Why Do So Many People Have Their Tonsils Removed?

Q: My daughter has had a series of very bad sore throats and her pediatrician is recommending that her tonsils be removed. What are tonsils and why have so many people had them removed?

A: Tonsils are a pair of soft fleshy bulges on either side at the back of the throat. They are part of the lymphatic system and help rid the body of various toxins. While fighting an infection, the body's lymph tissues can become swollen and irritated. The tonsils can get particularly irritated because of their proximity to the swallowing process.

Medical doctors are not usually trained in natural remedies for this condition. Their "therapy" is limited primarily to antibiotics and surgery. Antibiotics can cause disturbances in the body's helpful bacteria community and don't always address the real problem.

Surgery, in most cases, is unnecessary. Having no effective therapy, the medical doctors have forwarded the false notion that tonsils are non-essential organs like the appendix and can be removed without significant repercussions.

In fact, however, they are wrong about how vital the tonsils are, as well as the appendix. From my observations, the majority of people who have had their appendix removed, have also had their tonsils removed. Not surprisingly, as the two organs perform similar functions in the body.

When one is removed it puts an increased load on the other which can show stress in the form of inflammation and irritation (pain). If your physician has the viewpoint that either or both of these organs is "non-essential" then you may find yourself with fewer body parts in order to relieve you of this "unnecessary" burden.

My first recommendation for your daughter would be to discover what’s overloading her lymph system. Commonly found in situations like this are food or airborne allergies, as well as non-allergic, but toxic influences such as second-hand smoke.

Recurring tonsillitis can frequently be “cured” by addressing these areas. If effective action is taken and the appropriate treatments are delivered, it could save your daughter the experience of surgery under general anesthesia and save yourself the upset and expense of such a procedure. I would definitely recommend looking into this before consenting to surgery.

You do have options available.

Dr. Susan Player