is relevant to:skin = lungs = bowels. These are all linked energetically. In homeopathy you may be susceptible to appendicitis if your tonsils or adenoids have been removed. The bowel link is clear here. Snoring at night even in children can have a risk of sleep apnoea which is dangerous.
Here are my 5 top tips for keeping your tonsils and adenoids healthy:
- Decrease dairy.
Dairy is a mucus forming food, just like alcohol, sugar and processed foods. Avoid these so your lymphatic system doesn’t have to work so hard.
- Fermented foods.
Eating these helps to nourish your gut microbiome and start to rebuild it correctly if you’ve had lots of antibiotics. Kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut are all fermented foods.
- Supplements to help.
Vitamin A, C, B complex, zinc, kelp, essential fatty acids such as omega 3 and trace minerals can be helpful to support your tonsils and adenoids.
- Have a Cranial-osteopathy session.
This can make sure that all the small bones inside your inner ear and jaw are not causing any blockages for mucus to drain. Great for overall health.
- Clear your throat chakra.
Reiki, guided meditation or simply humming/singing can open up and clear any imbalances here. The throat chakra is associated with speaking your truth and being heard. If this is not happening, think about why and perhaps take some action towards this.
My top homeopathic remedies here are: Bar-c, Thuja, and Merc viv.
Homeopathy can deal very effectively with the root cause of tonsilitis issues. Get in touch if you need my help with this!
