Sore Throat (Strep Throat or Tonsillitis)
What Is It?
Sore throats are commonly caused by the bacteria which live in the ears, nose and throat. Streptococcus aureus is an endemic microbe, which means it lives inside the person (the host). Most of the time it is under control by the host’s immune system and by other friendly bacteria and yeasts. When the host’s immune system is over-burdened or underperforming, these opportunistic bacteria can multiply and proliferate, leading to inflammation, soreness and localised infection of the mucosal tissues of the throat.
A sore throat in an adult is usually the symptom of a cold but the same should not be ignored in a child, as it may be a bacterial infection that could lead to more serious problems such as tonsillitis, strep throat, rheumatic fever etc.
Dr Elizabeth Koshy of the School of Public Health at Imperial College London led a study that showed the number of children admitted to hospital in England for acute throat infections increased by 76 per cent between 1999 and 2010.
Cause and Effect
Most of the time, conventional medical treatment for ‘strep throat’ is a course of wide-spectrum antibiotics to kill the bacteria. This can also kill off all the friendly and helpful bacteria and this can lead to a proliferation of the yeast organisms and an outbreak of thrush (candida albicans).
There is also a chance that a sore throat can be the sign of a viral infection and antibiotics are ineffectual. In this case, the only thing to do is rest and take soothing remedies and wait for the body’s own immune system to overcome the viral invasion.
Tonsils are ‘a specialised lymphoid tissue’ and their job is to assist in the removal of waste that occur during an infection. Dr Bernard Jensen believes that tonsillitis is a disease caused by the body’s overwhelming need to eliminate toxins.
Juice Pharmacy Recommendations:
What to Avoid
Citrus fruits - Avoid using orange or citrus juice whilst the throat is sore as this can aggravate or ‘burn’ the throat’s surface.
What to Include
During the fighting of any infection, the body is greatly assisted by not having to digest solid foods, so a juice-only programme can be a great way of ensuring maximum nourishment with minimum stress and energy-demanding digestive effort. Smoothies are soothing and calming for a sore throat. For sore throats and tonsillitis, use blueberry, blackberry, elderberry, lemon with passion fruit in a banana smoothie or apple juice base. Grapes, papaya, pear and pomegranate are also helpful.
Berries - Highly alkalising juices and any berry-based juices will help to fight the microbial invasion and heal the inflamed mucosa.
Cucumber - Using cucumber juice as a base will be soothing and anti-inflammatory.
Herbs - Also helpful are some lesser known herbs such as black cohosh, fenugreek, hyssop, marshmallow and mullein.
Thyme - The active ingredient in thyme is a common ingredient in cough syrups, and is recommended by herbalists as an excellent gargle for sore throats and tonsillitis. Drinking freshly brewed teas between juices, using thyme, garden mint, chamomile and sage, will have soothing and anti-inflammatory effect.
Vitamin D - According to a study carried out by the department of Otolaryngology, Istanbul University, and published in the 2011 Journal of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, it was concluded that a vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in children with recurrent tonsillitis.
The Juice Recipes
Shot: Natural Electrolyte Sodium Shot
¼ Medium Cucumber
1 Celery Stick
Simply juice the ingredients and knock back as a shot.
Juice: Rainbow Remedy - taken from Jason Vale's Super Juice Me! 28-Day Juice Plan
2 Apples
1 Carrot
1 Celery Stalk
¼ Cucumber
1 Beetroot
1 Small Handful of Red Cabbage
1 Tomato
3cm Raw Ginger
¼ Lemon
Juice all the fruits and vegetables and serve over ice.
Blend: Sweet Beet Smoothie - taken from Jason Vale's 5-Day Juice Challenge
1 Apple
2 Carrots
1 Beetroot
1 Large Handful of Blackberries
Juice the apple, carrots and beetroot and pour the juice into a blender along with the berries. Blend for a few seconds and pour into a beautiful glass.
Disclaimer
Please note, it is impossible to give a definitive list as what supports one person can be a trigger food or allergen for another. You must stay your own juice detective at all times and listen to how your own body responds to certain foods and always consult with your healthcare provider when making changes to your diet which may affect your medication. Please be aware that we are not doctors, so it is important to consult with your GP or medical practitioner BEFORE making any changes to your diet. The suggestions above are not meant as an alternative to any current medical treatment so please DO NOT stop taking any medications you are on. They are also not an endorsement of their effectiveness, or a recommendation that they should be followed but instead, are provided for informational purposes. None of the information on the Natural Juice Therapy site is intended or implied to treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease.