The paradox of Thymus Gland is that it is one of the most important organs for boosting our immune system and yet virtually unknown. If it were known, it would be selling like vitamin C.

The thymus has been a mysterious gland throughout much of history. It was known to exist as early as the first century A.D., but its role would not begin to be understood until much later. The ancient Greeks thought it was “the seat of courage.” During the Renaissance, they decided it had no function. It was not until the 1970s that its role in the immune system started to unfold.[1]

In 1982, the New York Times printed an article postulating that the thymus gland may be “the key to aging.” Dr. Roy L. Walford of the University of California at Los Angeles had spent over a decade researching the connection between a shrinking thymus gland and aging. You may have never given your thymus gland much thought, but considering its crucial role in the body, this might be the best time to think about it.

The thymus gland is one of the principle glands for the autoimmune system. It is composed of two soft pinkish-grey lobes lying in a bib-like fashion just below the thyroid gland and above the heart. It is also known as the longevity gland. The thymus gland weighs less than half of an ounce at birth, but by puberty, the thymus will reach to its maximum size of about 10 ounces. After age 20, the thymus begins to shrink (atrophy) and thymic cells progressively die off to be replaced by fat and connective tissue.

The thymus produces T-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell responsible for cell-mediated immunity which is extremely important in resisting infection by mold-like bacteria: yeast, fungi, parasites, viruses, toxins and allergens. The function of the thymus gland is to program white blood cells in their various tasks, and then send them into the blood to recognize and destroy pathogens. T-cells come in 2 types: killer T-cells and helper T-cells. Killer T-cells detect germs or cancerous growths and destroy them. The helper T-cells create an immune response in the body, activating other immune cells and stimulating antibody production. The thymus “instructs” T-cells what to attack and when. Without this instruction the T-cells may fail to attack enemies (e.g. bacteria, viruses or cancer cells) or they may even mistake some of your own cells for an invading enemy and attack you–this is known as autoimmune disease.  Examples of autoimmune disease are: multiple sclerosis, cancer, atherosclerosis, adult-onset diabetes, and rheumatic diseases such as arthritis.

Diseases and Conditions[2]

The most common thymus diseases are myasthenia gravis (MG), pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and hypogammaglobulinemia, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Myasthenia gravis occurs when the thymus is abnormally large and produces antibodies that block or destroy the muscles’ receptor sites. This causes the muscles to become weak and easily tired. Pure red cell aplasia is thought to be caused commonly by the patient’s own immune cells attacking blood-forming stem cells. This can happen when the thymus has a tumor, according to The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation. Hypogammaglobulinemia is a disorder where the body doesn’t produce enough antibodies. Infants with this condition typically grow out of it without medical intervention.

Thymus cancer is a disease in the thymus, rather than one caused by the thymus, like the previous examples. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, cough (which may bring up bloody sputum), chest pain, trouble swallowing, loss of appetite and weight loss, headaches, swelling of head face or neck, a bluish color to the skin and dizziness, according to the American Cancer Society. This cancer is typically malignant in about 35 percent of cases.

At the critical early twenties stage, the abundance of well-functioning T-cells regulate the immune system and help the body fight off pathogens and disease. But with the inexorable shrinking of the thymus gland over time, by about age 40, the output of thymic hormones has decreased significantly, and the T-cells have begun to lose their effectiveness. It is this gradual loss of functioning T-cells that is thought to be responsible for many of the age-related changes in the immune system.

This is where our Thymus Gland comes in. Glandular therapy is useful if a patient’s endocrine system is under-producing or under-secreting a specific hormone. It can also be used when an organ is weak or diseased, that is often the case with cancer patients. Because glandular therapy is generally effective for those diagnosed with a terminal illness, it is also recommended for preventative measures. Another principle behind the benefit of glandular therapy is that glandular tissues are rich in many nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, polypeptides, enzymes, and many other substances, and this is another reason why they work. The tissues work with all other products and foods you ingest. In this sense, glandular therapy can supply your missing essential nutritional needs in a highly efficient manner. For a tissue cell to repair or replace itself, it must have the raw materials to do so. Glandular therapy provides these raw materials to your weakened organs, glands, and other tissues so that they can start the process of regeneration.

Doctor’s Choice® Thymus Gland also has Vitamin B6 (P5P) and Zinc Picolinate. B6 deficiency has been linked to thymic atrophy and reduced antibody production, while increased B6 enables the body to absorb thymus hormones. Zinc is included because it is the keystone molecule for thymic proteins, which are immune substances made in the thymus gland – no zinc, no immunity.

What better way to boost your T-cells than to strengthen the gland that supplies them? The paradox of Thymus Gland is that it is one of the most important organs for boosting our immune system and yet virtually unknown. If it were known, it would be selling like vitamin C. Life Choice® offers true full gland Thymus concentrates (not extracts) which are taken from New Zealand-raised, grass-fed sheep without hormones or antibiotics. This includes the brands specifically produced for the professional community; it just blows me away because it is so powerful, but not a part of everyone’s immunity program.

As we age, our bodies must fight harder and harder to maintain optimal performance. Products like Thymus Gland can ease the body’s immunological load to help you age well.

References:

  • Iarroci, Tom, MD. 2017. Understanding the Functions of the Thymus.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/understanding-the-thymus-4103560

  • Bradford, Alina. 2018. Thymus: Facts, Function & Diseases.

https://www.livescience.com/62527-thymus.html

[1] Tom Iarroci, MD. 2017.

[2] Bradford, Alina, 2018.