Increase the content of leukocytes in the blood. How to increase the level of leukocytes in the blood after chemotherapy

White blood cells - leukocytes - play an important role in the human body - protection against infections. They are able to pass through capillary walls, penetrate tissues, recognize internal and external pathogenic agents, remember them, capture and destroy them. These cells are called phagocytes, and the process is called phagocytosis. When foreign bodies are consumed, they increase in size and are destroyed. The substances released in this case cause an inflammatory reaction (swelling, redness, fever), and also attract new leukocytes to the site of penetration of harmful agents, which continue to attack foreign bodies. As a result, a large number of white blood cells die, and the resulting pus is the dead white blood cells.

The number of leukocytes reflects the state of the immune system, that is, the level of protection of the body. The deviation of this indicator from the norm in any direction may indicate a pathology. So, leukocytes are lowered in viral infections, oncological diseases. In addition, they can decrease with severe stress, taking certain medications, low blood pressure, fasting. A condition in which their level is below normal (less than 4x10⁹ per liter of blood) is called leukopenia. To provide the body with reliable protection, you need to control the number of white cells in the blood, and if their level drops, it is important to know how to raise white blood cells.

The norm of leukocytes

The norm in adults and children is different. In the first case, this figure should be 4-9x10⁹ per liter of blood. In children, the level of leukocytes is higher. The norm for newborns is 9.2-18.8x10⁹, from one to three years old - 6-17x10⁹, from 4 to 10 years old - 6.1-11.4x10⁹. Their number in healthy people is not the same during the day and increases after meals, hot baths, physical effort. If the level of leukocytes is normal, then we can say that the body's resistance to diseases is good.

Treatment of leukopenia

Leukopenia is not an independent disease, therefore, an examination is required to determine the pathology that provoked it. In order to increase white blood cells, doctors conduct complex therapy. If the cause of the low level of white cells is an autoimmune disease, corticosteroids are prescribed, if a bacterial infection is antibiotics, if the pathology of the liver is hepatoprotectors.

Aplastic anemia requires a blood transfusion. For leukemia, chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation. In addition to prescribing medicines for the underlying disease, they prescribe drugs (tablets, injections) that contribute to the more rapid formation of leukocytes (if the problem is associated with a disruption in the bone marrow), as well as agents that activate cellular metabolism. Special meals are recommended. Even after eliminating the cause of leukopenia, the level of white cells can remain low for a long time, so you should continue treatment and eat right.

For people with cancer, the task of increasing leukocytes after chemotherapy is very relevant. As you know, you can’t do without it, and at the same time it has many side effects, including leukopenia.

In this case, special preparations are prescribed that accelerate the maturation of white cells and increase their lifespan. Among them:

  • Methyluracil;
  • Lenograstim;
  • Neupogen;
  • Filgrastim;
  • Pentoxyl;
  • Lekomax;
  • Leucogen.

Increasing white blood cells through nutrition

Proper nutrition is essential to maintaining a healthy immune system. Food should include foods that are rich in:

  • potassium;
  • zinc;
  • polyunsaturated acids Omega-3;
  • vitamins C, E.

The diet should contain more citrus fruits (tangerines, oranges, lemons), which stabilize cell membranes. Omega-3 rich walnuts and salmon help cells defend themselves against microorganisms. Zinc and vitamin E, found in chicken and turkey meat, spinach and white cabbage, are needed to strengthen and stabilize cells.

It is impossible to increase white blood cells without proper nutrition, seafood and fish play an important role in this.

With a low level of leukocytes in the blood, the patient receives recommendations on nutrition from a doctor. It is necessary to include more foods rich in protein and vitamins in the diet. At the same time, it is required to reduce the consumption of animal fat, meat, and liver.

Many vitamins are found in plant foods: vegetables, herbs, berries, fruits. Beets are especially useful for leukopenia. It can be eaten raw and boiled. It is useful to drink beetroot juice, which should be allowed to brew in the refrigerator for at least two hours. From fruits it is recommended to eat citrus fruits and pomegranates.

Sources of protein during this period should be chicken eggs, chicken and turkey meat, walnuts. As for dairy products, it is recommended to eat them without restriction.

