Homeopathic Remedies for Swollen Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes are the glands available in our body which are oval or kidney-shaped and they are part and parcel of the immune system that filter lymph (fluid consists of lymphocytes, white blood cells). These nodes work as the defense system of our body to keep us safe from infections causing agents. Lymph nodes contain WBCs that fight against viruses and bacteria. Lymph nodes filter and trap these invading organisms before they can reach the body parts and cause infection. There are more or less 450 lymph nodes spread throughout the body of adults. They are available in groups in some main parts of the body which includes neck, armpit, groin, belly and chest, the neck one known as cervical lymph nodes, and the armpit ones are called axillary lymph nodes and the groin nodes are inguinal lymph nodes. Some of them can be observed using hands when they get swollen or enlarged. Usually, lymph nodes tend to swell due to an infection or illness. In some cases, the lymph nodes get swell due to cancer.

Homeopathic Treatment

Homeopathy is very useful in treating the cases of swollen lymph nodes. Homeopathic remedies not only reduce the swelling but also cure the associated pain in the lymph glands. These medicines deal with the main cause behind it and eradicate it. Homeopathic remedies are chosen by keeping in view the case study of an individual. These natural remedies are highly suggested for benign (non-cancerous) cases. The best course of action is to get treatment from a homeopathic physician rather than doing self-medication.

Homeopathic Remedies For Swollen Lymph Nodes

1. Conium

It is the top choice in homeopathy to treat the cases of swollen lymph nodes that are painful. In most cases where it is indicated, the pain is of shooting and tingling nature.

2. Merc Sol

This homeopathic medicine is beneficial in cases of swelling of inguinal lymph nodes (in the groin). It is associated with pain, redness and sensitivity. The pain becomes worse when standing or walking. It is also helpful to manage the swelling of nodes in the neck. The swelling may be attended with shooting and pressive pain.

3. Belladonna

The medicine is taken from the plant ‘deadly nightshade’ which belongs to the family of Solanaceae. It is suitable for swollen

nodes in the neck along with pain and heat. There may be a pricking or stinging type of pain in these individuals. It may be hard to swallow anything due to pain. There may be redness on the tonsils and enlarged in size. Fever may also accompany. 

4. Baryta Carb

Baryta Carb is well indicated homeopathic remedy to treat cases of swollen lymph nodes. It is beneficial for swollen nodes in neck and axilla (armpit). People who call for it may have tendency to catch cold easily along with sore throat. Tonsillitis may also present.

5. Calcarea Carb

It is a useful medicine to cure swelling and pain in the lymph nodes of the neck. Pain in these nodes may also occur with stitching pain while chewing. Additionally, it is also prescribed to manage the swollen mesenteric lymph nodes in abdomen.

6. Phytolacca

This natural remedy is taken from plant Phytolacca Decandra, commonly called ‘poke root’ and ‘red ink plant’ which belongs to the family Phytolaccaceae. It is highly recommended to treat swollen tender nodes in neck, and pain in the throat with other symptoms. There is a sensation of a lump in the throat along with dryness and roughness of the throat. The person feels a burning sensation in the throat with pain while swallowing. The color of tonsils is dark red, they are enlarged and swollen.

Causes of Swollen Lymph Nodes

It may occur due to several causes.

The first common reason that can cause swollen lymph nodes is an infection mainly viral, such as common cold. It can also occur due to the sinusitis/sinus infection which is an inflammation of lining of the paranasal sinus which remains filled with air when healthy. When these paranasal spaces become blocked and filled with fluid germs, it causes an infection.

The next reasons can be tonsillitis and strep throat. Tonsillitis means inflamed tonsils which are two oval-shaped lymphatic tissue masses present at back of your throat one on either side. Strep throat means a bacterial infection that cause inflammation and pain in the throat and tonsils. The cause of this infection is group A Streptococcus bacteria.

Ear infection is another cause.

Another viral infection that can cause swollen lymph nodes is Measles which results from measles virus. This infection is highly contagious and it causes symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, cough fever and inflamed eyes. It is attended with a skin rash after 14 days of virus exposure.

Mononucleosis (which is an infectious disease usually caused by the Epstein – Barr virus but it can also be result of other viruses too) and it is also one of the causes.

It also occurred because of tooth abscess (a pocket of pus that may develop in different parts of a tooth due to bacterial infection).

Cellulitis could be another culprit (a serious bacterial infection that affects the inner layers of the skin).

HIV/AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is another reason.

Swollen lymph nodes can also be observed in infections such as Lyme disease, Rubella, Tuberculosis and toxoplasmosis.

Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that is a result of a bacteria named Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mostly, it infects the lungs but it can also affect other parts of the body as well. Toxoplasmosis is a disease and there is a parasite named Toxoplasma gondii that cause it. Rubella, also called German measles, is another contagious viral infection which results from rubella virus. Lyme disease is a tick borne disease and Borrelia burgdoferi named bacteria is responsible for it.

Swollen lymph nodes are also caused by cat scratch fever (a bacterial infection that an individual can take from cats infected with bacteria Bartonella henselae).

Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea and syphilis, can also result in it. T palladium bacteria cause syphilis and gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae and both of them are sexually transmitted.

Some other causes include certain medications such as anti-seizure medicines. Apart from these, it can also develop in some autoimmune disorders in which immune cells of your body start to damage the healthy tissue. The first example to quote is rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic inflammatory disorder in which the joints are affected due to inflammation with pain, swelling and stiffness. The second disorder is SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) which occurs due to the inflammation of the immune system which attacks its own tissues that can affect skin, joints, brain, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels.

The next to quote is Sjogren’s syndrome (An autoimmune disorder which causes two common symptoms dry mouth and dry eyes).

In rare cases, swelling in the lymph nodes may be a result of certain types of cancer such as lymphoma (lymphatic system cancer). It also includes hodgkin’s lymphoma, earlier known as Hodgkin’s disease, Non – Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia (blood cancer that boost the white blood cells in the body). Swollen lymph nodes may develop when any type of cancer reach the lymph nodes.

Signs And Attending Symptoms

Firstly, pain and tenderness in the lymph nodes develops and the pain is felt in different movements. For instance, pain in swollen lymph nodes in the neck may be experienced by simply turning the head; swollen lymph nodes in the groin may result in pain when walking.

Swelling on the lymph nodes can be felt as soft and round bumps that may be small like a pea or as large as a cherry. This swelling may be associated with other symptoms which depends on its cause. Some of them are cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever, chills, fatigue, and night sweats.

It may affect one part of the body (localized lymphadenopathy) or lymph nodes throughout the body may swell (generalized lymphadenopathy).

If the swollen lymph nodes are left untreated or not treated on time, then there is a high chance of abscess formation (localized pus formation). When the lymph nodes are not tender but swollen, they are fixed and hard and grow with great pace, then it can be a sign of serious ailments like cancer. Commonly, the lymph nodes can be observed in the neck, behind ear, groin under the chin and armpits.