Friends, we can find out the beneficial properties of chamomile for sore throat only by understanding what kind of disease it is and how it is generally treated. Let us note right away that medicinal herbs can only be an auxiliary therapy that relieves painful symptoms. If you decide to treat a sore throat exclusively with “traditional methods”, at best you will develop chronic tonsillitis (permanently enlarged tonsils, food particles getting on them, bad breath), at worst – a complication on the heart or kidneys.
How dangerous is angina and how to treat it?
Sore throat, or acute tonsillitis, is a lesion of the upper respiratory tract (lymphatic pharyngeal ring) by a bacterial (in rare cases, viral) infection. The causative agent of the disease is streptococcus (or staphylococcus) - a bacterium resistant to an acidic environment. Not a single medicinal plant contains so many antibacterial elements to fight streptococcus or staphylococcus.
If you are diagnosed with “acute tonsillitis” or tonsillitis, you can only be cured with antibiotics, and in rare cases with antiviral or antifungal drugs.
Ampicillin in various commercial forms is still considered the most effective. If a sore throat is not cured, the bacterium is literally “prescribed” in this area, and at the slightest drop in immunity it immediately makes itself felt with acute pain in the throat. As a result, a person may suffer from this disease several times a year. For example, in the off-season, when the body’s natural protective functions weaken.
The danger of sore throat is that it can provoke diseases such as:
- acute otitis media;
- arthritis;
- sinusitis;
- abscess of the peripharyngeal region;
- laryngitis in acute form;
- meningitis;
- sepsis;
- glomerulonephritis (acute kidney inflammation).
If an infection enters the chest, the heart muscle may be damaged by the waste products of the bacterium.
This information is not needed for fear of the disease, but for common sense in treatment. Sore throat in most cases is caused by microorganisms, which can only be destroyed by the appropriate group of antibiotics. The risks are too high for exclusive herbal treatment.
Contraindications
Chamomile is considered a relatively safe plant, but you should consult your doctor before using the herb for medicinal purposes. The plant is contraindicated for persons who have an individual intolerance to it. Severe allergic reactions (urticaria, angioedema) are rare.
The plant should be used with caution to treat tonsillitis in children, as well as in pregnant women and people with anacid gastritis. Breastfeeding is not a contraindication for the use of medicinal herbs, but consultation with a specialist is advisable.
What does chamomile have to do with it?
This is a herb that can be called indispensable for sore throat. And all thanks to its antiseptic and other properties. Once on the tonsils, the active substances destroy the waste products of bacteria. As a result:
- pain decreases;
- the amount of plaque decreases;
- breathing and speech become easier.
One of the important substances in chamomile is chamazulene, a product of organic chemistry. The element is an excellent anesthetic and sedative. That is, by rinsing the throat with an infusion or decoction of chamomile, taking the brewed herb internally, you can achieve a general relief of the disease and improve your condition.
In addition, according to the statements and experiments of Academician of the Soviet Academy of Sciences Grossheim, chamomile has the highest concentration of vitamins A and C. In addition to them, dried flowers are rich in the following microelements:
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- calcium;
- chlorine;
- phosphorus;
- silicon dioxide.
That is, proper use of chamomile can become an additional source of beneficial vitamins and minerals. This is especially necessary for sore throat, since during the fight against the disease the body’s strength is depleted.
Useful properties of the plant
Since ancient times, chamomile has been used in the treatment of many ailments, ranging from burns to nervous disorders. The simple-looking flower contains coumarins, tannins, unbound organic acids, polysaccharides, vitamin C, bioflavonoid derivatives and other useful components.
Essential chamomile oil has the following medicinal properties:
- antibacterial (kills harmful microorganisms);
- antiviral;
- wound healing;
- sedative;
- antiallergic.
Gargling with chamomile for a sore throat helps relieve swelling and soreness of the tonsils, improves the general condition of the body, and prevents the development of fungal infections of the pharynx. Taking the decoction orally helps strengthen the immune system, normalize body temperature and vitamin and mineral balance.
For sore throat, rinsing with chamomile in combination with antibacterial therapy accelerates the body's recovery and prevents the development of complications of the disease. Local exposure to active medicinal components prevents pathogens from multiplying in the folds of the tonsils.
How to treat a sore throat with chamomile?
So, we repeat, chamomile can be used as an auxiliary therapy, allowing the body to recover more quickly from an illness. Let's consider the main methods of treatment with its help for acute tonsillitis:
- Rinsing. Moreover, the standard one for angina has practically no effect, since the medicine does not wash the remote areas of the tonsils, where the largest number of bacteria accumulate. And in this case, the average douching bulb will come to the rescue. It is enough to take a decoction of chamomile inside it and, under pressure, release a stream of medicine to irrigate the tonsils. It is important to keep your head slightly tilted forward.
- Inhalations. In general, this method of treatment should be used extremely carefully. Let's explain why: chamomile solution is not pure water, in most cases it is not sterile. When using a nebulizer for spraying, the smallest particles of the decoction will fall not so much on the affected mucous membrane as on the bronchial-pulmonary cavity. As a result, such treatment can cause harm, because along with particles of liquid, other bacteria can penetrate into the lungs and bronchi, which can also infect the lower respiratory tract.
