13 Home Remedies for Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is an infection or an inflammation of the tonsils – bands of lymph nodes on either side of the throat and behind the tongue which help fight viral and bacterial infections. When they get an inflammation or infection, symptoms such as a sore throat, fever, bad breath, difficulty in swallowing, and headache occur. Tonsillitis is highly contagious, therefore needs to be dealt with at the onset. OTCs can be used, but they are less accessible and more expensive than the following home remedies for tonsillitis.

1. Lemon

Lemon falls among the most popular home remedies for tonsillitis which has been used for a long time. It has antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that will fight tonsillitis and reduce its symptoms fast. In addition, its high Vitamin C content strengthens the body’s immune system.

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Necessary Items

  • A glass of lukewarm water
  • One lemon
  • A pinch of salt
  • A teaspoon of honey

Directions

Juice the lemon in a cup, then add a glass of lukewarm water to the juice. Season the lemon-water mixture with a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of honey to taste and stir properly for the ingredients to dissolve. Drink this concoction two times every day for three to five days until the symptoms of tonsillitis improve.

2. Cumin Seeds

Cumin seeds have been used traditionally in several parts of the world as effective home remedies for tonsillitis. These seeds have a high content of C Vitamins and anti-viral properties.

Necessary Items

  • A teaspoon of cumin seeds
  • A tablespoon of cognac or whiskey (optional)
  • A glass of water
  • A tablespoon of grated ginger

Directions

Heat the water and add both the cumin seeds and grated ginger, then simmer it for roughly 15 minutes or until it becomes a thick liquid mass with a grainy texture. Strain the liquid to rid of the excess cumin seeds, then add a cup of water and boil it again under low heat; now’s the time to add a tablespoon of whiskey or cognac if you wish to. Let it cool then have a tablespoon after every hour. You will get relief from the symptoms in three to four hours.

3. Warm Salt Water

Warm salt water is one of the extremely effective home remedies for tonsillitis. The hot water flushes away the mucus associated with swollen tonsillitis and provides rapid relief from pain and inflammation in your lymph nodes. The salt helps in fighting the disease-causing bacteria or virus. Using osmosis, salt draws moisture from the bacteria and swollen tissues thus relieving you of tonsillitis.

Necessary Items

  • A glass of warm water.
  • A quarter to half a tablespoon of salt

Directions

Add salt to the glass of warm water, stir well to dissolve, then take a gulp of the solution and gargle it in your mouth. Let it reach your throat but do not swallow it. Repeat the procedure three-four times a day to get quick relief. However, note that you should only gargle salt water after about two hours after having meals.

4. Ginger Tea

Ginger is a common spice which can also be used as a reliable home remedy for tonsillitis. It has active ingredients such as gingeroids, shogaols, and gingerols which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory features which alleviate the swelling of your tonsils. Ginger’s anti-microbial properties are important in killing viruses and bacteria causing the infection in your lymph nodes. Having ginger as warm tea will help soothe the aching in your throat.

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Necessary Items

  • 2-inch piece of fresh ginger
  • 2 cups of water
  • A few drops of lemon juice (optional)
  • Two teaspoons of honey (optional)

Directions

Boil 2 cups of water, then add freshly chopped or grated ginger as it boils. Simmer the mixture for about 3 minutes, strain the tea into a cup, then add a few drops of lemon and two teaspoons of honey to the solution to give it taste. Stir the solution and drink it three to four times a day.

5. Honey

Honey is rich in antioxidants which are perfect for an inflamed throat caused by infected tonsils. It also has several minerals and vitamins which make it an excellent anti-bacterial agent, and soothing effects on the throat when you suffer inflammation or pain from swollen tonsils. If you have natural honey in your kitchen, you can use it to make one of the most efficient home remedies for tonsillitis. Research has it that the Manuka honey kills Streptococcus, which is one of the vectors causing infections in the lymph nodes.

Necessary Items

  • A teaspoon of plain natural honey.

Directions

You can consume a teaspoon of honey several times a day when you suffer from tonsillitis for a rapid relief or add it to herbal teas or ginger tea for an effective treatment. Honey is a very effective remedy for throat soreness, too; check out our article on the best home remedies for sore throat for more information.

6. Onions

Onion is one of the most effective home remedies for swollen tonsils thanks to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. These aspects are invaluable in soothing inflamed throats and killing infectious bacteria in your tonsils.

Necessary Items

  • Two bulbs of onion
  • Cheesecloth
  • A glass of warm water

Directions

Peel the onions, grate them into a bowl, and squeeze them in a cheesecloth to extract the juice. Add the onion juice to a glass of warm water and stir, then thoroughly gargle with this water for quick relief. Alternatively, you can also eat the raw onion.

