Alternative Health Supplements and … Your Thymus

When it comes to discussion of hormone production and regulating biological functions, many people's minds move immediately to the brain. It is true that as the "Chief Executive Officer" of the body, the brain plays a large role in regulating our bodily functions. But, just like a real manager, it can’t be everywhere at once! When it comes to regulating your immune system, one of the key middle managers that the brain uses is the thymus, a gland located close to your heart. It is this gland that many alternative health products target when they are aiming to build up immune function. Today we get intimate with one of the most important glands in our bodies -- the general that wages war against foreign bodies.

What does the thymus look like, and where is it?

The thymus is located close to the heart, just behind the breastbone. You may actually be familiar with this from your dinners ... animal thymus glands are known as sweetbreads when they are used in cooking, and considered a delicacy. In children the thymus is grayish-pink in color, in adults it is yellow. It reaches peak mass at puberty, usually around 27-30 grams, and shrinks to around 6 grams by age 75.

What does the thymus do?

Here is where this little lump of lobules starts getting interesting! You have probably heard of T-cells, especially if you have ever known somebody with cancer. T-cells are so named because they are produced by the thymus gland. The thymus gland is responsible for creating and maturing thymocytes or T cells.

Although the thymus shrinks as we age (because a store of T-cells is built up early in life), the thymus still continues to play an important role in immune function even in the elderly.

Alternative health products to support your thymus

Most alternative health products which aim to support the health of the thymus use extracts of fresh healthy tissue from animal thymus glands. Tissue form the lymph nodes and the spleen is also included in many of the more respected brands, which are also involved in producing white blood cells under the charge of the thymus. A typical breakdown of these products is as follows:

• Thymic extract
• Lymph extract
• Spleen extract
• Goldenseal root
• Echinacea
• Cloves