Sore Throat, Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is a common illness today, rare before the age of three, which is diagnosed from three signs: fever, pain on swallowing and the appearance of the tonsils on examination. It is bacterial or viral in origin. and sometimes has serious complications, particularly acute rheumatism in the joints with an attendant risk of problems involving the heart (murmurs) or the kidneys (acute glomerulo-nephritis); these are rare in the West, but unhappily still common in Third World countries.

Standard anti-infective treatment

To be started as quickly as possible at the first abnormal symptom.

• Start with Aconitum-Homaccord@ (Heel) which contains Aconitum D2, D10,D30,D200, Eucalyptus D4, D1O,D30 and Ipecacuanha D2.D10, D30, D200:
  - available in drop bottles containing 30 and 100ml
  - Generally 10 drops three times daily. Initially 10 drops every 15 minutes
• Add copper as a trace element with silver or gold in colloidal form.
• Six tablets of Pyrogenium 5c once a day in a single dose for a few days.
• Twenty drops of Lehning@ L52 in a little water, three or four times a day.
• Vitamin C: one gram a day for adults, 0.5 gram for children, for a fortnight.
• You can use natural Vitamin C in, for example, Lamberts@ Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids 500mg:
  - Sold in containers of 100 tablets
  - One to six tablets daily

Some foods rich in vitamin C

Citrus fruits (lemon, orange, grape­fruit), green vegetables (celery, green cabbage++. cress, spinach, sorrel. parsley, horseradish), fruit, particularly red fruit (strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants). and also others (pineapple, blackcurrant++, guava, kiwi++). potatoes, green peppers, tomatoes...

Can a sore throat be treated without antibiotics?

Yes, since it is viral in three-quarters of cases, but the symptoms should disappear within the first 24 hours: you always have some hours to try an complementary treatment first, then move quickly to antibiotics if the condition does not improve or if you have any worries.

Local treatment

Propolis is useful, as a spray or in the form of tablets to be sucked.

• . You can use Comvitar propolis tincture:
  - Available in bottles of 25ml
  - 6 to 10 drops to be taken in water, three times daily
• Or you can take Comvtar propolis lozenges:
  - Available in packs of 12 lozenges
  - Take up to 5 lozenges per day

Propolis

Propolis is a reddish gum collected by bees from chestnut and willow buds, which they use in the hive to block gaps and fix the wax.

. This treatment, along with the dietary advice given in the section 'The start of infection' will bring about improvement or cure in a good number of cases.

Homeopathy

Belladonna, Mercurius corrosiws
- Four 5c tablets of either, to be sucked like sweets, three or four times a day, between meals.

BeUadonna

- Vegetable origin: the leaves and fresh flowers of deadly nightshade, also called belladonna
- The homeopathic remedy for an inflamed, painful throat
- Two specific signs: the patient has a raised temperature and easily becomes agitated.

Mercurius corrosiws

- Chemical origin: mercuric chloride or corrosive sublimate
- The homeopathic remedy for spots or for throat ulcers
- Characteristic sign: burning pain
- Mercuric chloride, once used as a local antiseptic. is now used as a fungicide for the treatment of plants and flowers

• You can use Mercurius-Heel@ (Heel) which contains Hepar sulfur D8. Mercurius solubilis D10, Belladonna D4, Phytolacca D4 and Echinacea angustifolia D3 among others:
  - Sold in containers of 50 and 250 tablets.
  - In general. one tablet to be dissolved under the tongue three times daily between meals. In acute conditions, initially one tablet every 15 minutes.
• If the condition recurs you should add the basic remedy decided upon after consulting your homeopath: in this case it will often be Calcarea carbonica or phosphorica.

Calcarea carbonica

- Animal and mineral origin calcium carbonate extracted from oyster shells - Homeopathic remedy for recurrent ENT infections in overweight patients

Calcarea phosphorica

- Chemical origin: tricalcium phosphate
- The homeopathic remedy for recurrent ENT infections in tall, thin patients
- A characteristic sign: extreme tendency to tiredness

Herbal treatment

Echinacea for its anti-infective properties.

Echinacea

Echinacea is a plant native to North America, where it was widely used by native tribes for its antiseptic properties.

• You can use Echinaforce (Bioforce), a tincture of Echinacea purpurea:
  - Available in 50ml and 100ml bottles of oral drops
  - Fifteen drops to be taken in a little water, three times a day by adults. seven drops three times a day by children (6-12 years old)

Pokeweed (Phytolacca), marigold (Calendula), for their local action.

Prescription: Ask your homeopathic pharmacy to prepare a 30ml bottle of mother tincture of one of these plants. and pour ten drops into half a glass of moderately warm (not hot) water, or into a camomile infusion. Gargle with this three times a day.

Phytolacca

The root of pokeweed, a plant originating in North America, used by the Native Americans to treat wounds and skin problems. It is effective against the pain of sore throat, and in infection.

Marigold

Marigold, or Calendula officinalis, is better known for its ornamental qualities than its very real medical properties: it is a good antiseptic and healing agent.

• If you have no remedy or plants to hand, you can gargle with warm water to which has been added a spoonful of honey and the juice of a lemon

Some plant essential oils

Rosewood, mountain savory, and common thyme, for their anti-infective properties.

Mint, nutmeg, and rosemary, for their vitalizing properties.

- For adults, two drops of one of these to be taken in a spoonful of honey, twice a day

Rosemary

The essential oil of rosemary is one of the main ingredients of eau de Cologne.
Eucalyptus radiata, clove, thyme linalol may be used in children.

Dosage: One drop of one of them to be taken in a spoonful of honey, twice a day.

• You can make or ask to be made the following mixture: two drops of essential oil of clary sage and one drop of lavender in a bowl of hot water to which is added a spoonful of honey.

Use it to gargle three or four times a day

Clary sage

Clary sage is a hardy, sticky, aromatic plant that is found growing alongside the arid roads of the South of France. Its action, mainly antispasmodic, is gentler than that of the essential oil of common sage, which is more toxic (risk of convulsions).