Tonsillitis: Tea Tree for Two, and Two for Tea Tree

Best Single Herb: Tea tree

Best Combinations: Parthenium, golden seal, yarrow, capsicum; mullein; lobelia; white oak bark; tea tree

Other Helpful Supplements: Vitamins C and A

Possible Causes: Viral infection; toxins in body

Complementary Help: Cleanse the bowel; gargle with any of the following diluted mixes: tea tree oil, sea salt, lemon oil, capsicum, slippery elm

Our tonsils are located on either side of the back part of the throat and are part of our lymphatic system. The tonsils were once thought of as useless, but now we know that they have the job of filtering out possible invaders before they can cause damage to the body, making them an important part of our immune system.

Most of us have suffered with tonsillitis at one time or another, usually in childhood during the time when we caught colds and flu. Some of you have even had your tonsils removed because of recurring tonsillitis!

The streptococcal infection (commonly called strep throat) is the common bacterial infection associated with tonsillitis, and it can cause small white pus pockets on the tonsils. Your doctor can give you a throat culture to determine whether you have strep throat. Usually antibiotics are prescribed for treatment.

Symptoms of tonsillitis include inflammation, heat, sore throat, trouble swallowing, and fever. If you have tonsillitis due to strep throat, try some of the remedies listed under colds and the flu to boost your immune system and help you recover. Another good combination of herbs used to fight infections is included in the table at the start of this post.

Terms related to herbs or holistic health

Tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils, usually due to infection.

In the meantime, let’s talk about an herbal remedy that will help you alleviate the pain and local infection that may be causing your tonsils to swell. The essential oil of tea tree, referred to as tea tree oil or melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia), can be used topically to help kill infections and numb the pain of a sore throat.

The essential oil has been used topically as an antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, and anti-viral remedy. It has also been used to fight the staphylococcus infection when used as a throat spray.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Tea tree oil should be used for topical applications only, unless instructed otherwise by a competent health practitioner. Even then, it should be used only in small amounts. When taken in larger amounts, this herb can make you sick to your stomach or give you a headache.

Do not use tea tree oil internally without supervision, however. This herb is very powerful and is not recommended for internal use, although some have used a drop of tea tree oil in warm water as a healing douche to treat Candida (yeast infections) and cystitis or other urinary tract infections. Some have placed a drop or two into hot water and breathed in the vapors to help kill lung and sinus infections. But mostly, tea tree oil is used topically.

Here’s a recipe for a tea tree oil throat spray:

• 1 glass bottle with spray pump
• 1 cup of water or liquid chlorophyll
• 1 capsicum capsule
• 1 slippery elm capsule 4 drops of tea tree oil
• 2 drops of lemon oil

Heat water, empty capsicum and slippery elm capsules into water, and stir. Let cool slightly (so the essential oils do not evaporate when added to the solution). Add the oils, stir, and pour into the spray bottle. Spray on the back of throat as needed for pain.

You can also dip a Q-tip® directly into a bottle of tea tree oil and swab it onto your tonsils. Or, you can gargle with the mixture instead.

I like to take slippery elm internally anytime I have a sore throat to soothe my irritated tissues. Cleansing the bowel will help rid the body of any toxins that are lingering and irritating the immune system. And, of course, vitamins C and A are both antioxidants that will help you fight any free radical damage caused by your infection.

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