Tonsillitis {Tundikeri} with Ayurveda treatment

Tonsillitis is the one of the common diseases of the respiratory tract. It is the inflammatory condition of the tonsils. Tonsils lie on each side of the throat. The inflammation of tonsils occur due to infection.

°CAUSES:-

The most common cause of tonsillitis is bacterial or viral infection. This infection is primarily caused due to excessive intake of fried, greasy foods, chocolates, sweets, spices, white flour products, cold and frozen food.

Reasons for Tonsillitis according to Ayurveda:-

Tonsillitis can be caused / worsened due to
1. Intake of cold water or cold food stuff such as ice cream, cold drinks
2. Cold climate
3. Exposure to cold breeze
4. Excess intake of oily food.

Symptoms of Tonsillitis:-

•Throat pain with redness.
•Swelling inside the throat, near the palate.
•Burning sensation.
•Ulcers, blisters.
•Difficulty in swallowing.
•A white or yellow coating on the tonsils.
•Hoarseness or loss of voice.
•Headache, Ear pain.
•Loss of appetite.
•Difficulty swallowing.
•Swollen glands in the neck or jaw area.
•Fever, chills,  Bad breath.

Involvement of Doshas:

All the three Doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha is observed here. Indulgence on cold foods and activities (such as cold exposure, excess talking), causing Vata and Kapha Dosha imbalance worsens the condition further.

Line of treatment for Tonsillitis according to Ayurveda

1. Managing the local pain, redness and swelling (inflammation)
2. Treating the fever / infection caused due to the infection
3. Lifestyle adjustment / diet restrictions to avoid further damage to tonsils and to get it back to its healthy, original shape
4. Surgery – if tonsillitis is occurring very frequently, if the tonsils are so swollen that it is making it difficult for the patient to breath or swallow or if there is huge pus collection.

Sushruta has recommended incision and drainage method of surgical treatment, where needed.

Following are the herbs, medicines and home remedies used in treating tonsillitis :-

°Single drugs useful in tonsillitis:

Dronapushpi
Daruharidra
Tejohwa
Katphala
Pippali
Pushkaramoola
Shunthi
Maricha
Karkatakasringi

Formulations recommended in Tonsilitis

Shringyadi choornam
Pushkaramoolasava
Pippalyasava
Katphala kashaya
Dashamoola katutraya kashaya
Sithopaladi choorna
Thalisadi choorna
Shwasakuthara rasa
Kaphakutara rasa
Kanchanara Guggulu
Nimbadi Kashayam
Khadiradi Vati
Gorochanadi Gulika
Nirgundyadi oil – Applied locally

Homemade remedies :-

1.  25 ml of lemon juice is added to 100 ml of water. Then boiled. While boiling 5 gram each of salt, pepper and turmeric powder are added. When the amount of water is reduced to 50 -60 ml , it is filtered. This is used for mouth gargling. Two to three days of gargling gives good relief from pain and swelling caused due to tonsillitis.

2. The thorns of Tejohwa (toothache tree) -Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb. is collected. It is rubbed well with lemon juice and fine paste is made. This is applied to the neck, nearby the swelling caused due to tonsillitis. 1 to 2 pinches is taken internally also. It helps to pacify redness and swelling effectively.