Goji berries are considered one of nature's superfoods. This Asian fruit carries a wide number of health benefits. Available in two main varieties, Chinese and Himalayan, goji berries are also called wolf berries and contain a spectrum of...
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels that drains from the tissues of the body into the blood. Its purpose is to produce white blood cells and filter waste materials from the body. The lymphatic system functions as part of the immune...
Lymph nodes are a part of your immune system. The immune system protects you from infection and other diseases. It includes your spleen, bone marrow, thymus, tonsils, adenoids, the lymph channels and the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are in the neck,...
Your lymph nodes are an important part of the lymphatic system. According to BreastCancer.org, your lymph nodes perform several important functions, including filtering out viruses, bacteria, cancer cells and other substances and removing these...
No part of the body is without access to a blood supply. The human heart is a hollow, pulsating muscle located above the diaphragm and slightly left of the midline of the chest. Its rhythmic beating keeps body fluids mixed by constantly forcing...
If you are constantly sick or tired, your lymphatic system may have stopped working properly. Your lymphatic system, comprised of your lymph nodes, spleen, thymus and vessels that carry fluids that protect your body from disease, can become...
The two major components of the circulatory system are the cardiovascular system, consisting of the heart and blood vessels, and the lymphatic system, consisting of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. The latter is composed of open-ended vessels in...
Herbal remedies have been used for centuries for numerous health reasons, including improving your lymphatic drainage. Like blood vessels, your lymphatic vessels branch into all of your body's tissues. In some cases, your lymphatic system,...
Lymphedema is the swelling of a limb or other body tissue that occurs when vessels that form the lymphatic system are blocked or there is an increase in lymph fluid. The lymph system vessels carry excess protein and fluid to the blood stream. Tiny...
The breasts undergo cycles of growth and development in response to circulating hormones. Tissues within the breast are designed to facilitate milk production and lactation during and after pregnancy, and help support and shape the structure of...
The immune system defends the body from invasion by viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites. Comprised of lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, the thymus gland, tonsils, spleen and other immune tissues spread throughout the body, the immune system...
Several systems in the body are responsible for maintaining fluid balance. These include the circulatory, lymphatic and urinary systems. When there are disturbances in normal functioning of any of these systems, lower extremity edema, which is...
Lymph nodes are the glands of the lymphatic system, where the lymphatic fluid, or lymph, which detoxifies the blood, cells, organs and tissues of the body, is filtered. Sometimes these toxins build up in the lymph nodes, at which point glands can...
A possible complication of breast cancer surgery is the development of lymphedema--the accumulation of lymph fluid in the arm on the affected side of the body. This occurs because many breast cancer surgeries involve removing lymph nodes, which...
Breast cancer develops when normal cells within the lobules, ducts or nipple of the breast begin to proliferate uncontrollably. In the beginning stages of cancer, the breast cells develop genetic mutations that promote tumor development. As cancer...
The lymphatic system consists of a number of structures including the spleen and tonsils, as well as a series of small structures called lymph nodes connected by lymph vessels. Structures of the lymphatic system contain cells called lymphocytes, a...
Herpes simplex virus is the causative agent for herpes infections. Oral herpes is caused by the herpes simplex type 1 virus while genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex type 2 virus. The herpes virus is highly infectious and is capable...
Swollen throat glands represent enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck. Lymph nodes are bean-like collections of lymphocytes--white blood cells with a prominent role in the immune system. Infections and inflammation commonly causes swollen...
Children usually undergo tonsillectomy, or removal of the tonsils. Only limited data are available regarding the indications for tonsillectomy in adults, as stated by Dr. E.K. Hoddeson in "Adult Tonsillectomy: Current Indications and Outcomes,"...
The liver is the largest solid organ within the human body and its function is to clean toxins from the blood, generate digestive enzymes and store energy. Unfortunately, more than 22,000 Americans will be diagnosed with liver cancer in 2010,...
Several systems in the body function as cleansing and detoxifying agents, and the lymphatic system in one of the them. Lymph fluid distributes important immune cells throughout the body, fighting against bacteria and other foreign substances....
The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2010, doctors diagnosed breast cancer in 207,090 women and 1,970 men in the United States. This type of cancer starts in the tissue of the breast, and the exact location varies. As the cancer...
Massage is a type of bodywork that encompasses many forms, from deep-tissue kneading to Thai massage, which combines stretching with acupressure. Besides being very pleasurable, massage has physical benefits that have been quantified in research...
Oregano oil, also known as wild marjoram, comes from the Origanum vulgare plant. Native to the Mediterranean region, as well as to Central and Southern Asia, the plant grows up to 32 inches and sports purple flowers among its leaves. According to...
Epstein-Barr virus, or EBV, is present worldwide, one of the more common human viruses. It belongs to the herpes family of viruses. In adolescence, being infected with Epstein-Barr can lead to infectious mononucleosis, according to the Centers for...
Several areas of the body, including the neck and head, have lymph nodes, glands that assist in fighting off infections in the body. During an infection or illness, the lymph nodes usually swell in the area closest to the infection. As the lymph...
Certain herbs may be helpful in decreasing your lymphatic congestion and improving your lymphatic drainage. According to the National Cancer Institute, your lymphatic system comprises tissues and organs that generate, store and transport white...
The lymphatic system is your most important line of defense against harmful microorganisms on a cellular level. White blood cells, which identify and attack bacteria, viruses, fungi and cancer cells circulate through the lymphatic system and are...
Lymph nodes are tiny glands throughout your body that filter and drain wastes. They help your immune system eliminate invading pathogens. The nodes in your neck, including cervical, tonsillar, sub-mandibular and supraclavicular nodes, become...
Melanoma is a serious skin cancer, generally caused by sun damage. Learn more about melanoma skin cancer in this video.
