What’s best to gargle for bad throat?

[Cloud44]

Got a bad throat, tonsils are swollen and feeling pretty rubbish, had tonsilitis earlier in the year, not sure if it’s that again or just a general lurgy. Feeling sorry for myself, what’s the best thing to gargle for a bad throat? Difflam? TCP? Salt? Colgate Peroxyl mouthwash? Been told various things just want to use what will work quickest?! Does steaming your face help a bad throat?

It still feels so horrible,I may have to take the antibiotics. I was really hoping to avoid taking them again.

I would rake the antibiotics and think about asking for them to be removed.

If you don't want to wait 2+ years on NHS, j would go private

I was really trying not to take them this time though as I don’t want it to just keep coming back and having to take antibiotics each time, and the antibiotics themselves make me feel horrible. I just don’t know what to do.
And the doctors keep saying it’s not advised for adults to have them out? I’ve never had it where it’s kept returning like this. Just want to cry!

Is there anything else I could be trying?!

I've remembered that the tonic the GP recommended to me was Vivioptal - but have no reason to assume that other brands are not also good.

I also had the nasty experience of coughing up a tonsillith stone this morning and remembered that I used to get them regularly until I gave up wheat about a decade ago, when I discovered it was triggering asthma and causing a chronic cough. It's unlikely to be the root of your problem, but you could try cutting out wheat for a few weeks and see does your general health improve. Rice, pasta, gluten free stuff (though that tends to be ultra ultra processed) are all excellent substitutes, but read the labels of everything - you'd be amazed what they put wheat into..

Other than that, same old same old I'm afraid, rest, fluids, paracetamol (strictly within the recommended limits).

Thank you @DeanElderberry . Does anyone know if it’s normal for the white spots to come and go?

@Tmpnmc86 I’ve not had thyme before, I’m not a massive fan of tea, is it possible to chew it? Does it really work?