The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Volita b (Auckland, New Zealand) on 09/20/2025
★★★★★
Hi there,
My daughter has had massive tonsils and tonsillitis that has caused sleep apnea issues. Went to the ENT and it showed it was the tonsils that were the obstruction. We were given allergy meds and recommended surgery as well, which we aren't keen on.
We have cut out milk and have been getting instant relief from using a teaspoon of extra virgin coconut oil (food grade type) each night. I give her a teaspoon and she chews the solid coconut oil to make it liquid and then she sits there while doing whatever she likes and swishes it around her mouth for about 3-5 mins and then she gargles it so it coats the tonsils and then spits it out. The tonsils decreased in size instantly and she has been getting a lot of mucus and flem coming out over the last few weeks.
She drank some milk and it came back a bit but overall this method has been going great and really pleased that there has been progress which we haven't had in years with antibiotics and doctors. She has been sleeping much better and I can hear that it has made a difference with the obstruction.
Vitamin C, Zinc, Fish Oil
Posted by Ish (India) on 03/11/2025
can I try this remedy for 5 yrs old child with lesser dose?
Coconut Oil
Posted by Brian (Central Visayas) on 02/11/2025
How is it now? How much oil to gargle to make sure it reaches the tonsils?
Coconut Oil
Posted by Eve (PA) on 01/25/2025
★★★★★
Coconut oil 100% worked for us
Overnight, my 5 year old daughter got a very high fever (106) which we quickly got lowered to a less dangerous, though still high, fever. The following morning she woke with an inflamed throat with white stuff in the back. Her throat got worse throughout the day, the white patches grew. We took her to Urgent Care where she tested positive PCR test for Flu strain A but the strep throat culture (also PCR test) was negative, and she didn't have the other common indicators for bacterial strep, so the doctors said it was viral, tonsillitis. There was nothing to prescribe for it they said, just try to make her comfortable. Well, I've been coming to Earthclinic for 15 years so I came here to look for a cure and Earthclinic and the good people who write in, once again, did not disappoint. I read the reviews and gave my little girl a half teaspoon of raw extra virgin coconut oil (I gave small spoonfuls because she's very little). I gave her another small spoonful like that every few hours. Her pain reduced somewhat, and I felt by evening that the huge patches of white gook looked somewhat smaller and the throat was less inflamed. Her fever lowered a bit, too. That night her fever didn't go so high, and the next morning, the fever was very low and her throat definitely looked substantially better. I gave a few more of those spoonfuls during the day, and by evening, her throat was MUCH MUCH better, her fever had subsided. Today, she barely has any white patches left at all in her throat, fever is gone and she is able to play. I still gave her a spoon of coconut oil as the last bits of it go away, but it's really pretty much gone. Coconut oil was a wonderful help! I definitely recommend it. I just told her to hold the coconut oil in her mouth as it melted, so it could drip down the back of her throat, as she's too young to gargle or oil pull. Regardless, it worked, and it worked WELL. Relief was rapid, steady, and constant. Within 6 hours, noticeable improvement, after 24 hours, a massive improvement, and after two days, near total cure. Thank you to all those who wrote in, as your entries gave me the info I needed to relieve my little girl's pain and discomfort.
I am a most grateful mama. Thank you all.
Eve
Aspirin Gargle
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 09/24/2024
★★★★★
Salicylate of Soda Gargle: TONSILITIS –
TONSILITIS – Salicylate of Soda (predecessor of aspirin) for – Also as a Gargle in Adult Ulcerated Cases. – Given in 10 gr. doses, every 2 to 4 hours, internally, and is also used as a gargle in ulcerated cases. Strength of gargle is not given; but I should say 5 to 10 grs. to the oz. of water, according to the degree of ulceration.
Remarks. I certainly expect much from its use upon a fair trial, and say to all who need it, try it.
NOTE: Gargling with aspirin dissolved in water will help ease inflammation in your throat delivering medication straight to the source. Dissolve one 325mg (Adult dose) soluble aspirin in water and gargle for 3-4 minutes. You can do this 3-4 times a day. Spit out the aspirin after gargling.
From the Book – Dr. Chase's New Receipt Book and Medical Advisor or Information for Everybody by A.W. Chase MD, page 74. 1927.
Goldenseal
Posted by Prakash (Sunnyvale, Ca) on 02/04/2023
★☆☆☆☆
We have tried couple of drops of Goldenseal tincture on Tonsils, but didn't have any effect. Taste was awful and it lasted for several hours, but there was no improvement in pain.
Oil of Oregano
Posted by Lila (Las Vegas) on 12/19/2022
★★★★☆
Oil of Oregano for Infected Tonsils
Oil of Oregano kills bacteria. Liquid tincture of 1 drop, (it is very potent), added to around 1 Tablespoon Coconut oil. Swish around mouth, hold for as long as you can. Spit out as it can draw out bacteria from mouth. More than 1 drop may burn, also must use carrier oil to dilute.
