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Swollen glands home treatment

I have swollen glands in my neck, what can be done to reduce the swelling?
(28 Mar 2008)

Swollen glands home treatment 

Lymph glands become swollen when there is an infection. Swollen glands are not usually serious as they are merely the body's defence mechanism, but in certain cases, you should consult a doctor at the earliest:

  • If the swelling duration is more than 2 weeks
  • If you have prolonged fever, weight loss, or night sweats
  • If the nodes seem to be growing rapidly
  • If the swelling is in the lower neck or very close to your collarbone
  • If the skin above is inflamed and reddish

Home remedies for swollen glands include:

  • Massaging the area with castor oil daily and apply a heating pad afterwards
  • Try taking apple cider vinegar in its organic and unrefined form
  • I teaspoon of seasalt and one teaspoon of baking soda may be added to one glass of water and ingested
  • Apply lavender oil after diluting it with mineral oil or petroleum jelly to the swollen glands
  • Taking zinc and selenium supplements which boost the immune system over all.

Before you decide on a type of swollen glands in neck remedy or swollen glands in neck treatment method, you will need to make sure that what you are experiencing is indeed a swelling of the lymph nodes as there are several other conditions that may be confused with lymph node swelling.


An enlarged thyroid or enlarged salivary glands can sometimes be mistaken for enlarged lymph nodes. In order to determine the type of swelling, the areas that are affected must be carefully recorded. Lymph node swelling may occur at the front, back, or sides of the neck and may be present in the upper and lower portions of the neck. On the other hand, the thyroid gland is located near the Adam’s apple and any inflammation in this area is likely to be caused by a swelling of the thyroid gland and not lymph nodes. A thyroid nodule and goiter are the most common causes for the swelling of the thyroid gland. Your salivary glands are located just below your jaw and in front of your ear. An infection of the salivary glands or a blocked salivary duct can cause swelling and inflammation. The lymph nodes are located very close to the salivary glands which may make the diagnosis process a little tedious. In addition to these causes for swollen salivary glands, there are also several disorders that may cause this type of swelling but this is a relatively rare occurrence. Starting a treatment for swollen lymph nodes in neck without confirmation of the exact type of problem and the cause for the swelling can aggravate the problem and do more harm than good. A definite diagnosis is therefore essential before deciding on a method of treatment for swollen lymph nodes in neck or swollen glands in neck cure.

Swollen lymph nodes are known medically as adenopathy and this may refer to the swelling of any of the lymph nodes in the body, and not necessarily the swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck. The lymph nodes found in the neck are also known as the cervical lymph nodes. Localized cervical lymphadenopathy is characterized by swollen cervical lymph nodes.  In most cases, this type of swelling is related to a local viral infection. The swelling can also be classified according to the persistence of the swelling and the three main categories are acute, subacute, and chronic. The swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck can also be linked to infectious mononucleosis and toxoplasmosis which are serious health conditions that cannot be ignored.

Lymph node swelling is generally broken up into two main categories – swelling caused by infection and swelling caused by malignant disease. Determining the cause of the swelling would go along way in determining the method of home treatment for swollen glands in neck. Lymph node swelling that is caused by an infection is characterized by tender and firm enlarged lymph nodes that tend to be warm to the touch. In some cases, the inflammation can also cause the areas surrounding the lymph nodes to become red. On the other hand, lymph node swelling that is caused by malignant disease is characterized by firm and non tender or painless enlarged lymph nodes. In such cases, the swollen lymph nodes will keep increasing in size. In very rare cases, lymph nodes that have become enlarged due to an infection remain enlarged even after the infection has been eliminated. This type of swelling may be mistaken for swollen lymph nodes that are caused by malignant disease as the swelling persists for a prolonged period. In these cases, the lymph nodes remain permanently enlarged and will feel rubbery and will no longer share the characteristics of infection-related swelling. Stony hard enlarged lymph nodes are often a sign of cancer and require immediate medical attention. A permanent cure for swollen glands in the neck is only possible if the root cause of the problem is addressed.
You can also make use of simple sore throat, swollen glands home remedies, and swollen glands natural remedies to help ease the discomfort caused by this condition. A warm compress applied to the area can help to reduce swelling as it helps to drain the excessive collection of fluids. This treatment for swollen glands in your neck will also help to ease the pain caused by the inflammation. Drink plenty of warm water and fluids as a simple but effective cure for swollen glands in the neck. Warm water will help to hydrate the body and will help to eliminate viral infections within he body. Furthermore, warm water will also help to prevent blockages of the salivary ducts which will help to prevent this type of inflammation. Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics but your immune system is capable of creating antibodies that can control and eliminate viral infections. Vitamin C helps to fortify the immune system and aid in the process of recovery. Fresh citrus fruit juices are excellent sources of Vitamin C and are an excellent remedy for swollen glands in the neck. To understand more about painful or swollen glands in neck and treatment methods, it would be wise to consult your doctor.

Homemade chicken soup is another simple swollen glands neck treatment method. Make sure that you do not use any processed food items in your soup and use only homemade stock to prepare your soup. You can make your own vegetable stock out of the discarded stems and peels from vegetables. Make sure that you clean your vegetables thoroughly, as residual chemicals on these items can aggravate your condition. You can make chicken stock out of discarded bones and cartilage. To retain the maximum health benefits of stock, make sure that you prepare it over low heat as high temperatures can cause a break down in the proteins and vitamins in your ingredients. Your chicken soup can also contain small amounts of vegetables as this will help to provide you with a wide variety of nutrients which will help to bolster your immune system. Once the viral infection is under control, the swelling in your lymph nodes will subside. Chicken is an excellent source of proteins and should be included in your daily meals while you are still unwell.

answered by S E on 28 Mar 2008, 8:42:32

 

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