As autumn arrives and the days get colder and damper, our bodies are put under extra pressure. Our respiratory system, skin, and lungs are in direct contact with the outside environment and have to work harder to fend off the cold. If our body's defences are strong, we stay healthy. However, if they're weaker than the outside conditions, we can fall ill.
In this article, we'll focus on a common winter issue: painful throat conditions, particularly tonsillitis.
Bacterial or viral causes
From a medical perspective, tonsillitis (or acute tonsillitis) is an inflammation of the tonsils. It can be caused by a virus, leading to redness and swelling of the tonsils and the surrounding throat area, or by a bacterial infection, where the tonsils become covered in white patches. Both types cause pain when swallowing and fever. Viral tonsillitis often comes with body aches, while bacterial infections worsen throat pain over time. A blood test showing elevated CRP levels (C-reactive protein) indicates a bacterial infection.
Severe bacterial tonsillitis, especially streptococcal, requires antibiotics. Milder bacterial and viral infections, however, can often be managed with symptom-relieving treatments.
Herbal remedies
How can you tackle it naturally? From the Five Element Regeneration range of herbal concentrates, Renol is often recommended, as it targets the lymphatic system. For young children, Vironal is another option, particularly when the sore throat is linked to a viral infection. If you have access to a diagnostic tool like Supertronic, you can measure which products to use, or try pulse diagnostics for testing.
The next step in treatment is to reduce throat swelling and pain. Drags Imun is a great option to soothe the throat's mucous membranes and help reduce inflammation. After that, it's important to address the viruses and bacteria causing the illness. For this, Grepofit can be used both internally and as an oral spray, or Cistus Complex for more severe cases or weakened immune systems.
For the first three days, it's recommended to increase Renol to 5–7 drops three times a day, Drags Imun to 10 drops four times a day, and Grepofit to 2 capsules four times a day. Dosing for children should be adjusted based on their age, weight, and tolerance. Applying a warm oil compress to the throat and getting plenty of rest also helps the body fight the infection. If symptoms don’t improve within three days, or the sore throat worsens, it's important to see your GP.
Prevention
Prevention and boosting immunity are key, especially for children prone to winter infections. Often, children are healthy over the summer but become susceptible to respiratory illnesses as the weather cools. It's essential for them to build enough energy over the summer to support a strong immune system for the winter months. However, too much ice cream and cold drinks in summer can cool their digestion instead of the surface of their bodies, making it harder to build protective yang energy for winter.To help, it's a good idea to serve warm breakfasts, like porridge or soup, during autumn (supporting the spleen and pancreas). Products that strengthen the body's defences can also be helpful. For younger children, consider Vironal, giving 3 drops once a day in the morning. You might also add Mycoren.
Wishing you a healthy and happy season!