Also, I have added a few drops to face steam bowl with water and inhale when I had sinus issues. Be sure to cover your eyes with a towel, so they don't burn. I would let the steam fill the room and occasionally lean in to inhale the steam. Potent and powerful, sometimes I will just ingest 1 drop to 1 Tbl Coconut oil to kill any virus coming on. I would do these remedies only sparingly, because of their potency.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Shantay (Berkeley California ) on 12/17/2022 1 posts
How are you now? I have something going on with my right tonsil. I won't find anything until I go to the dentist because my doctor swears it's nothing wrong. But I know my own body. Did you ever resolve your issues naturally? Since this post is old, please let me know if anyone else has a suggestion.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Irene (Northern Ireland) on 08/02/2019
★★★★★
I use a spray bottle with H202 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide on my tonsils and toothbrush and has worked perfectly for me. I no longer have really sore throats and my tonsils have shrunk.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Frank (Alaska) on 11/29/2019
★★★★★
It is me again. The above 3-4 week estimation was off. After 6 months I am still cleaning my tonsils in the above stated manner. I gave it some time off as it seemed to need some rest. My tonsils are now half the size. I still have a long way to go, but it is encouraging that it is doing something. The medical community only knows to take out the tonsil. I hope more people read this post before they take out a part of the body you can never get back. As a side note, I have noticed that I sing better! I am no singer but am surprised as the ease I am getting compared to before in singing. I don't know what it will be like if the tonsil really goes down to normal size, maybe I'll sing ever better. ?? Professional singers need to care for their tonsils. If they become hardened it will affect their tone. If the tonsils are taken out, scar tissues can form affect the tone. This has been a wonderful discovery, and I hope it helps more people.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Frank (Alaska) on 08/01/2019
★★★★★
3% Hydrogen Peroxide Tonsil stones will calcify over time if they are not taken out. This means they will meld onto your flesh(tonsils) forming a hard whitish, rubbery texture. Usually you cannot see it because your tonsils wraps around it. All you will see is flesh. But sometimes a little white-ness will peep out. And no matter how hard you try to squeeze it out, it seems melded onto the flesh - That is because it is. Many people wind up taking out their tonsils because the medical community doesn't know what to do with it. But the solution is easy and only costs pennies. I have taken a 7 inch long cotton squab and soak it in 3% hydrogen peroxide. I then place this onto my tonsils for a while. The hard calcium deposits will then start to fizz. That is the white rubbery calcified tonsil stones coming out. Rinse this away with clean water. You keep repeating this process as long as you or your tonsils can handle it. (Maybe 15 minutes). Rest for about 5 hours, then start again. I do this about 2-3 times a day. It takes about 3-4 weeks to get them completely clean depending on your situation. Each time I do this I can still see more calcified gunk coming out. Don't be discouraged, there will be an end to it, eventually. My case was about 2 decades of tonsil stones untreated, uncleaned, and they eventually hardening onto my tonsils. They calcified until my tonsil was tough (not soft or fleshy) when I poke at it. You will need a mirror and flashlight to do this. After I cleaned out the calcified tonsil - my very bad teeth grinding stopped. The swelled up tonsil came down in size gradually and pressure was relieved from my jawbone. The relieved pressure from my jawbone caused it ache for 2-3 days!! After 2 decades of teeth grinding it has STOPPED!! The pressure is off my jawline. I didn't even know there was pressure on my jawbone, until it was released. Who knew it was caused by a swollen tonsil????!!! My basal temperature has also risen. I used to not sweat easily. It took A lot to make me sweat. After I cleaned my tonsils, I sweat normally! Wow. Bad breath has also improved drastically.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Brandon (Willis, Texas) on 11/20/2020
Hello,
I know this is probably too late in conjunction to your ailment. Use turmeric and raw honey to coat and treat your throat the next time and you simply can't go wrong.
Salt, Baking Soda, Coconut Oil Gargle
Posted by Sanjoo (Ahmedabad) on 10/29/2020 7 posts
★★★★★
Add salt + 1 or 2 pinches baking soda to a glass of water at room temp. (you can add 1 drop of peppermint essential oil for increased effect).
Take a sip & start swishing with this water, spit, take another sip & gargle, 1 or 2 times, spit, then another sip of this water, add abt 1/2 tsp of coconut oil directly to yr mouth & then gargle with this mix & spit.
