As usual, when it comes to real health promotion, you have to dig deep to find the truth that has been obscured ‘modern’ medicine. Back in the day, the parathyroids used to be removed at the drop of a hat, and it took a long time for the consequences of that to become obvious and it is no longer done, only in the most dire of situations; and it is just the same with the appendix… as we learn more about the internal terrain of the digestive tract, the health of the probiotic environment in the intestine (also known as the Microbiome) takes centre stage. Without a balanced microbiome there is no immune resilience, there is no robust good health, there is no good mental health. In fact, the appendix is an integral part of the lymph system. Your lymphatic system, part of your immune system, has many functions. They include protecting your body from illness-causing invaders, maintaining body fluid levels, absorbing digestive tract fats and removing cellular waste. Blockages, diseases or infections can affect your lymphatic system’s function. Together with lymph glands, spleen and other lymph components, your appendix contains lymphoid tissue that can destroy bacteria before it breaches the intestine wall during absorption. Scientists also believe the appendix plays a role in housing “good bacteria” and repopulating our gut with good bacteria after an infection has cleared. (from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21199-lymphatic-system)
So, as health promotion is the song we sing, is there a way we can care for our appendix. The short answer is no, but the better answer is of course we can! The lymph system has no pump and relies on our movement, so move your body for healthy lymph. Keep the gut microbiome balanced with a healthy diet high in awareness, prebiotic fibres and good fats, so that the storehouse of the appendix remains intact until you need it, and when you do, those spare bacteria are introduced into a healthy terrain.