The menu should include more seafood and fish. Preference should be given to red fish, such as salmon. In addition, caviar (red and black) is useful. Seafood - shrimp, crabs and others.

Folk methods

What else can raise the level of leukocytes is folk remedies.

A decoction of oats

To prepare it, you need to pour unpeeled washed oats (two tablespoons) with hot water (a glass). Put on fire, boil for about a quarter of an hour. Then remove from heat, let it brew (about 12 hours) and strain. It is necessary to take a decoction within 1 month. Drink half a glass three times a day before meals.


Oats - one of the effective means to raise leukocytes

Sweet clover infusion

Another effective remedy for leukopenia is prepared as follows. Grind sweet clover grass (two teaspoons) and pour cold water (one and a half cups). Leave to infuse for 4 hours, then strain. Drink this portion during the day in three divided doses. Treat for a month.

Wormwood tincture

Pour boiling water (three cups) bitter wormwood (three tablespoons). Infuse for four hours, then filter. You should drink tincture before meals, one glass three times a day.

Beans

Well raises leukocytes unripe beans. Juice is squeezed out of the pods and taken 5 times a day for two teas. spoons before meals.

Beer

Another proven remedy for leukopenia is beer with sour cream. To raise leukocytes, you need to take a dark drink and fatty sour cream, you can use cream. Put sour cream (three tablespoons) into a glass with beer and mix. Drink once a day. Contraindicated in children and women during childbearing and breastfeeding.

dried herb powder

Mix the following ingredients: motherwort (3 parts), horsetail (6 parts), knotweed (4 parts). Grind to powder. Add powder to food (6 grams at a time).

In addition to the above recipes, for leukopenia, plantain juice, chicory tea, royal jelly, Rhodiola rosea extract, and barley decoction are recommended. It should be said that different means are suitable for different people, so you have to try and choose the most effective one.

To increase white blood cells after chemotherapy, it is recommended to use other traditional medicine recipes.

Video about the role of leukocytes in the body and their varieties:

Flax-seed

To prepare a decoction of flax seed, you need to take 75 grams of seeds and pour water (two liters). Then simmer in a water bath for about 2 hours. Drink at least two weeks without restrictions in the 2nd half of the day.

barberry rhizome

In order to raise the level of leukocytes, barberry rhizome (50 grams) is poured with alcohol or vodka (100 ml), kept for 18 days in a dark place. Then take 15 ml three times a day.

Finally

Leukopenia indicates a weakening of the protective forces. Any of its forms requires careful diagnosis and long-term therapy. For treatment to be effective, medication must be combined with proper nutrition and traditional medicine methods.

The success of each person lies, first of all, in his good health. In order to be in great health and avoid many diseases, it is necessary to maintain immunity, which will do all the rest of the work of protecting your body on its own.

Photo of leukocytes in the blood

The state of immunity directly depends on a simple indicator - in the blood, therefore, a decrease in the content of leukocytes (leukopenia) leads to a weakening of the body's immune functions. In this regard, such an indicator must be monitored and, if a deviation from the norm is detected, measures should be taken.

A lack of white blood cells is a health problem that needs to be treated. The most important point in treatment is nutrition with.

How nutrition can help

There are a number of reasons, as a result of which the content of leukocytic cells decreases, but among all there are several main ones:

  1. Involuntary self-destruction of mature cells or their irreversible movement into damaged areas of body tissues to fight infection;
  2. Malfunctions of the bone marrow responsible for the synthesis of leukocytes;
  3. Lack of nutrients and vitamins that ensure the normal formation and maturation of cells.

The last reason is the most common and is where proper nutrition can help. With a slight deviation from the norm, it is enough to balance your diet. This will solve the problem. If the indicator is reduced quite seriously, then in addition to correcting nutrition, you will need to take medications aimed at improving metabolism. The first two reasons are more severe, so the situation will not be corrected, but it will still remain a mandatory item in treatment, as it is an excellent addition to therapy.

It should be noted that only an experienced specialist should identify the causes, prescribe medication, and determine nutrition with low leukocytes. Self-medication is unacceptable, it is required to increase the level of these blood cells strictly under the supervision of a doctor.

