Why Tonsils are Important

Tonsils are a protective part of the lymphatic system, a large network of ducts and nodes which exists throughout the body acting as its ‘sewerage system’, defending it from parasites, viruses and bacteria. Tonsils themselves trap germs that enter the body through the nose and mouth and therefore an invaluable part of the body’s immune system.  Tonsils are on the first line of defense combating respiratory pathogens, viruses, and bacteria, which are constantly trying to invade the body through the nasal and oral passages. When the tonsils become infected, they isolate infection and stop it from spreading further into the body. Tonsils pass these substances in the form of lymph fluid to lymph nodes, where the bacteria are destroyed. Hence removing tonsils is removing an important part of a child’s ability to combat respiratory infections.

However there are times when tonsils become enlarged to the point where they can cause soreness, pain, digestion (swallowing) and sleep problems in children.  By applying specific chiropractic and craniosacral therapy techniques, I deliver a treatment for children that resolves tonsillitis and related throat pains without the use of medications and avoids your child undergoing surgery.  It’s prudent for parents to learn about the treatment I offer before considering having your child undergo a tonsillectomy (the surgical procedure to remove tonsils) because removing the tonsils leaves your child more susceptible to other types of respiratory issues and infections.

What Causes Tonsillitis?

Parents should stay mindful that inflamed, swollen or painful tonsils are actually a symptom of a problem and not the problem in and of themselves. In most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a viral infection, such as the viruses that cause the common cold or flu virus (influenza).  Some cases can also be caused by a bacterial infection, typically a strain of bacteria called group A streptococcus bacteria or what we commonly refer to as ‘strep throat’. 

But remember, when tonsils become infected, they isolate the infection and stop it spreading further into the body. As a child’s immune system develops and gets stronger, tonsils usually shrink and play a smaller role in immune function after puberty.  As children grow, more of the job of protecting the body from viral infections and fighting bacteria is transferred to the child’s immunity system. 

Hence in most all cases, tonsillitis, particularly recurring bouts of tonsillitis,  reflects a weakened immunity system that has allowed toxins and inflammatory substances (produced by the strep organisms) to suddenly start causing symptoms such as a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, red and swollen tonsils and white pus on the tonsils.

There is a lack of strong flow of lymphatic fluid throughout the body as a very likely result of a slow Craniosacral Rhythm.

Tonsillitis & a Child’s Weakened Immune system

With tonsillitis, the real underlying question is “why is a child’s body unable to mobilize its natural defenses through their immunity system”?  When a child’s immune system is working smoothly their immune system is essentially transparent and keeps them in good health. A strong craniosacral rhythm reflects a strong immune system.

Any disruption to the spine, and hence the craniosacral system, can adversely affect the healthy functioning of both your central nervous system and immune system via a lack of strong pumping and flushing out of the lymphatic system. Research has proven there is active hardwired communication between the nervous system (the brain & spinal cord) and the immune system. The nervous system (communicating through your spinal cord) can both activate or prevent actions within the immune system.  Thus, even when you experience a slight misalignment of the vertebrae (a spinal subluxation, common from sitting posture, repeated motions, and even poor diet, etc.) there is an interference with that path of communication that increases your chances of becoming infected by harmful outside substances. 

Simply put, the nervous system and the immune system engage in back-and-forth communication, or  “cross-talk”.  A successful immune response (proper signaling in the cross talk) is critical in maintaining the delicate balance between health and disease; an insufficient response results in infection, whereas an excessive response results in prolonged inflammation and tissue damage. I use gentle chiropractic and craniosacral therapy techniques to bring your immune system back into a healthy function and balance.

Parents should know even a minor spinal subluxation of one vertebrae which can produce irritation of small nerve fiber endings within the spine (intervertebral joint capsules). Irritation of free nerve endings can produce contraction of the muscles supplied by the nerve fibers at that spinal level or region. Contraction of these muscles can either inhibit or at least significantly restrict the flow of lymph through the lymph ducts which pass through those muscles (critical to optimal functioning of not only tonsils but the entire lymphatic system) driven by the Craniosacral system. 

How Does a Child Get Subluxations Causing Tonsillitis?

Parents often wonder how spinal subluxations can occur in their child when that child has never had a neck or back injury.  It’s actually quite common for parents to discover certain health and behavioral issues their children are coping with are rooted in spinal subluxations. Stay mindful a subluxation is any form of disruption within the spine negatively affecting spinal nerves. These “disruptions” interfere with vital communication that would otherwise (in the case of tonsillitis) activate a robust immune system response to threats.  

Children experience numerous falls and bumps exploring, playing sports, and even long hours sitting pressuring the spine can produce subluxations. Researchers have even singled out heavy school bags and backpacks for books as contributors to musculoskeletal pain and subluxations in children.  Less obvious causes are too many medications, emotional stress from school, diets high in sugars, corn syrup, preservatives and other processed foods are actually unfavorable to the nervous system.   It’s also not unusual for a child to incur a subluxation at birth due to the intensity and sheer physical forces that may have been involved with their birthing.   Click here for a comprehensive explanation on how the birthing process,  newborns and toddlers can acquire subluxations. 

Common signs of subluxations in children:

• Excessive throat mucus
• Lethargy and fatigue
• Poor mood
• Poor concentration
• A tendency to be easily distracted
• A lowered immune system
• Heightened allergies
• Complaints of headaches
• Complaints of back pain
• Restricted spinal movement
• Poor posture
• Sleep issues

How Chiropractic Care & Craniosacral Therapy Effectively Treat Tonsillitis in Children

In children, the job of the tonsil’s lymph ducts (tonsillar nodes and the deep cervical lymph ducts) is to defend the body from foreign invaders and drain the waste products away from the area.  However a child’s lymph ducts are naturally smaller than those found in adults and therefore are more vulnerable to the slightest dysfunction to the lymphatic system or irritation to the cervical spine – and kept from doing their job.

