The tonsils, a pair of soft tissues located at the end of your mouth close to your throat, are the glands of your throat that may become inflamed due to a bacterial or viral infection. The condition is called tonsillitis and may produce several symptoms including sore throat. You usually don't require antibiotics to treat tonsillitis, but sometimes it becomes important to use OTC or prescription medicines to resolve the issue. You can, however, use tonsillitis home remedies to trigger recovery. Keep reading to find out more about some of the most effective home remedies for tonsillitis that will help you find relief quickly.
10 Great Home Remedies for Tonsillitis
Salt Water
How It Helps: Gargling with saline solution is always one of the best tonsillitis home remedies because warm water will create a soothing effect and the salt will help eliminate infection.
How to Apply: Take a cup of lukewarm water and add a teaspoon of table salt to it. Mix it and use this solution to gargle. Be sure not to swallow it. Repeat several times a day for speedy recovery.
Lemon
How It Helps: Lemon has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties, so it will help eliminate any infection and reduce inflammation as well. It has vitamin C that makes your body more resistant to infections.
How to Apply: Squeeze a lemon in a glass of lukewarm water and add a pinch of salt with a teaspoon of honey to it. Mix it and drink it twice a day for several days to get good results.
Turmeric
How It Helps: It works because it has strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that clear infection and relieve irritating symptoms.
How to Apply: Take a glass of hot water and a teaspoon of turmeric powder to it. Now, use this solution to gargle several times a day. You can add turmeric powder to saline solution for speedy recovery.
Cinnamon
How It Helps: Using cinnamon is among the most effective home remedies for tonsillitis because it has antimicrobial properties that make it effective against microorganisms that cause pain, swelling and inflammation.
How to Apply: Take a glass of hot water and a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to it. Add 2 teaspoons of honey to this solution to make it taste good. Sip on it slowly at least twice a day for a week for pain relief.
Mint
How It Helps: Using mint is one of the simplest natural remedies for tonsillitis. Its antimicrobial properties help in killing viruses and bacteria while the menthol helps soothe your irritated mucus membranes.
How to Apply: Add a few mint leaves to a glass of water and boil it for some time until only half of the water is left in the glass. Now, strain it and add a teaspoon of honey for taste. Drink it when it's warm to soothe your irritated throat. Drink it at least thrice a day. You can also use mint-flavored mouthwash for relief.
Garlic
How It Helps: Garlic will work as a great remedy for tonsillitis because it strengthens your immune systems and enables your body to clear infection on its own. It also has antibacterial and antiviral compounds with several antioxidants that will fight flu, colds and tonsillitis. Using garlic the moment you notice you're becoming sick will improve your chances of recovering fast.
How to Apply: Make an herbal tea using garlic and drink it several times a day. You simply need to boil a couple of cloves of garlic in a cup of water. Boil it for 5 minutes and then simmer for 10 minutes or so. Strain it and add some honey for taste. Sip on it slowly for pain relief. Don't drink too much of it because garlic can thin your blood.
Cayenne, Honey and Lemon
How It Helps: A mixture of lemon, honey and cayenne pepper will work great to reduce inflammation and pain caused by tonsillitis. Cayenne pepper works as an antiseptic and reduces swelling quickly.
How to Apply: Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to 2 tablespoons of honey. Then, add a small pinch of cayenne pepper and leave the mixture for about 10 minutes or so. Sip it throughout the day for relief. Don't use too much of cayenne pepper.
Fenugreek
How It Helps: Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, it has been used in the form of poultice to treat swellings. It works equally well for your swollen tonsils.
How to Apply: Take about 4 cups of water and add 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds to it. Simmer it for a while and use this solution to gargle several times a day.
Basil
How It Helps: Basil leaves have antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so it is one of the most effective home remedies for tonsillitis. It also accelerates the healing process and reduces inflammation quickly.
How to Apply: Take 1½ cups of water and add 10 leaves to it. Boil it for about 10 minutes and strain it. Now, add some lemon juice with a teaspoon of honey to it. Drink this mixture at least thrice a day for a few days to fix your sore throat.
Medications
Sometimes, the infection will be severe and may not respond to natural home remedies. You can try OTC medications for sore throat. You may suck on lozenges to reduce your throat pain. You can also take ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but it is a good idea to consult with your doctor who may prescribe an antibiotic if your sore throat is the outcome of a bacterial infection. If your doctor has prescribed antibiotics, make sure to finish them even if you feel better after a few days or else your tonsillitis symptoms may return and infection may spread to your kidneys and other body parts.
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