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Home Remedies To Shrink Enlarged Adenoids And Tonsils In Toddlers

Open your mouth wide and you will see two small tissues on either side of the back of your throat. These are your tonsils. Higher up at the back of your throat and not visible to the naked eye are a pair of glands known as the adenoids. Both the tonsils and adenoids are responsible for protecting the body from bacterial and viral infections. As a result of fending off harmful bacteria, viruses and pollutants, the tonsils and adenoids are themselves vulnerable to infections.

Swollen or infected tonsils or adenoids are a common complaint in children. Toddlers and children who develop swollen adenoids or enlarged tonsils suffer from symptoms such as congestion of the nasal passages, sore throats, difficulty swallowing, breathlessness, headaches, earaches, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Natural Treatment:

Traditional medical treatments for enlarged adenoids and tonsils may prove too strong for toddlers and children. In such cases, natural remedies to reduce the swelling and alleviate symptoms are preferable. However, before beginning any new treatment or alternative therapy, always consult with your doctor or pediatrician. Certain herbs and home remedies may counteract with medications and cause other side effects and complications.

Popular home remedies for enlarged tonsils and adenoids are as follows:

• Gargle with warm salt water to reduce the swelling and pain caused by enlarged adenoids and tonsils
• Mix honey and lime juice in a glass of warm water and make the child sip on this soothing drink to treat a sore throat and reduce nasal congestion
• Blend fresh cucumbers, carrots, and beets into a healthy juice. To this add some lime juice and give this to your child to drink at least once a day. The antioxidants in the vegetables help boost immunity and prevent infections
• Add a pinch of turmeric powder and black pepper powder to a glass of warm milk. Drink this concoction just before bed as it helps relieve congestion and reduces pain and swelling
• Honey can be used to shrink adenoids very effectively. Honey has strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce enlarged adenoids and treat symptoms such as pain and soreness. Simply add a few drops of lemon juice and a pinch of pepper powder to a teaspoon of honey. Give this mixture to your child at least twice a day in order to experience positive results.
• Shrink tonsils with the help of herbs such as sage and Echinacea that help fight off any infection and reduce swelling. You can make your toddler gargle with a mix of sage and warm water to reduce inflammation. Echinacea can be taken as a tea or in a capsule form. Echinacea helps boost immunity and prevents recurring infections.
• Wrap some ice cubes in a towel and place this cold compress on the throat. The cold helps reduce any swelling and pain
• If your child is old enough, let him do steam inhalations to help relieve congestion in the chest and nasal passages. Smaller children can be kept in a hot steamy bathroom for some time until symptoms reduce.
• Mix one teaspoon of fresh ginger juice with a teaspoon of honey and two teaspoons of warm water. Make you child gargle with this mixture for instant relief from pain and swelling.
• Mash fresh figs and mix with honey. Let your child eat this at least once a day to help speed up the healing process.
• Some children also react badly to a cold breeze so keep their heads, ears, and throat covered at all times
• Stop your child from talking too much to rest the throat and speed up the healing process
• Use an air humidifier to moisten the air and soothe your toddler’s sore throat

In most cases, adenoids and tonsils will shrink to their normal size after a few days of such natural remedies. Only in cases where the symptoms become more severe or the condition becomes chronic will your doctor recommend more aggressive types of treatments such as antibiotics or surgery.

Diet:

Changes to your toddler’s diet can also help reduce the inflammation and speed up the recovery process:

• Your toddler should drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep hydrated. Apart from water, he can drink clear soups, warm broths, herbal teas and fresh fruit and vegetable juices.
• Avoid drinks that are too acidic such as citrus juices and buttermilk as these can aggravate symptoms
• Avoid all junk food and foods that are oily, fried and spicy.
• Since swallowing may be difficult, have him eat foods that are soft and creamy in consistency. Boiled vegetables, mashed potatoes, cooked oatmeal, jello, scrambled eggs and baked fruits are all excellent options.
• Avoid foods and snacks that are hard and crunchy such as chips, hard breads, and nuts as these can increase the inflammation.

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