Do you, or your kids   suffer from Sore throats, laryngitis, or recurrent tonsillitis?

Those tingly tickly   and painful pharyngeal problems packing the back of your throat and making   swallowing sanguineously saturated …  can be licked!

A sore throat is   generally a symptom of being “run down” or immunologically challenged with   various viruses and or bacteria. Generally the patient maybe deficient in   essential nutrients, trace minerals, and vitamins. This may happen for a   variety of reasons. Dental disease (nursing home syndrome) in the mature and   elderly is also a common cause of inflamed tonsils/pharyngitis and bronchitis,   while recurring viral illness is more common in children and teenagers.

Take for example   one of my recent patients, SF who has been suffering from repeated throat   infections.

SF is a High school   girl undergoing  growth spurts.  Growing new cells as well as exercising   daily requires a maximum of nutrients above the  RDI (recommended Daily intake). Growth,   puberty and development all place demands on stored minerals and vitamins,   particularly Vitamin A, C, and E and trace minerals Zinc, and Magnesium.   Macrominerals of Calcium and phosphates are required in the 2-3 gram amounts,   and can be difficult for growing young people to gain in the modern western   diet, as they are not balanced if they are not snacking on wholesome nuts,   cheeses and fruits.

Added to this is   the internal hormonal (adrenaline, cortisol and sympathetic overload)  stress of exams. Exposure to germs via high   density living  and socialising—ie. mixing   with hundreds of people while at school and at dance classes leads to contact   to various viruses and germs.  Tonsillitis is   much more than just a simple sore throat. It usually hurts a lot, is common   in children leaving them feeling sick, miserable and drained. Tonsillitis   results when the tonsils  become   overwhelmed by bacterial or viral infection. It can occur as part of a throat   infection (pharyngitis) and causes them to become swollen, infl amed and   covered in white spots. Tonsils form part of the body’s immune system, their   major function being to catch incoming germs and prevent infection getting to   the throat, mouth and sinuses. They contain lymphoid cells that are the   second line of defence, after the skin and nasal hairs which filter bacteria   and viruses.

Tonsillitis is very common, especially in children and   more so in the colder months. It is highly contagious, which means it spreads   easily from child to child by contact with throat or nasal fluids. So   coughing, sneezing, used tissues, shared drinks and kissing will all pass on   the germs and the infection.

Sustaining Factors:

Things that are keeping the

condition present

Stresses of a very   active school, dance and social life with eating on the run stimulates the   SNS system and uses up antioxidant factors such as Zn, Se,  and vitamin C which are necessary to stop   infection and boost immune function. A good diet, plenty of rest, Sleep and   sunshine provide optimal immune function- and with a busy schedule and late   night studying to cram for exams, plus exposure to cold and other children   with viral infections susceptibility runs high.

Naturopathic   Analysis/Causative Factors:

What’s possibly making it   happen physically –based on biochemistry and personal choices as listed above

One of the best things you can do to prevent a child   getting tonsillitis is: get them to wash their hands! Hand- to- hand contact   is one of the fastest ways of spreading the viruses and bacteria responsible   for throat infections. The three culprits are: Streptococcus A bacteria –   often known as strep throat; Epstein-Barr virus; and the Coxsackie virus. The   incubation time is 2-4 days, so it can pass through schools and families very   quickly. Simple, regular washing with soap and water kills the bugs.

Personal choices of   being very active in many dance classes and school activities with quick   meals and little rest predisposes to tonsillitis.  Advised to work with prevention with   supplements of vitamin C, Echinacea, multivitamin  and Citrus fruits or nutritious soups are a   great idea. Steer clear of sugar, dairy and processed foods, which can   actually slow the healing process down. Encourage  rest and keep warm. Overnight, use a   humidifier in the room with eucalyptus, camphor, bergamot, lavender or   tea-tree essential oils to keep their throat and airways moist and clear, and  can help    with swallowing.

As SF was about to   go overseas on holiday this was emphasised rest,nutrition- and keep warm, and   a throat spray was dispensed. She returned well and rested without   recurrence.

Presenting Concern:

Sore throat,   recovering from cold, laryngitis, tonsillitis

Contributing   Factors:

Past/Predisposing

Present

Things that led to getting

 current signs and sx

SF is a High school   girl with growth spurt, requiring maximum RDI for growth, puberty and   development. Stress of exams and high density living (mixing with hundreds   while at school and at dance classes) leads to exposure to various viruses   and germs.Tonsillitis is much more than just a simple sore throat. It   usually hurts a lot, is common in children leaving them feeling sick,   miserable and drained. Tonsillitis results when the tonsils  become overwhelmed by bacterial or viral   infection. It can occur as part of a throat infection (pharyngitis) and   causes them to become swollen, infl amed and covered in white spots. Tonsils   form part of the body’s immune system, their major function being to catch   incoming germs and prevent infection getting to the throat, mouth and   sinuses. They contain lymphoid cells that are the second line of defence,   after the skin and nasal hairs which filter bacteria and viruses.

Tonsillitis is very common, especially in children and   more so in the colder months. It is highly contagious, which means it spreads   easily from child to child by contact with throat or nasal fluids. So   coughing, sneezing, used tissues, shared drinks and kissing will all pass on   the germs and the infection.