What you need to know to get rid of a “good” sore throat

Any person of a certain age remembers how, when they were small, dozens of children around them, and maybe they themselves were subjected to the famous sore throat surgery. Decades ago, this was the best way to treat recurrent tonsillitis. Fortunately, improvements in the use of certain drugs have made it possible to abandon this intervention, which is not only unproven. This can also lead to some significant inconvenience. Today, however, there is no shortage of charlatans who offer much more extravagant and ostensibly effective forms of treatment. In the case of the tonsils, we find pseudo-therapists offering something known as angina pectoris stenulation.

But the worst thing is that these people are not professionals in the field. Otorhinolaryngologyotherwise so-called physiotherapists. Needless to say, these types of tools are not common among the procedures that these professionals usually perform. But, unfortunately, this is a profession in which pseudoscience has completely entered, through techniques such as osteopathy or acupuncture.

It is some osteopaths who claim to be able to infringe on the tonsils. It consists of two parts. begin with lymphatic drainage and continue with biomagnetic couple therapy supposedly to restore the pH of the body. There are even those who add a third step based on auriculotherapy, which is nothing more than acupuncture applied to the ear. It’s all nonsense, but we don’t need to know, which is why many people who are desperate for tonsillitis pain decide to try it for its benefits. But, unfortunately, there will be only one benefit and it will be for the pseudo-therapist’s pocket.

Why don’t tonsils operate anymore?

Angina or tonsillitis is known as inflammation of one or both palatine tonsils. These are accumulations of tissue located at the bottom of the mouth, on both sides of the pharynx, and containing cells produce antibodies when infected.

This inflammation usually occurs, especially when fever and a lot of pain and is usually associated with viral or bacterial infectionsalthough the former are more common. It can occur both in adults and in children, although it is in the latter that those recurrent infections that previously led to surgical intervention are more likely to occur.

To date, it is known that relapses in some cases are due to the fact that a certain genus of bacteria, streptococci, can deceive the cells of the immune system, so instead of fighting the infection destroy each other. But this is not the most common, in some cases it is due to tonsillar hypertrophy. Or, what is the same, excessive enlargement of the tonsils.

It was in those cases when years ago they directly resorted to surgical intervention. On the other hand, this is currently reserved for extreme cases only, since the removal of the tonsils removes the first protective barrier and increases infections in the lower respiratory tract. Modern drugs are much more effective. If the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics and, if necessary, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic. If it is not bacterial, only the latter are prescribed. Be that as it may, surgery remains the last option. Now is there any use strangulation of the tonsils? The short answer, which we already know, is no.

Strangulation of angina pectoris, a “treatment” that combines several pseudo-treatments.

As we have seen, the strangulation of the tonsils consists mainly of the application of lymphatic drainage and biomagnetic couples therapy.

Drainage is a common treatment for some sore throats complicated by appearance of abscesses. However, this should be done by a healthcare professional, preferably otorhinolaryngologist. Never an osteopath or a physiotherapist. The latter can perform draining massages. However, they have nothing to do with tonsils, but rather with the shape get rid of cellulite, swelling of the limbs due to circulatory problems or other similar problems. It is also used in aesthetic and sports medicine for some injuries. But never treat something as if it should be treated with respect. strangulation of the tonsils.

As for the biomagnetic couple, it is a pseudo-therapy developed in 1988 by a Mexican physiotherapist and physician. Isaac Goyz. He had the misconception that most diseases are due to an imbalance in our body’s pH. In addition, he believed that it could be brought back to normal by placing high power magnets at certain points in the body, which he called pairs.

This method has not been widely adopted in medical circles, mainly because no scientific evidence found keep her. Let’s start with the fact that the pH of our body, which varies depending on what fluids we are talking about, is not the cause of any disease. Perhaps some pathogens can change it slightly in some fluids. But This is a consequence, not a cause.. Also, pH cannot be changed by magnetism. And fortunately, because if it were actually done, it could be dangerous.

With all this, biomagnetism is considered a pseudo-therapy in the CoNproof list published in Spain by the Ministries of Science and Health. Now, despite the lack of scientific evidence, there are still people who use it. Many osteopaths offer it in their portfolio of techniques for a variety of purposes. And one of them is exactly strangulation of the tonsils. Luckily, this is rare, but is still offered in some centers.

Auriculotherapy takes the stage

There are even people who offer choking sore throats at home. Since it is sometimes difficult to obtain a toolkit for performing a biomagnetic pair, in these cases it can be replaced by other methods that are easier to carry out from door to door. This is the case auriculotherapy.

Just as Goise believed that diseases are due to pH imbalance, traditional Chinese medicine, which originated acupuncture, considers the origin of most pathologies in qi imbalance. That is, an imbalance of vital energy flowing through certain points of the body, known as meridians. Note that if the meridians are swapped in pairs, the two pseudo-therapies are not too far apart. But in this case not magnets are used, but needles. And several of these meridians meet into earhence, acupuncture has auriculotherapy among its options. But it also has no proven efficacy and is considered a pseudo-therapy.

Therefore, if you have problems with angina pectoris, only a doctor can correct them. Depending on the relapse rate and severity, he will evaluate your options. But no one will choke them. If someone offers to do it, run.