If, after passing the tests, a decrease in leukocytes in the body is revealed and the reason for the lack of nutrients is determined, you need to balance yours. To do this, you need to saturate the body with some nutrients, namely:

  • B vitamins (B1, B9, B19).

Consider which foods are useful for low white blood cells in this group. A high content of B vitamins is typical for lean meat, cheese, fish, wholemeal bread, as well as all seafood.

  • Folic acid.

To increase its content in the body, you will need to include more vegetables in the diet, especially leafy ones (lettuce, green onions, Beijing and white cabbage), as well as legumes.


  • Iron.

Iron - a trace element perfectly increases the content of leukocytes along with the content of hemoglobin in human blood. To get it, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits (apples are especially rich in iron), legumes, mushrooms, and dried fruits.


  • Copper.

The champion in copper content is buckwheat, a large amount is typical for white bread, nuts, liver and seafood.

Just eating foods that contain substances that increase the level of white blood cells is not enough. You need to be careful about how these products enter the body. After all, a person suffering from leukopenia is a person with a weakened immune system, at risk of infection around him. It is important to understand how to properly prepare food.

The main rule is the purity of food from bacteria, helminth eggs, or toxins. Wash food thoroughly before using it, and remove the skin from fruits and vegetables. It is recommended to wash the ingredients of the future dish not with tap water (due to its insufficient purification), but with boiled or additionally filtered water. Products that are subjected to heat treatment during cooking, especially meat, should be boiled well. The requirements for drinks are boiling (this also applies to milk), as well as factory packaging from reliable manufacturers (for milk and juices).

Such, at first glance, strict nutrition with low leukocytes is indicated for people suffering from acute leukopenia. Patients with a slight decrease in leukocytes can get by with a sparing diet, supplementing it with good sleep and light physical activity.

Video - Low white blood cells, profuse sweating, weight loss

Leukocytes are among the most important elements of the human body. White blood cells carry out a number of protective functions of the body.

Under certain conditions, their concentration in the blood can change upward or downward. Any deviation from the norm is an alarming symptom. There are several ways to normalize the content of leukocytes, but consultation with a specialist is necessary.

Leukocytes are white blood cells whose main purpose is to perform the function of protecting the body. The variety of pathogenic agents does not matter. Leukocytes have increased mobility and can seep through the walls of blood vessels or capillaries. Penetrating into the intercellular space, they destroy foreign particles. In medical practice, such a process is referred to as phagocytosis, and a decrease in the level of leukocytes in the blood is absolute leukopenia.

If the number of leukocytes in the blood decreases, then there is a significant violation of the protective functions of the body. Various diseases or external negative factors can provoke such a condition. Leukocytes can die under the influence of malnutrition or abuse of bad habits.

The reasons for the decrease in leukocytes can be the following factors:

  • prolonged fasting or malnutrition;
  • development of oncological diseases;
  • constant stressful situations;
  • deviations in the performance of the bone marrow;
  • lack of vitamins and other nutrients in the body;
  • weakening of the immune system;
  • any type of hepatitis;
  • viral infections;
  • uncontrolled intake of potent drugs;
  • congenital or acquired pathologies of internal organs.

Characteristic symptoms

Leukopenia can develop asymptomatically for a long time or in the form of signs that are most often regarded by patients as lack of sleep or overwork. To find out the level of leukocytes in the blood is possible only by a laboratory blood test. The appearance of certain symptoms should be regarded as alarming signals and a mandatory examination in a medical institution.

Symptoms of a decrease in leukocytes in the blood:

  • general weakness of the body;
  • increase in body temperature;
  • excessive fatigue;
  • increased heart rate;
  • drowsiness;
  • sudden chills;
  • headache;
  • depletion of the body;
  • dizziness;
  • pallor of the skin.

How and what to raise their level?

Leukopenia is not an independent disease. This condition in most cases occurs with the development of internal diseases. By the number of leukocytes in the blood, specialists can detect a decrease in immunity or the progression of inflammatory processes. You can increase the amount of these components with the help of medicines or folk remedies. Patients need to follow the rules of a healthy diet and be sure to undergo a comprehensive examination to identify the cause of the decrease in leukocytes.

