"Tonsils" . . . how important are they?

Okay . . . so flu season is coming and I thought today we'd talk about the "tonsils" and what important part they play to optimal health.

The "tonsils" are part of the body's immune system because of their location at the throat and palate. They can stop germs from entering the body through the mouth or the nose and they contain a lot of white blood cells, which are responsible for killing those germs.

So we now know that the "tonsils" are an important part of the germ-fighting system of the body . . .

So let's break it down before we continue . . .

Did you know we have 3 different types of tonsils???

First . . . the Pharyngeal tonsil . . .

Okay . . . your "Adenoids" are also called "Pharyngeal tonsils" and they are a mass of lymphatic tissue that is attached to the back wall of the nasal pharynx (the upper part of the throat opening into the nasal cavity)

Next the "palatine tonsils" . . . these are the ones that we all know about. These tonsils are a pair of soft tissue mass located at the rear of the throat and each tonsil is composed of tissue similar to lymph nodes, covered by pink mucosa. And running through the mucosa of each tonsil are pits, called crypts.

And finally . . . the Lingual tonsil . . .

Now the "lingual tonsils" are a collection of lymphatic tissue located at the root of the tongue. This lymphatic tissue consists of the lymphatic nodules rich in cells of the immune system.

So you can clearly see . . . just how very important the tonsils are due to being part of the lymphatic system which helps to fight infections.

So yes . . . the "tonsils" are part of this important system I've spoken about so many times before. And without this system flushing toxins out of the body . . . illness and disease are surely to occur.

So what happens if they get infected???

Well . . . "tonsils" can become infected with "bacteria" or viral", with most cases of "tonsillitis" caused by a viral infection such as the viruses that cause the common cold or flu virus (influenza). But other infections can be caused by a bacterial infection such as streptococcus bacteria.

And if they do become infected consistently . . . many times they're removed.

A "tonsillectomy" is a common procedure that doctors use to treat chronic infections of the tonsils or other complications, such as breathing issues or snoring.

This was a common procedure for many years . . . but currently, new research suggests that tonsillectomies may have long-term, adverse effects on health.

So I guess the next question is this . . . how do we keep our tonsils healthy???

Well . . . first and foremost . . . if you smoke . . . best suggestion is to stop!

As we know . . . smoking deprives the body of oxygen and makes the body more "acidic". And infection, illness, and disease can only live in an oxygen "deprived" environment.

You see . . . bacteria, viruses and smoking can cause the tonsils to become inflamed or swollen, which can cause chronic tonsillitis and this in turn can cause disrupted breathing during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea) infection that spreads deep into surrounding tissue.

So how do we help to relieve tonsillitis naturally???

Well . . . there are certain herbs that can help like . . . licorice lozenges, calendular, cleavers and mullein. These are powerful herbs that can stimulate and cleanse congestion and mucus from the lymphatic system. This relieves the symptoms of "tonsillitis" and other related swellings of the throat, neck, arms and groin.

And how do we maintain healthy tonsils before they become infected?

Well . . . that would be to gargle with warm salt water once a week. This is an excellent preventative measure to protecting the tonsils from infections.

As always, feel free to contact me here