Here are some measures that can help you deal well with tonsillitis:

Do not go to work or school until your tonsillitis is all well healed – Tonsillitis is an infectious disease and people you come into contact with may likely get infected. You also need to rest a lot when you have this condition.

Drink large amounts of fluids – Try taking in about 8 to 10 glasses of water/fluids/juices each day. The liquids in your body can wash out the toxins away from your body. Acidic juices like orange juice may irritate and cause pain in your throat. Instead of orange juice, try drinking grape juice then.

Eat soft foods like soup, applesauce, ice cream and jell-o.  These kinds of foods will not irritate the throat substantially and the colder your food is the more soothing effect it will have on the throat.  Avoid foods such as popcorn and chips as they can have an abrasive effect on your already tender throat.

Sleep at night with a humidifier in your bedroom. The humidifier can prevent too much dryness in the air and will help moisten your throat. A dry throat means more painful tonsillitis symptoms.

Use the medicines prescribed by your doctor. Always take the right amount of dosage as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. Take all the medicines needed until you have completed the prescribed course. Doing all these will prevent the infection from recurring. A viral infection may entail no medication from your doctor. To cope well with viral infections, you can use ibuprofen to address the pain.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be an effective alternative treatment for tonsillitis. If you’re not a fan of prescription medication – especially if the tonsillitis condition is viral in nature – contact an acupuncturist in your area for advice.

Scott Paglia is a licensed and board certified acupuncturist in Bellingham, WA and provides master level pulse diagnosis, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture in Whatcom County, WA.