A Pain In The Throat: Managing Tonsillitis With CBD
Introduction
It is estimated that a GP with 2,000 patients will see around 120 people with an acute throat infection every year, and perhaps one of the most uncomfortable sore throat conditions – tonsillitis is one of the most prevalent. It is a painful condition that causes your tonsils to inflame and functions like swallowing difficult and uncomfortable.
If tonsillitis is really severe, a trip to the doctor may be needed. However, it can often be handled at home with a few natural remedies to help ward off the infection. One such organic supplement is CBD – a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Due to its various properties, CBD can be useful for supporting the healing of throat infections and related symptoms.
If you favour a natural approach to wellness, CBD could be just what you need. It could provide you with that boost needed to get through the days of sore throats and infection. This article explores the basics of tonsillitis and how CBD can help support relief and recovery.
What is Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is a painful throat condition that occurs due to the inflammation of the tonsils. The tonsils are considered two oval-shaped pads of tissue that are located at the back of the throat. There is typically one tonsil on each side of the mouth and can be seen when you open your mouth wide, put your tongue down, and look in the mirror.
The infection of the tonsils is a very common condition and affects millions of people every year. The tonsils themselves are a collection of lymphoid tissues which works as part of our immune system. They are the body’s first line of defence against external pathogens (the organism that causes disease). When the tonsils become infected, they actually isolate the infections and stop them from spreading throughout the body.
When someone gets tonsillitis, their tonsils become red and swollen – along with a possible yellow or white coating. Other common symptoms include:
- Sore throat;
- Bad breath;
- Coughing;
- Difficulty swallowing;
- Pain in the neck and ears;
- Fever or chills;
- Feeling tired;
- Ulcers or painful blisters on the throat;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Loss of appetite;
- Abdominal pain.
The majority of tonsillitis cases are caused by bacterial or viral infection. Many different types of bacteria can trigger bacterial tonsillitis, but the most common is group A streptococcus bacteria.
The viruses are known to cause tonsillitis to include:
- Rhinoviruses (the virus which causes the common cold);
- Influenza virus (otherwise known as the flu);
- Parainfluenza virus (the cause of laryngitis and croup);
- Enteroviruses (hand, foot and mouth disease);
- Adenovirus (a common cause of diarrhoea);
- Rubeola virus (causes measles).
How to Treat Tonsillitis
The way tonsillitis is treated will depend on the cause of the infection. To get an accurate indication, a doctor may need to perform a laboratory test; however, viral infection will not be read on the reports. If an examination shows a negative bacterial test, it is often assumed that it is a viral infection.
In some cases, bacterial infections might need to be treated with antibiotics – a doctor will be able to prescribe them and recommend the best course of action. There are, however, a few natural remedies that can be done at home to support the recovery process. Here are a few examples:
- Get lots of rest – One of the best things you can do while recovering from tonsillitis is to get lots of rest. The priority must be sleep, reducing stress levels and taking a break from any exercise routines. If possible, it is also helpful to take a break from work so focus on yourself. By not exerting yourself it will help speed up the healing process.
- Switch on a vaporiser or humidifier – It can hurt to breathe and swallow when fighting off tonsillitis, so keep the help moisten the dry indoor air with a humidifier. It can help make the air less uncomfortable to inhale. Breathing clean and moist air during infection can support the reduction of tonsil swelling and general throat pain.
- Look after your immune system – More of a preventative measure, but be sure to look after your immune system – it helps us become less prone to infections like tonsillitis. A weak immune system can result in unwanted inflammation and infections throughout the body. Eat a healthy diet full of leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, essential oils and omega-3 foods to reinforce your immune system.
Using CBD to Manage Tonsillitis Symptoms
In addition to the above natural remedies, supplements like CBD can also be used to help manage tonsillitis. There are many ways to add CBD to your recovery process, from putting a few drops of CBD oil into your food and consuming edibles like Naturecan CBD gummies to simply applying CBD topicals directly to your neck. Whatever you choose to best suit your lifestyle, CBD can help reduce the symptoms of tonsillitis infection and help strengthen your immune system for the future.
One of the leading causes of discomfort during tonsillitis is inflamed tonsils. CBD may process some anti-inflammatory properties as it interacts with the receptors present in the Endocannabinoid System. This natural CBD property may also help reduce respiratory inflammation and allow you to breathe more easily. There is also some indication that CBD could be helpful in relieving various degrees of pain due to the way CBD binds with the TRPV1 receptors, which are involved in the modulation of pain.
Tonsillitis can also make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. CBD can help with insomnia and other sleep issues brought on by tonsillitis. In addition to helping you relax so you can get some much-needed rest, it can also help relieve the fatigue so your body might have a bit more energy to fight off the infection. By improving sleep quality and addressing high levels of stress, CBD might also aid in strengthening our immune systems when used as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Another potential of CBD is its antibacterial properties. Various studies have shown that CBD could help fight bacterial infections. It has been found that CBD is successful at combating the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains – one of the leading causes of such infections as tonsillitis.
Final Thoughts
There will be times when antibiotics are needed to recover from tonsillitis. However, there are lots of natural methods to help support recovery. If you do decide to combat tonsillitis naturally, following specific natural remedies along with the addition of CBD to your diet can successfully alleviate tonsillitis symptoms.