You might have heard about swollen lymph nodes before – lymph nodes are small glands that filter clear fluid (known as lymph) to circulate through the lymphatic system. Typically, the lymph node is triggered when the body gets infected as lymph nodes – during an infection – tend to accumulate diseased cells and bacteria.
The typical symptoms of swollen lymph nodes include fatigue, fever, and a cough. Lymph nodes are spread throughout the body underneath the skin, including armpits, beneath the jaw, both sides of the groin and neck, and above the collarbone.
Lymph nodes are essential for fighting off illness, which makes lymph nodes act like a military checkpoint. When bacteria pass through the lymph channels, the white blood cells stored inside the lymph nodes kill the invading organisms.
What are the typical symptoms of swollen lymph nodes?
Swollen lymph nodes, also known as lymphadenopathy, display the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- Flu
- Cough
- Sweating
If the lymph nodes in the groin area are swollen, the affected person can experience pain when bending or walking.
What are the common causes of swollen lymph nodes?
Lymph nodes become swollen when they try to get rid of an infection or illness in the body – typically, when the infection occurs in the area where the lymph nodes are located. For instance, people experiencing the common cold can notice swollen lymph nodes in the neck area.
Some other common causes for swollen lymph nodes include the following:
- Ear infection
- Flu
- Sinus infection
- Tooth infection
- Skin infection
- HIV (other STIs)
- Strep throat
- Lupus
Non-medical issues that cause swollen lymph nodes include the following:
- Stress
- Medications
- Allergic reactions
- Mouth sores
- Leukemia
- Mouth sores
What is the treatment of swollen lymph nodes?
Sometimes, swollen lymph glands can get smaller on their own without any medical intervention. In other cases, the doctors want to monitor swollen lymph nodes without medical treatment but with physical therapy, such as physical therapy in Brick, NJ.
Physical therapy – or – exercise can help the lymph move through the lymphatic system, which in turn can help curb the swelling. Physical exercise can make the muscles contract and eventually push the lymph through the lymphatic system – decreasing the swelling and soothing the vessels.
In case of a viral infection, doctors might need to administer antibiotics to eliminate the viral infection and soothe the swollen nodes. The doctor might recommend over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen, to help the affected individual with pain relief and reduce inflammation.
Nonetheless, there are exceptional cases where the swollen lymph nodes, such as cancer, might not return to their normal size. In the case of cancer, the swollen lymph nodes can shrink back after the complete treatment of cancer.
Some cancer might as well require the removal of the affected lymph nodes, such as a tumor. Chemotherapy is exclusively designed to shrink the tumor. It comes down to the decision of the doctor and the professional’s decision about what is best for you.
What are the best home remedies for swollen lymph nodes?
There is no shortage of natural remedies that you can do for swollen lymph nodes. In other words – you can treat your swollen lymph nodes at home – if the causes are not as severe, such as flu and sore throat.
Anti-Inflammatory Berries
You will want to give your body what it needs to recover from swollen lymph nodes, such as goji berry. Goji berry is widely used in traditional medicines as it is well-known for its characteristics to strengthen the immune system.
Cranberry is another berry rich in vitamin c, which is essential for boosting your immune system. Cranberries can also help your body fight against oxidative stress and kill harmful bacteria. Another powerful anti-inflammatory berry rich in vitamin C is acerola.
This berry is widely used to help patients recover from common illnesses like the flu.
Essential Oils
Tea tree oil and castor oil are a few of the essential oils that contain anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. These essential oils can help decrease swelling and soothe skin irritation and redness when applied to the skin.
All you need to do is apply a few drops of the essential oil onto the affected area of the swollen lymph nodes and gently massage the skin for a few minutes. Then, place a hot damp washcloth over the affected area.
Leave the damp cloth on the area for a few minutes before rinsing your skin. By doing so, you will experience relief as the swelling of the lymph nodes goes down, circulation will improve, and your lymph nodes will eventually recover.
Warm Beverages
Another natural way to curb your swollen lymph nodes is by consuming more water – especially warm beverages. Swollen lymph nodes can also cause discomfort in your throat, which is where warm drinks will come in handy.
We recommend drinking chamomile tea as this natural beverage has anti-inflammatory properties and contains natural antioxidants. Chamomile tea and other warm beverages will help ease the throat’s pain and cure swollen lymph nodes.