Medicines

The list of medications used to increase the level of leukocytes in the blood should be selected individually, depending on the reasons that provoked this condition. Treatment of existing diseases must be carried out necessarily. It is possible to establish factors that lower the concentration of white blood cells only on the basis of a full examination and laboratory studies of biological material.

To quickly raise white blood cells in the blood, the following drugs may be prescribed:

  • drugs that accelerate the maturation of leukocytes (Pentoxyl, Neupogen, Lekomax);
  • medicines containing copper and iron (Lycogen);
  • B vitamins;
  • means for stimulating metabolic processes (methyluracil);
  • means for the restoration of leukocytes (Sagramostim, Filgrastim).

Folk remedies

Alternative medicine recipes can be used as the main way to increase white blood cells, if their decrease is not caused by the development of serious diseases. In other cases, complex therapy with the obligatory intake of special drugs is necessary. Folk remedies are recommended to be used in the form of prevention of violations of the protective functions of the body once every six months.

Examples of folk recipes for increasing leukocytes:

  • oatmeal broth (two tablespoons of oats should be poured with a glass of boiling water, boil the workpiece over low heat for twenty minutes, leave the remedy for several hours, strain and take half a glass twice a day before eating, the course of treatment is thirty days);
  • flower pollen (pollen is sold in pharmacies, two parts of the ingredient must be mixed with one part of honey, a teaspoon of the remedy is washed down with a glass of milk, the course of treatment is three days, the remedy must be taken twice a day);
  • nettle with honey (100 g of dry nettle leaves, ground into powder, mixed with 500 ml of liquid honey, take one teaspoon three times a day before meals, the course of treatment is one week);
  • flaxseed (70 g of the ingredient should be poured with two liters of water and simmer in a water bath for several hours, take the remedy several times a day, one third of a glass);
  • juice of immature beans (the pods must be crushed, squeezed out the juice, use the product five times a day, one teaspoon half an hour before eating).

Medicinal herbs

Decoctions of medicinal herbs are recommended not only for low white blood cells, but also to exclude such a condition. Such prevention favorably affects the functioning of internal organs, improves blood composition and increases the level of protective functions of the body. Medicinal herbs can be combined in one decoction. The easiest way to prepare such products is the usual brewing of a teaspoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water.

The following types of herbs have the property to increase the number of leukocytes:

Therapeutic diet

In the diet, when a low level of leukocytes is detected, foods rich in potassium, calcium, zinc and vitamins C and E must be present. It is not recommended to eat fatty meats and fish, liver, animal fat. Puff pastries, alcoholic and carbonated drinks, coffee and strong tea, canned food, sausage, smoked meats, pickles, marinades and other foods that are poorly digested or have a negative effect on the digestive system are completely excluded from the diet.

Here are some foods that increase the level of leukocytes in the blood:

  • seafood;
  • chicken eggs;
  • nuts (especially walnuts);
  • White cabbage;
  • spinach;
  • citrus;
  • pomegranate;
  • turkey meat;
  • vegetables;
  • fruit;
  • berries.

Cooking is recommended by boiling or steaming. Sometimes you can introduce foods baked in the oven into the diet. Drink fresh juices daily. It is better to make them yourself with a juicer. A good way to increase leukocytes is beetroot juice. It is necessary to eat food in small portions, adhering to the rules of fractional nutrition. The amount of water consumed must be at least two and a half liters.

Sample menu for low white blood cells:

  • breakfast - cottage cheese, a glass of milk;
  • second breakfast - an apple;
  • lunch - cabbage soup, stuffed peppers;
  • afternoon snack - fruit salad;
  • dinner - potato casserole, boiled turkey;
  • before going to bed - drinking low-fat yogurt.

The prognosis for leukopenia depends on the reasons that provoked a decrease in leukocytes. Treatment of existing diseases should be carried out under the supervision of specialists. Ignoring the symptoms can cause serious harm to health.

In the treatment of leukopenia, it is necessary to follow the rules of dietary nutrition, stop drinking alcohol, if possible, exclude smoking and be guided by the recommendations of a healthy lifestyle.

