Syndrome differentiation and treatment
Chronic tonsillitis is caused by flaring-up of asthenic fire due to visceral asthenic injury of the lung and kidney, etc. The commonly-seen syndromes include yin deficiency of the lung, asthenic injury of the kidney yin. Treatment should be nourishing yin and clearing away heat from the lung, promoting body fluid generation and moistening dryness as well as clearing away heat from throat to relieve sore throat respectively.

1. Syndrome of yin deficiency of the lung
Main symptoms and signs: Dry and uncomfortable larynx with slight pain and itch, dry cough or with scanty and sticky sputum, flushing tonsillar hypertrophy with yellow-white purulent spots on the surface, possibly accompanying afternoon zygomatic flush and feverish sensation of palms and soles, fatigued voice, red tongue with scanty fur, thready and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Nourishing yin and clearing away heat from the lung, promoting body fluid generation and moistening dryness.

2. Syndrome of asthenic injury of the kidney yin
Main symptoms and signs: Dry and uncomfortable pharyngolarynx with slight pain, dysphagia, dry mouth with inclination to profuse drink, flush of the tonsil and palatoglossal arch with yellow-white secretion like caseous substance in crypts, possibly accompanying general symptoms of light-headedness, tinnitus, deafness, aching pain of waist and flaccid knees, insomnia due to vexation, red tongue with scanty fur, thready and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Nourishing yin and descending fire, clearing away heat from throat and relieving sore throat.