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ANSWERS FROM KAREN

SWOLLEN LYMPH NODE
QUESTION:  Hello.  I am hoping you may have some kind of an answer as to why I have all of a sudden developed a hard cyst-like thing in my throat.  It is on the left side of my neck, approximately an inch above my collar bone.  It is almost directly underneath my ear lobe.  It is tender to the touch as well.  I have had what seems to be an on-going cold for months now, and upon awakening in the morning, have to blow my nose.  I am fine, it seems, for the rest of the day.  No nose blowing required.  My glands also seem to be swollen much of the time too.  I am also a smoker :(
          Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.  I hope I have given you enough information to help with a possible diagnosis.

ANSWER:  Herbalists do not diagnose, only a physician can do that.  That being said it could be a swollen lymph node. When people are sick the Lymph System is responsible for removing the waste (its normal role).  Being a smoker I would be concerned about other possibilities, please go to your local physician and allow him to diagnose the problem, it is really hard for me to view it from here.   If his answer is swollen lymph node, because of infection then there are herbs to combat the infection and clear the lymph system.