For example those deep cervical lymph ducts flow through the muscles of the neck, before dropping beneath the clavicle (collar bone) on their way to the cardiovascular system. It’s very possible for a minor subluxation of the neck to cause muscle contractions which would disrupt normal lymph flow and in the process reduce functional capacity of the child’s immune system. Reducing the pace and capacity of the normal lymphatic flow and draining process would create a ‘log jam’ in the upper respiratory system  of lymphatic waste substances building pressure and swelling of the lymph nodes – culminating with inflamed (swollen) tonsils. 

By applying a combination of chiropractic care and craniosacral therapy my treatment can: 

• correct any subluxations of your child’s cervical spine 
• drain and reinvigorate their lymphatic system 
• Improve the craniosacral system
• boost their immune system 
• enable their body to quickly, permanently, and naturally heal itself from tonsillitis and numerous other ailments they may be experiencing or that potentially lie in wait

Detoxifying Lymphatic Drainage

Craniosacral therapy head on fights tonsillitis and the following research summarizes how craniosacral therapy can resolve your child’s tonsillitis.  

A network of lymphatic vessels is responsible for draining fluid from the central nervous system into the lymph nodes found near the jugular vein in the neck. Lymph nodes monitor and cleanse the lymph fluid, filtering undesirable cells, and producing white blood cells (which attack harmful substances in the fluid). Cerebrospinal fluid is also exchanged and moved through these lymph nodes to your network of veins. [source]  In this way cerebrospinal fluid is lymphatic (fighting infection & disease) and any deficit in proper circulation of cerebrospinal fluid could account for an array of deteriorating health conditions and issues [tonsillitis]. – Perrin RN. Lymphatic drainage of the neuraxis in chronic fatigue syndrome: A hypothetical model for the cranial rhythmic impulse. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2007;107(6):218–24. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

After chiropractic adjustment lymph fluid levels naturally rise and help move waste and respond to infection with fresh red and white blood cells soothing the formerly affected area.   Chiropractic manipulations can trigger your lymphatic system to both collect, release, and then circulate lymph. This helps to increase the efficiency of the lymphatic system, as well as boost the overall effectiveness of your immune system resulting in the purification and detoxification of the body. Click here to learn more. 

• Boosting of Immune System   

Craniosacral therapy can granularly map inflammation in a child’s body and target tissues associated with the immune system with precision – all by palpating the immune system’s movement in response to the craniosacral rhythm.  Craniosacral therapy then rejuvenates your child’s immune system’s proper functioning including communication with the nervous system, click here to learn more.

Your immune system is thrown off from any type of dysfunction within your body and a subluxation in your spine (a spinal vertebra out of position compared to the other vertebrae) produces an adverse ripple effect on your immune system’s ability to fight off harmful substances.  Unfortunately, subluxations are rarely considered when it comes to a weakened immune system, and that’s because most healthcare care providers are unfamiliar with how to detect or treat subluxations.  Chiropractic adjustments have not only resolved subluxations but have also been shown to improve both blood and cerebral fluid flow to the brain. Click here to learn more. 

When tonsillitis persists over weeks or becomes recurrent over months, it will be considered chronic and many parents assume their only option at this juncture is surgery.  This is rarely ever the case and there are proven non-pharmacological treatments parents should consider prior to allowing tonsillitis to become chronic or thinking surgery is the only option.  Tonsillitis is a sign that your child’s immune system has weakened and the answers as to why lie in their central nervous system.  This is where I can be helpful, discerning why and correcting things so your child’s immune and lymphatic systems function at their optimal level.  

Stay mindful pediatric chiropractic care & craniosacral therapy for babies, toddlers, and all children is gentle, low force, safe, and applies the amount of pressure applied similarly to what you would use to check if a tomato is ripe. There is no twisting, no cracking and no popping it is a musculoskeletal (including bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments) treatment for children of all ages, including the tiniest of newborn babies.   If you’re concerned about your child having any of the symptoms of tonsillitis, you’re welcome to call me and with more details on the circumstances, I can perhaps be more helpful in sharing insight on your situation and options to consider.

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Having a Chiropractic background since the year 2000, Dr. Kaminsky offers many methods of treatment with an emphasis on Craniosacral Therapy in NYC.

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a method focusing on the link between the cranium (head) and sacrum (the second to last bone at the base of your spine), scientifically proven to work in unison to pump fluid throughout the body, an unknown disruption of which can cause many health issues.  The craniosacral mechanism pumps vital fluid called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) through the body and in a sense energetically lubricates the joints, tissues, organs; basically all cells of the body. It is the driving force of all your body’s systems of function; including maintaining the tone of your muscles.

The Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) are surrounded with CSF generating energetic rhythmic impulses of fluid delicately pumping throughout your body’s parts “breathing” the movement of life. This measurable rhythm of moving fluid, like the heart rhythm, pulse rhythm, breathing rhythm is the foundational “blueprint” and primary principle of our real-time state of our health. 

Compromises of our rhythmic movements of fluid flow correlates to the impulse restrictions in the system which the body is unable to overcome or self-correct. This is the reason why we have “dis-ease”, symptoms, conditions, basically all ailments.  This is where the skill of an experienced craniosacral therapist becomes valuable.  By placing his or her hands on your body the practitioner can feel, detect, evaluate, and facilitate correction of these restrictive arrhythmic impulses.

The craniosacral therapist helps your rhythm restore and renew in compromised areas allowing for healing to take place of sensory, motor, musculoskeletal, neurological disorders, symptoms, conditions and pain.  To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your healing treatment with Dr. Kaminsky.