The fundamental reasoning behind thymus therapy arose more than 2,000 years ago. By transferring natural, mostly animal substances to humans, the elderly were to be able to regain their health and vitality. Hence in antiquity, the philosopher and doctor Hippocrates recommended the use of animal preparations on the human organism, and Paracelsus also recognised the special importance of animal organs in medicine in the Middle Ages. As early as the 18th century, Hahnemann taught “similia similibus curantur” - like is cured by like. A principle of homeopathy.

In the 1930s, it was the Swiss physician Prof. Dr. Niehans who first injected a female patient with a solution containing cell tissue taken from the parathyroid gland. The treatment was a resounding success. The patient’s tetany (muscle cramp) disappeared. Cell therapy was born.

One of the most important developments in thymus therapy was made in the 1970s by the Swedish physician, Dr. Sandberg. He abandoned cell preparations and developed an extract from the thymus gland, which he injected¹ into his brother who was suffering from tuberculosis. The treatment was a great success.

This had been preceded by his observations made during inspection of slaughtered young calves. The thymus gland of healthy calves (fed free of antibiotics² and oestrogens) was shiny, densely filled, and of normal external appearance. But changes were noted in animals that had already suffered infections, but had recovered. The thymus gland was smaller, somewhat indurated and firmer – weakened certainly, but still functioning. Chronic infection in animals leads to hardening of the thymus which becomes changed in shape and colour, and markedly impaired in function.

These observations resulted in the discovery of the important role the thymus gland plays in constituting the body’s health. Dr. Sandberg succeeded in making an extract from the thymus of young calves in natural, i.e. physiological concentrations of its various active compounds. He called his total thymus extract which he had developed “THX”. For over 40 years, therapists in Germany and France have worked with a further development of this natural medication called fresh thymus extract or thymus cell factors. But various other thymus and cell factors are also available.

1. Injections: introduction of medicaments into the body through a needle.
2. Antibiotics: substances that kill bacteria, fungi and other micro-organisms, or impair their capacity to reproduce.