7. Garlic

Thanks to the antibacterial properties of garlic, you can use it as an effective home remedy for tonsillitis. Naturally, i works particularly for tonsillitis caused by bacterial infections.

Necessary Items

  • Three garlic cloves
  • A cup of water
  • Two teaspoons of honey

Directions

Boil a cup of water, crush three pieces of garlic, and add the crushed pieces into the boiling water. Lower the heat and let the mixture simmer for 2 minutes, then strain the garlic tea into a cup and add honey to taste. Mix well and sip it while warm to heal your swollen tonsils. Drink this tea twice to thrice a day for three to four days to treat your condition.

8. Basil Leaves

Basil is another effective and natural home remedies for tonsillitis thanks to its antiviral, anti-inflammatory, healing, and soothing properties. Therefore, it helps to subside the swelling and pain caused by tonsillitis by accelerating the body’s natural healing process for a quick recovery.

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Necessary Items

  • 12 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 ½ cups of water
  • A lemon (optional)
  • Honey (optional)

Directions

Add the basil leaves to the water, boil the mixture for roughly ten minutes, the strain the basil tea into a large container. Add a few drops of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey to the solution to make it more efficient and to improve its taste. Drink this natural remedy three times a day for three days for rapid relief from tonsils.

9. Turmeric & Milk

Turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic features which make it an effective remedy for fighting off tonsillitis and alleviating the associated symptoms. Milk has antibiotic features and rich nutrients that can cure the infection in your throat. A combination of milk, particularly goat milk, and turmeric is one of the most efficient home remedies for tonsillitis.

Necessary Items

  • A pinch of turmeric powder
  • A cup of warm goat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk/water

Directions

Add a pinch of turmeric powder into a cup of warm goat milk, mix the contents of the cup, and drink it before going to bed for three days. You can substitute milk in the recipe with almond or coconut milk if you are milk intolerant. Coconut water also has soothing effects.

10. Cinnamon

Cinnamon can also be used in the treatment of swollen tonsils. This natural ingredient has anti-microbial properties and inhibits the growth of microorganisms in the lymph nodes, hence reduces the inflammation and pain in these areas.

Necessary Items

  • A teaspoon of cinnamon powder
  • Two teaspoons of honey
  • A glass of warm water or tea

Directions

Add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder into a glass of boiled water or tea, stir thoroughly, then add two teaspoons of honey to increase its effectiveness and to sweeten it. Sip the solution briskly while still warm, twice or thrice a day. Repeat this procedure for 4 to 6 days to achieve complete healing of your tonsillitis.

11. Slippery Elm

Slippery elm has mucilage which is a gel-like compound that can help soothe the soreness caused by tonsillitis in your throat. You can take it internally to replenish the mucous membranes in the throat.

Necessary Items

Directions

Boil two cups of water and add a teaspoon of the inner bark of slippery elm. Steep it for 5 minutes then strain the solution into a container. Sip it slowly while it’s still tolerably warm twice for five days.

Alternatively, you can mix three teaspoons of powdered bark slippery elm to hot water and season it with honey or black pepper. Take a teaspoon of this solution regularly throughout the day for three days.

12. Vegetable Juice

The body requires plenty of rest while fighting off bacteria and viruses such as those that cause tonsillitis, and this rest should be both internal and external.givingg your digestive system a break by having a juice therapy rather than solid food is a good way of enhancing the natural immune system.

Vegetable juice provides sufficient nutrients that aid in the fighting of infections and soothes inflamed and sore tonsils. Carrots, beetroot, and cucumber are the common tonsillitis home remedies used for vegetable juice therapy.

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Necessary Items

  • Carrots
  • Beetroot
  • Cucumbers

Directions

Slice these vegetables to small pieces, then blend them and pour the juice into a glass. Drink it regularly throughout the day to boost the body’s immune system.

13. Coconut Oil

Oil pulling is great for teeth and gum health, but coconut oil can also be used as a cough syrup or as a gargle solution for swollen tonsils. Its antibacterial properties work against the pathogens while its healing and soothing effects work against throat pain and discomfort and allow you to speak, eat, and drink more easily.

Necessary Items

  • Extra-virgin coconut oil
  • Raw organic honey
  • Fresh lemon juice

Directions

Mix 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of raw honey in a skillet or pan over VERY low heat and mix them until blended (about a minute). Take into account that heat destroys the enzymes and other active ingredients in honey and coconut oil, therefore use it as little as possible. Then, transfer the mix into an airtight bottle. Add a teaspoon of this solution to a glass of warm water and drink this at least 3 times a day for one of the best home remedies for tonsillitis.

Conclusion

These home remedies for tonsillitis are readily available and highly effective if used persistently. Don’t be afraid to mix and match some of these to increase their potency! Our favorite has to be a cucumber, honey, lemon, and ginger drink! What’s yours?

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