- Inside. Chamomile infusions and decoctions can also be used internally by humans. Chamomile has long been proven to be harmless (in moderation). Taking a decoction or infusion orally will help you quickly recover from a sore throat.
Rinsing
Inhalations
Infusions and decoctions
If you still really want to do inhalation, it is strongly recommended to visit your doctor for consultation.
How to properly prepare a decoction and infusion
For sore throat in adults, chamomile is used in the form of a decoction, but to treat children, you need to prepare an infusion. Both drinks differ only in the concentration of medicinal substances.
To prepare the infusion, you need to take one tablespoon of dried raw materials and pour 200 ml of boiled water. Stir the resulting solution, cover with a lid and leave for 20-30 minutes. Afterwards, the infusion is filtered and used for its intended purpose. In pharmacies you can buy chamomile in disposable bags. This simplifies the process of preparing a medicinal infusion, because there is no need to strain the solution.
How to properly prepare a decoction?
There are several methods of preparation depending on the form of release of the product:
- Chamomile in filter bags. For 200 ml of boiling water you need 1 packet. Leave for 5–7 minutes.
- In the form of dry raw materials – 1 tablespoon per 200 ml. Pour boiling water over it and leave in a water bath for 15 minutes.
Afterwards, it is cooled at room temperature and filtered (if these are dried flowers).
Treatment of sore throat with chamomile
There are several ways to treat a sore throat. Most often they resort to gargling with a medicinal infusion or decoction. Rinsing helps get rid of plaque on the tonsils, eliminates swelling and pain in the oropharynx. The procedures are carried out up to 10 times a day with a warm solution. The course of treatment is 5-7 days. After gargling, sprays and other medications should not be used immediately. You can eat and drink water 20 minutes after the procedure.
Important! Treatment of sore throat with chamomile should not replace taking antibiotics, because the herb is not able to fully fight the causative agent of the disease.
If a barking cough is observed with a sore throat, it is recommended to use chamomile decoction by inhalation. For this purpose, cool the prepared hot broth for about 5-7 minutes. Then place the container with the product in front of you and inhale the vapors of the solution for 15-20 minutes. To enhance the effect, the upper body can be covered with a blanket or towel. Inhalations are carried out 2-3 times a day, but only in the absence of fever. The course of treatment is 5-7 days. In childhood, the duration of inhalation is 5-7 minutes under the strict supervision of parents.
Sometimes chamomile infusion is prescribed orally for a sore throat. It is advisable to drink it if the illness is accompanied by a high temperature. Medicinal tea will help cleanse the body of infection, normalize body temperature and speed up recovery. The drink should be barely warm so as not to irritate the damaged mucous membrane of the oropharynx. You can drink up to 3 glasses of this tea per day.
Chamomile as part of the preparations
Chamomile can be safely called a universal herb. Its phenomenal properties to relieve inflammation have found use in the form of preparations.
Given the complexity of sore throat, it can negatively affect various functions and systems of the body. For example, taking antibiotics irritates the intestinal flora. And here the so-called “stomach mixture” with chamomile will help quickly restore the gastrointestinal tract after an illness.
The same goes for the nervous system. Chamomile perfectly calms and relieves pain. It is used with other soothing herbs: lemon balm, mint, etc.
Can other herbs be added to chamomile?
Doctors recommend using the following herbs for sore throat:
- sage;
- calendula;
- eucalyptus;
- St. John's wort.
All of the above plants can be combined with chamomile when preparing decoctions and infusions. The proportions are as follows: 2 teaspoons of chamomile flowers, 2 teaspoons of other herbs, 200 ml of water.
In order not to buy the herb at the pharmacy, you can prepare it at home. The plant is collected during the flowering period and dried in the shade in a suspended state. Afterwards, the flowers are picked and packed into paper bags. Raw materials should be stored in a dry, dark place for 1 year.
Symptoms of purulent plugs in the throat
What to do with tonsil plugs? First of all, it is important to understand that this may be a sign of chronic tonsillitis, or it may simply be individual characteristics of the structure and functioning of the tonsils. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to other possible symptoms:
- Periodic exacerbations, from 2-3 times a year: recurring tonsillitis is associated with the fact that there is a focus of infection in the tonsils.
- Redness and swelling of the palatine arches: they are susceptible to inflammation due to the close location of the tonsils. Adhesions may form between the arches and tonsils.
- Enlarged cervical lymph nodes.
- Long-lasting body temperature is about 37-37.2 °C.
- Fatigue, decreased activity and performance, increased fatigue.
Specific symptoms of the appearance of plugs in the lacunae of the tonsils include the feeling of a foreign body in the throat, sore throat, sore throat, and unpleasant, putrid odor from the mouth. Sometimes halitosis, or an unpleasant odor, is the only symptom, and it forces a person to examine the oral cavity and pharynx to determine the source. Upon external examination, curdled, white or yellowish tubercles on the tonsils are noticeable. Sometimes they are invisible until a person presses on the surface of the tonsil, for example, with the handle of a teaspoon.