Very effective for bringing down infection of inflamed tonsils.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Katie (Wisconsin) on 10/14/2018
★★★★★
Three days ago, I felt a sore throat come on quickly. The next morning, my tonsils felt huge, sore and I was running a low fever. That night, it was awful. I wondered if this was tonsillitis, pneumonia, or what... I just knew I was coming down with something bad. Twice a day for the next couple of days, I let half a spoon of virgin coconut oil melt in my mouth and gargled it, letting it concentrate/sit on my tonsils for a few minutes. I don't know how it's possible, but I feel 90% better today. I'm baffled. Lots of water, gargling coconut oil, and I ate a dish or two that contained garlic... that's about all I did. Waiting to see if this is seriously gone but it's almost 2pm and I've felt fine and energetic all day.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Mercy (Owerri, Imo) on 04/21/2018
Please my child is just one year and nine months old, and she has re occurent tonsilittis, please how do I make her to gargle this coconut oil so that she can get relieved of the pain and discomfort of cartarrh and cough. Please can she just be drinking the coconut oil?
Coconut Oil
Posted by Amy (Australia) on 09/23/2017
Larry I'm not sure if you'll get notified of my reply here but I see your post is from back in 2015 so I just wanted to see how you went fighting this cancer with the natural protocol!
Vitamin C, Zinc, Fish Oil
Posted by Samuel (Sugar Land Tx) on 03/30/2017
★★★★★
A million thanks to earth clinic and the Op. I had a magnificent case of tonsillitis. Nothing was helping and coconut oil seemed to be making it worse. I tried vitamin c, zinc and fish oil just like the Op and in two days I got my voice back and I can swallow comfortably. Simply amazing!
Coconut Oil
Posted by Elizabeth (London) on 03/26/2017
★★★★☆
I have been battling tonsillitis for a few months, 4 rounds of antibiotics that have done very little. I took to this site as I am a big fan of natural remedies and sick of the antibiotics ripping my immune system down. I started gargling coconut oil twice last night and once this morning, its amazing! The oil soothes your throat and the infection is going down! Which is a miracle!!! I aim to do it all day long as well as drinking at least 6 litres of water a day and flush this horrible infection away. Highly recommend and aim to gargle coconut oil for the rest of my life!
Coconut Oil
Posted by Rob W (Stuarts Draft, Va) on 03/24/2017
★★★★☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Coconut oil gargle for swollen tonsils:
About the coconut oil gargle... it surely does clear the mucous out, from around the swollen tonsil, leaving it hanging out there, veeeeery sensitively, in the open air... every breath of fresh air that hits that exposed, raw flesh, stings and burns (ouch! ). But, it's clearing the mucous. That said, I wouldn't recommend gargling before bed. The pain was too much for me at midnight, so I tried it. It's now 3:44am, and I am tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable, because every ten minutes I have to hock up more mucous to spit out (sorry for the gory details). So... conclusion? It works for clearing the mucous from the infected area, but, do it HOURS before you plan to sleep!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Amanda (Texas) on 08/07/2016
★☆☆☆☆
My throat is so raw from doing this. It is way way worse than before. I had a slight sore throat. Now after gargling with ACV and water.... it feels just as bad as after I had my tonsils removed. Do not try this!!!!!!
Lorraine's Tonsillitis Tea
Posted by Suznne (Staines, England. ) on 06/29/2016
Please could you tell me if you drink this tea or gargle with it? My daughter can't take antibiotics.
Salt Gargle
Posted by Bbb (California) on 03/16/2016
I don't recommend iodized salt for anything! It is TOXIC! Use sea salt! This has plenty of trace minerals and will give your body a boost to boot!
Nebulize Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Bbb (California) on 03/16/2016
★★★★★
Today I woke up with inflamed swollen tonsils. Having had tonsillitis at least twice a year for most of my life, I have tried A LOT of home remedies. The BEST and quickest acting one (that I used today) has been hydrogen peroxide!
I mix a dilution of 3% H202 (the one with NO additives! ) with distilled water. Usually about a tablespoon of each will suffice, then nebulize for 15 - 20 mins.
You can do this as many times a day as you need. I do it four times. I also increase my vitamin C intake (only natural vitamin C! NOT ascorbic acid! ) I make raw honey and lemon tea and gargle a 50/50 mix of ACV and water. I may attempt the coconut oil gargle also as I need to put in a full day at work and I have no voice!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kiki (Redding) on 10/19/2015
Distilled white vinegar will not work the same as apple cider vinegar because it does not have the "mother" or probiotic properties. It IS food grade, but it's going to be much more effective for you to use white vinegar to clean the surfaces you touch in your home (spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water) because it will naturally disinfect for you, but you shouldn't drink it as you would apple cider vinegar because on its own it is much more abrasive.
You should be able to find organic and unfiltered apple cider vinegar at any health or whole food store for a very reasonable price. I get mine for $3 and change at my whole foods store, and even if you're drinking it twice daily, it will last you for a month or so because you only take a tablespoon in a glass of water at a time.
