Homeopathic Medicine for Immune System – Lymphatic System
The immune lymphatic system is an infection fighting circulatory system of body fluids and lymphocytes travelling in delicate vessels called ducts that collect fluid squeezed from veins during Normal metabolism, and bring it back to the veins near the heart. The lymphatic fluid resembles blood serum, that is, blood fluid containing only lymphocytes (white blood corpuscles without cytoplasmic granules, they are normally 20 – 50% of total white cells and may increase to 90% in lymphatic leukaemia) and is returned to the blood stream at various parts of the body so that the waste products can be removed by the kidneys. The lymphatic system also includes various infection fighting or lymphocyte producing organs such as the spleen, tonsils, appendix, thymus and intestinal Peyer’s patches. A lymph node is a kidney or bean-shaped bin occurring along the lymphatic ducts. There are hundreds of them. It filters the lymphatic fluid and removes the disease forming materials. They stop cancer cells and in turn may become the seat of cancer themselves. The filtered pure lymph enters the main trunk for absorption into the blood. The lymph nodes are of the size of a pinhead to the size of an olive or an almond. Lymph is transparent but in the vessels draining the intestines, it is milky in color due to the presence of fats and is called “chyle”.
DISEASES OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
- Lymphoma (tumor in the lymphatic vessel): Lymphoma is a general term for growth of a new tissue in the lymphatic vessel. It can be of a low form, that is, it is non-malignant or it can be malignant and a lymph sarcoma. Many lymphomas arise within the lymph node but they can be anywhere – within the areas of intestines, bone marrow, etc. It is a disease of the white blood cells.
- Lymphedema (edema due to lymphatic obstruction): Swelling of body parts owing to obstruction of lymphatic fluid in the lymphatic vessels.
- Hodgkin’s disease (pseudo leukaemia) and lymph sarcoma: These are two almost similar diseases and produce enlargement of lymphatic tissue, spleen and liver with invasion of other tissues and may subsequently cause anemia.
The following remedies are used in the treatment of lymphatic diseases:
Adonis vern. Q (Twice a day) 5 drops in ½ cup of water: Swelling of the body due to obstructive lymphatic drainage – with diseases of heart and collection of fluid in the pleural cavity.
Aethusa cyn. (Thrice a day): Lymphatic glands inflammed and swollen.
Allium sativum (Twice a day) (Garlic): Its use boosts the immune system.
Ammonium carb. (Thrice a day): Glands are swollen. Throat is sore and dark red. Malignant lymphoma. Tired and weary feeling.
Apis mel. (Thrice a day): Lymphoma especially in women suffering from tearing pains in the nape of the neck and scalp with high fever.
Arsenicum alb. (Thrice a day): Lymphoma of neck with hectic fever. It has holes as in a sieve.
Bufo rana (Thrice a day): Lymphangitis of septic origin.
Calcarea fluor. (Thrice a day): This tissue remedy has proved useful in treatment of enlarged and hard lymphatic vessels.
Cannabis sat. (Thrice a day), Eucalyptus (Thrice a day): Fleshy, non-cancerous growths in the lymphatic system and lymph nodes.
Echinacea Q (Thrice a day) 5 drops in ½ cup of water: Lymphatic inflammation. It removes pain of inflammation. It is a stimulant for the immune system. 5 drops a dose, thrice daily till required.
Ferrum pic. (Thrice a day): Useful in the treatment of Hodgkin’s disease or pseudo leukaemia.
Ginseng Q (Twice a day) 5-10 drops in ½ cup of water: Its use improves the immune system and memory.
Hekla lava 3x (Thrice a day): Non-cancerous, simple tumors in the lymphatic system. Requires sometime to act.
Hippozaeninum (Thrice a day): Malignant lymphatic swelling of spleen and liver. Useful for long standing infection accompanied with hoarseness, noisy breathing and loud snoring respiration.
Iodium (Thrice a day): Enlarged lymphatic glands. It increases the defensive system of the body by assembling the white blood corpuscles to fight and destroy the injurious, invading bacteria.
Mercurius sol. 2x (Thrice a day): It has an effect on the entire lymphatic system – all the membranes, glands, internal organs and bones — it works wonderfully in such cases.
Natrium sulph. 6x (Thrice a day): Lymphoma near the colon with flatulent colic. Cannot bear tight clothes around the abdomen. Bruised pain in the region of lymphoma and urging to stool and urine.
Scrophularia nodosa Q (Twice a day) 5-10 drops in ½ cup of water: It is a powerful remedy for treatment of Hod- gkin’s disease and enlargement of glands. It is also a valuable remedy for treatment of breast tumors which disappear by its use.
Tuberculinum 1000 (One dose only): A team of researchers headed by Dr. Manuela Gago – Dominguez, indicate that the use of black hair dyes for a long period causes. Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The result was published in The International Journal of Cancer in the year 2001. This remedy antidotes bad effects of hair dyes and may prove useful in the treatment of this disease.
Viburnum op. Q (Thrice a day) 5 drops in ½ cup of water: Ideal for immune system deficiency at the level of urinary tract. Spurting of urine on coughing and sneezing. It helps eliminate certain toxins from blood.
NOTE 1: It is the weakening of the defence and immune system that allows microbes to suddenly become virulent and the body cannot fight the disease. When the defence mechanism is healthy, the same microbe passes through or is pushed out without causing the disease.
NOTE 2: Immune system cells called “lymphocytes” are responsible for the destruction of virus infected cells and tumors. These cells are also responsible for causing rejection of transplanted organs. When these cells do not work properly, auto immune diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, etc. appear.
NOTE 3: To keep the immune system strong and healthy, take desired rest and do not tire yourself unnecessarily.
NOTE 4: Quit smoking and avoid second hand smoke or passive smoking.
NOTE 5: Take increased quantity of fruits, vegetables and fluids. Citrus fruits, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, tomatoes, green and red peppers boost the immune system.
NOTE 6: The complex immune system is designed to fend off infection. Two important cells which tight infection are “T cells” which kill tumor cells, viral infected cells and parasites, and “B cells” which signal the other cells to kill the invading substances. Mothers always advise their children to wash their hands before taking meals and after taking meals, using the toilet and urinal – with soap and water. This helps avoid transmission of infection.