Evidence supporting the use of: Thymus
For the body system: Thymus
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Thymus (typically referring to extracts of animal thymus gland) has been used in some traditional and alternative medicine systems with the belief that "like supports like," meaning consuming thymus tissue may support the health of a person's own thymus gland and immune system. This idea is rooted in historical practices such as organotherapy, which dates back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in European naturopathic and homeopathic traditions. Proponents suggested that consuming animal thymus could help with immune deficiencies or support immune function, especially because the thymus plays a central role in T-cell maturation.
However, there is very limited scientific evidence to support these claims. Modern clinical trials substantiating the effectiveness of thymus extracts for immune support in humans are lacking. Most of the support for thymus supplementation today is based on tradition and anecdotal reports rather than robust scientific research. Regulatory agencies such as the FDA do not recognize thymus extracts as effective for treating or supporting immune health. Thus, while thymus was traditionally used for this purpose, current scientific validation is minimal.