Ever heard of the thymus gland? Your thymus gland could be thought of as the origin of your immune system. As you age, your thymus actually shrinks! It’s there to support you as a baby and child, becomes less active by the time you hit puberty, and is often forgotten about by the time you are an adult. Nonetheless, you do have a little bit of thymus gland left! It is located in your upper chest, below your throat area and behind your sternum.
So, what exactly does the thymus do? It plays a large role in your immune function from before you are born through childhood. The thymus produces T-lymphocytes, which provide for more targeted immune response by your body. It also helps to prevent autoimmune responses in your body.
Knowing this, we can give our thymus gland – however small – a quick boost to stimulate its immunological support, even as adults.
A tried-and-true, super simple method is as follows: at the end of your normal shower, turn the water to cold and let it hit the center of your upper chest for 10-25 seconds. Do this daily, especially during “cold and flu season.”
The colder water is stimulating, and given that the gland is much smaller and less active, this wake-up may be just the boost your thymus needs to kick up the immune support.
Bonus: ending your shower with a shot of cold water is stimulating for your body in itself!
The information provided here is not intended to replace medical advice or to treat or diagnose any medical condition. Please consult your doctor with specific questions and prior to beginning any significant diet or lifestyle changes.