The tonsils are a pair of small almond shaped structures on either side of the throat just behind and above the tongue. The structure acts as a defense against infections that invade the body through the nose and mouth. Tonsils are a part of the part of body's protective lympathetic system, which dispatches cells that literally gulf down bacteria. Adenoids are structures located at the back of the nose, above the tonsils. They too keep away respiratory tract infections.
Occasionally, bacterial overwhelm the tonsils. This infection, known as tonsillitis, is often one that children come down with between the ages of three and six. The symptoms are similar to those of flu, and so it may that makes it difficult to swallow. Others are headache, ear pain, fever and chills. The tonsils become swollen and red. You may also notice specks of white discharge on the infected tonsils.
Occasionally, the adenoids swell too, giving a nasal quality to the child's voice.
Earlier, the only known cure for recurrent throat infections was tonsil surgery. Medical opinion has changed, however and now this procedure is less common. More often than not, having tonsillitis, even when it recurs up to seven times a year, does not mean that the tonsils should be removed (in a surgical procedure called tonsillectomy).
In Ayurveda, tonsillitis is called as galaayu. Ayurveda physicians consider recurring infection and inflammation of the tonsils to be a factor in illness in later life. Therefore, the entire immune system is treated, aiming to eliminate the risk.

SELF HELP APPROACH
- Gargle every few hours with a solution of a quarter teaspoonful of common salt or yavakshaara dissolved in half a glass of warm water or decoction prepared from the bark of Acacia (babul) tree, if your child is older than eight.
- Drink plenty of warm beverages such as tea (with or without honey) and corn soup, if tolerated.
- Eat foods that are soft and easy to swallow.
- Avoid spicy foods, chocolates, milk-based sweets, sour substances, curds, buttermilk, cold drinks and fried substances.
- Suck a piece of hard candy or medicated lozenge such as licorice extract occasionally (if your child is five years of age or older).
- Avoid passive cigarette smoking and atmospheric pollution.
- Apply hot fomentation externally on the front side of the neck twice or thrice a day.
- Take the powders of mulathi, vacha and kulanjan after mixing together in equal quantities along with honey. This soothes the throat and cures inflammation.
- Make a solution with half gram of sphatika (alum) in 100 ml warm water and gargle with many times a day.
- Avoid frequent head baths and rain showers.

AYURVEDA REMEDIES
Your Ayurveda doctor may recommend Khadiraadi vati. It is to be kept in the mouth and chewed slowly. Sitipalaadi choorna is another common medicine that is usually prescribed in a dose of three grams, to be taken thrice daily along with honey and ghee to minimize the symptoms. To develop immunity against any future attack of tonsillitis, you can give your child Agastyarasaayana in a dose of one teaspoonful, twice daily mixed with honey.
Kanchanara guggulu in the dose of 2 tablets twice daily with warm water to kapha ketu ras 2 tablets thrice daily or Tundikeri ras 1 tablet thrice daily for 4-6 weeks give permanent relief