Coconut Oil
Posted by E (Houston) on 06/23/2015
★★★★★
I have had recurrent tonsillitis my whole life and avoid antibiotics now whenever possible since. Sunday night, I had a fever of 102.8 and a red, swollen throat with a visible patch of infected mucus on my right tonsil. I gargled with salt water, took goldenseal tincture and vitamin C, and went to bed.
When I woke up on Monday, my fever was better but the infected patch and swelling were still the same. Continued vitamin C and goldenseal throughout the day on Monday kept my energy high and my fever down, but the infected patch and swelling weren't reduced.
Monday night, after reading anecdotes on this site, I gargled with melted coconut oil for 10 minutes (spitting afterward). The swelling in my throat was reduced almost immediately, and the infected area on my tonsil was somewhat smaller as well.
This morning (Tuesday), I gargled again with melted coconut oil for 10 minutes. After this gargle, more than half of the infected mucus was dislodged. Two hours later, I repeated the coconut oil gargle. Half an hour later, the infected area was completely gone and the redness and swelling in my throat were almost completely gone. I plan to do two more rounds of coconut oil gargling to ensure that the problem is completely gone!
I did not pull (swish) the oil - I gently gargled it in my throat, focusing on the infected side. It wasn't the most pleasant thing I've ever done, but it is the fastest I've ever cured an infected tonsil!
Coconut Oil
Posted by Larry C (Downers Grove, Il, Usa) on 02/14/2015
★★★★★
Six months ago I was diagnosed with Stage Four HPV squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil. I decided right away against the Trilogy Of Death (Surgery, Chemo & Radiation) and have been treating my cancer holistically with diet and supplements using the Bill Henderson protocol. Needing biological dentistry to remove the four root canals causing my cancer I waited hoping to get better without but then developed a serious infection of the tonsil. It went on for weeks until I found the coconut cure here and found relief almost instantly. It's been 5 days now of using the oil and all the white puss is gone and the pain I felt is becoming bearable. I also found that oil pulling (holding the oil in my mouth while swishing) with the coconut for about twenty minutes works even better as it kills virus & bacteria alike. Probably going to do this forever... Root canal tooth removal starts next week.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Katherina (Venice, Italy) on 01/22/2015
I found Lugol in a Dutch online store UnlimitedHealth. If anyone is interested, they have a brand called Bob's Best.
i known that some people might be allergic to Iodine though, so it's better to test it on your skin before spraying it into your throat.
Goldenseal
Posted by Ally (Florida, Us) on 01/03/2015
★★★★★
I woke up with swollen tonsils this morning. Hurt when I swallow and my speech is affected. I came to Earth Clinic to find a remedy (alternate), and was surprised that the remedy that I know and was out of was not listed at all.
The most effective cure I know is Golden Seal in the liquid form. Two drops directly on the tonsils and the pain will be gone instantly.
If I had that I wouldn't even have come here today, so try it folks. Over the years it has been an instant cure for me- not days, hours, nor minutes, but instant. 2 drops on the swollen tonsil, and I swallow it. Awful taste- really awful, but the instant gratification is well worth it. Remember to refrigerate it to keep it fresh and effective.
Thanks Earth Clinic, over the years I have come here so I am happy to contribute
Hydrogen Peroxide, Coconut Oil
Posted by Momsy (East Coast) on 08/30/2013
My daughter could not sleep due to swollen tonsils-I could barely see her uvula, and she said her throat felt like pins and needles. This remedy worked fast:
She gargled with 1/4 tsp. 3% hydrogen peroxide and 3/4 tsp. water for 2 minutes, then spit. After a few minutes her throat area started stinging badly-it was working! We let the H2O2 do its work for 5 minutes. She then gargled with 1 tsp. extra virgin coconut oil for a few seconds, then swallowed it. The oil seemed to coat and soothe her throat nicely.
She went back to bed and ten minutes later, was asleep! I checked her throat the next morning, tonsils were a bit smaller and not as red. As usual, Earth Clinic came through. Thank you!!
Swollen Tonsil Remedies
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 02/28/2013 2042 posts
Brittany: Try some Zinc Lozenges, they will probably help. Please update any progress.
Swollen Tonsil Remedies
Posted by Joy (Battleground, Wash) on 02/27/2013
I use coconut oil in my mouth and it is helping me a lot. Swish around in your mouth for awhile and spit it out and then rinse well. Try again, I use it throughout the day. (there could be some side effect symptoms if it starts to heal you, even an antibiotic can make you feel sick at first.)
Garlic and lemon also are very potent mouth healers.
I also read on this site that milk of magnesia kills MRSA on skin , maybe swish some around in your mouth and spit it out.
Rinse with water afterwards. Hope this helps.
