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Page 86
tonsillitis can often indicate some underlying stress on the system, such as food allergy, with the immune system having to work overtime to combat the problem. In severe cases the tonsils can become filled with pus, causing an abscess which can need surgical treatment.
Mild sore throats will often clear in two or three days with or without treatment, but if symptoms persist for more than a few days, then professional investigation is needed in case there is some major problem, such as a growth, causing the hoarseness.
Gargles of any astringent herb will generally be helpfultry sage, rosemary, marigold, or fennel using 2 teaspoons of herb to a cup of boiling water in each case. Allow the mixture to cool thoroughly before straining and using as a gargle. Adding a small pinch of cayenne power can be helpful, but do not put in too much as it makes the gargle very warming indeed. Also effective is gargling with either diluted lemon juice of fresh pineapple juice. Tinctures can be used instead of infusions: add 1 teaspoon of echinacea or sage tincture to 1/2 cup of warm water. If the tonsils are infected, gargle with an infusion containing 1 teaspoon each of thyme, sage, and elderflower to a cup of water and take three 200-mg capsules of echinacea up to three times a day.
Sore throats also need soothing foods and drinks; eat 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey mixed in a serving of ice cream or drink the juice of a lemon in a cup of hot water with 2 teaspoons of honey added.
Splinters
Most splinters can be easily removed with the help of a sterilized needle and tweezers with a little marigold or tea tree cream then applied to the area as an antiseptic. Splinters which are difficult to dislodge can be helped by drawing ointments: apply either commercially available chickweed ointment or slippery elm ointment and cover with a Band-Aid overnight. This will generally help dislodge deep-seated splinters which can then be removed with tweezers. Use 1 teaspoon of slippery elm powder made into a paste

 
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