Young children can be especially prone to catching tonsillitis at this time of year, but using homeopathy for tonsillitis could mean you can get on top of it quickly, without having to see a doctor, and returning the whole household to calm.
The tonsils and infection
The tonsils are two small glands located on either side at the back of your throat. They play a key role in defending your body against infections that enter the respiratory system. In a healthy, strong body, the innate immune system (the part we're born with) quickly responds to infections, fighting them off before they can cause harm. However, in individuals with a weaker immune system or those under stress, infections may take hold. In these cases, the body calls on its acquired immune system (the part we develop after being exposed to illness) to handle the infection. While this response takes longer, it helps the tonsils develop antibodies not only to fight the current infection but also to protect against similar infections in the future.
Homeopathy and tonsillitis
In some children, whose immune systems are not robust enough to fight off infection with the innate immune system, they may suffer with one or more bouts of tonsillitis. Although this is helping them develop their immune system, it can be uncomfortable, and very occasionally a severe case can lead onto complications down the line. Happily you can speed up the body’s natural process of healing using homeopathy for tonsillitis during the acute phase, not only shortening the symptom picture, but also not interfering with the creation of antibodies.
With longer term homeopathic constitutional treatment, the bouts of tonsillitis should disappear altogether.
Treating your little one at home with homeopathy can make them more comfortable, more quickly, but if they are extremely ill, with a very high fever for more than 12 hours, you should seek medical attention.
How to find a homeopathic remedy
Homeopathy has been practiced for over 200 years, developed by a medical doctor who observed that the body’s signs and symptoms reveal important clues about its condition. He applied a principle similar to “a hair of the dog that bit you”—that large doses of certain substances can cause symptoms, while small doses can cure them. He also recognized that illness manifests differently in each person, so treatment should focus on the individual rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
To find the right remedy, we examine the patient’s unique symptom picture and match it with a remedy that mirrors those symptoms. When treating tonsillitis, it’s important to go beyond the common symptoms of swollen tonsils and sore throat.
First, observe any changes in the patient since they became ill. Has their temperament shifted? Are they hot and sweaty, or cool and clammy? Has their skin color changed? Are they feeling more chilly and wanting to cover their neck, or does anything around their neck make them feel worse? Is the pain localized to the throat, or does it spread to other parts of the body? Are they having difficulty talking due to excessive saliva or pain?
Next, examine their mouth, looking for changes in the tonsils, uvula, throat, and tongue—color, spots, ulcerations, coatings, or other abnormalities. Take note of which side of the throat was affected first, and whether the symptoms shift between sides.
Then, consider what makes the symptoms better or worse. With tonsillitis, this is likely to involve food and drink. Are they thirsty? How does swallowing affect the pain? Does swallowing different things (saliva, food, drink) change the discomfort? Is the pain worse with hot or cold items? Are they struggling to eat or drink, or does food come back through the nose?
Finally, ask about the sensations in their throat. Do they feel like they might choke when lying down? Is the pain sharp, like a splinter or fishbone? Is it burning or raw?
Homeopathic remedies for tonsillitis
To use homeopathy for tonsillitis, when you have decided on the most likely remedy from the list below, give one dose every 2 hours for up to 10 doses. Often the easiest way is to put one sugar pill under the tongue and let it dissolve. Use a low potency such as 6c, unless otherwise noted here - but if you don’t have a low potency just use what you have and adjust the frequency so that you give another dose only when you see the last wearing off.
And if the first remedy you try does nothing after 4 doses, try the next best one on your list, or see at the end of this article for where to go for more help.
Belladonna 30c
Usually starts on the right side, with a throat that looks red and angry. There will be intense heat/fever, a red face with dilated pupils. But the child will have no thirst or anxiety. They will have a strawberry tongue, with a white coating down the centre. Any movement may result in a shooting pain in the head. They may feel like they will suffocate if they don’t swallow, but swallowing really hurts. There will be throbbing, a burning sensation or fiery pains.
Mercurius
Their throat will look dark red, swollen, and sore, their tongue will have a yellow coating, and their breath will be offensive. They will have a great deal of saliva in their mouth, which may hinder their speech. They will have a constant desire to swallow all that saliva, but swallowing is painful, causing burning when they do. Despite all that saliva their throat feels dry. Things are worse at night and when speaking. the throat feels sore, raw, smarting and burning.
Silica 12x
For a child that has recurrent severe tonsillitis or quinsy, and whose colds tend to settle in the throat. Tonsils will be sore and suppurating, with even the uvula and palate looking swollen. It feels to them as if they have pins pricking in their throat. The throat feels paralysed, and swallowing can be so difficult from the swelling that food may come back out through the nose.
Lachesis
Pain usually starts in the right side and can cause a stiff neck. There might be a pain from the back of the skull moving down the neck. The throat will look a reddish purple, with swollen tonsils. They will be hot and sticky to touch, but unlike Belladonna there is an unquenchable thirst. Swallowing food is least painful, followed by cold liquids. Hot liquids and saliva are most painful, and can cause a spasm in the throat. They can seem worse during or after sleeping, and don’t want to be warm or have anything around their necks. They can feel like they are choking when they lie down, but little swelling is noticeable from the outside.
Hepar Sulph
The child will be chilly, overly sensitive and irritable. They will have cold sweats, especially about the head. There may be no swelling but there will be abscesses or ulceration on the glands, with lots of pain like a splinter, or fishbone, is caught there. They will be better for warm drinks, but they may have difficulty swallowing or speaking. It may also be accompanied by a barking cough that is very painful.
Lycopodium
Usually starts on the right then goes to left. indicated when the tonsillitis is associated with flatulence or toothache. The tongue may be dry and puffy, but not coated. The child will be better for warm drinks, and worse for cold drinks and between 4-8 am/pm.
And if you need more help
There are too many possible remedies to list here, but the ones above are frequently indicated, and you probably have them in your home kit. If you have trouble identifying the right remedy then consider calling the homeopathic helpline on 09065 343404 which is available 24/7.
And when your little one is recovered, book in for an appointment so we can give their constitution a boost, and hopefully stop a recurrence.
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