Tonsil enlargement, or tonsillitis, is often the result of infection by pathogenic microorganisms. Eating sugary drinks or dairy products can stimulate tonsillar swelling and increase symptoms. On the other hand, drinking tea may help alleviate the symptoms of tonsillitis and prevent the spread of bacteria and other pathogens, although as of 2012, no direct effect of tea drinking on tonsillar swelling has been observed. If a sore throat lasts for more than a few days, consult a doctor.
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According to the report of Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, green tea contains a lot of phytochemicals, many of which are called flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-bacterial properties. Many studies have shown that green tea helps fight cardiovascular disease and repair damaged and inflamed tissues, although flavonoids also kill bacteria effectively. According to an article published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research in 2007, green tea extracts showed the strongest antimicrobial activity in all tested tea leaves. This suggests that if tonsillar swelling is caused by infection, drinking green tea may help reduce tonsillar swelling, although as of 2012, no studies have supported this claim. Black tea and white tea also contain beneficial flavonoids, but they are especially rich in tannins. Tannins tend to have a drying effect because they reduce mucus production, which helps reduce phlegm accumulated in the back of the throat due to tonsillitis. According to an article published in 2007 in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, unlike green tea, commercially produced black tea is fermented, which significantly reduces the antimicrobial activity of plants and phytochemicals.
White tea is made from unfermented tea harvested before maturity, which increases the strength of phytochemicals. However, boiling water can destroy some sensitive phytochemicals, so it is recommended that you soak all tea leaves in warm water.