Preventive measures

There are no special measures to prevent a decrease in leukocytes in medical practice. Doctors recommend paying attention to all body signals, treating any diseases in a timely manner and adhering to the rules of a healthy lifestyle. Replenishing the supply of vitamins and giving up bad habits are the main factors that can prevent changes in the composition of the blood and the violation of the protective functions of the body.

Preventive measures to reduce leukocytes in the blood are the following recommendations:

  • control of the diet (the use of harmful foods should be excluded or minimized);
  • prevention of viral and bacterial diseases (in public places during epidemics it is necessary to use a protective mask);
  • regular exercise and exclusion of a sedentary lifestyle;
  • timely treatment of any diseases (especially chronic forms);
  • exclusion of stressful situations (with excessive sensitivity of the psyche, you can use plant-based sedatives);
  • replenishment of the supply of vitamins (natural products or vitamin complexes).

Despite the fact that a decrease in leukocytes can occur as a result of the negative impact of external factors (stressful situations, malnutrition or harmful production conditions), this condition should not be taken lightly. Leukopenia disrupts the protective functions of the body. The body will not be able to resist bacteria and viruses, and persistent diseases of these categories can cause serious complications.

Leukocytes are cells in the blood, often referred to as white blood cells. They play an important role in the body's immune system, destroying various viruses and microorganisms, and reducing exposure to toxic substances.

A decrease in leukocytes can be caused by inhibition of blood cells as a result of a strong inflammatory process due to viral and bacterial lesions, interaction with toxic substances, as a result of hormonal disorders, with the development of oncological diseases, a hereditary factor, or due to certain medications. Often this condition occurs after radiation and chemotherapy, due to the negative effects of drugs and radioactive radiation on the composition of the blood.

In medicine, the condition of low white blood cells is called leukopenia. Its general symptoms are manifested in a violation of general well-being and a decrease in tone. In especially serious cases, inflammatory diseases of various etymologies are observed. It is possible to reliably diagnose leukopenia only after a clinical analysis of blood or bone marrow.

The effect of chemotherapy on blood composition

The action of the drugs included in the course of chemotherapy is aimed at the destruction of malignant tumors. Such drugs are successful because they only kill fast-growing cancer cells without affecting most of the body's healthy tissues. However, blood and bone marrow cells have a similar rate of development with malignant ones, so they suffer from chemicals along with them.

After undergoing a chemotherapy course, processes of bone marrow suppression occur, the level of all elements in the blood drops sharply, including platelets and erythrocytes. Against the background of these processes, its coagulability decreases, symptoms of anemia appear, and leukopenia inevitably develops after chemotherapy.

Danger of low blood cells

Leukopenia cannot be called an independent disease. Most often, it occurs against the background of other pathologies, infections, after chemotherapy, or a lack of vitamins and minerals. But at the same time, a decrease in leukocytes determines the development of more serious pathological processes in the body. That is, this violation can complicate and aggravate already existing negative processes with new diseases.

The development of leukopenia, combined with the suppression of other blood functions, seriously weakens the protective functions of the body and makes it defenseless against the simplest viral and bacterial infections. The consequences of the pathology are individual for each patient, but in general, one can note the transition of diseases into a protracted form, frequent cases of migraines, sudden jumps in body temperature, swelling of the tonsils, bleeding in the gums and irritation of the oral cavity, skin purulent formations and the occurrence of ulcers on the mucous walls in the organs digestion (stomach, spleen, intestines).

Of the most serious consequences of leukopenia for the body, the following can be distinguished:

  • increased risk of infection with autoimmune viruses such as hepatitis, AIDS and HIV infection, hepatitis, tuberculosis;
  • severe complications of upper respiratory tract infections (pneumonia, pleurisy, etc.);
  • toxic poisoning of the body that affects the lymphatic system;
  • agranulocytosis - a decrease in the level of granulocytes, which leads to the development of purulent processes that are fraught with a high risk of death;
  • blood cancer (leukemia), which occurs due to the production of a large number of undeveloped leukocytes by the bone marrow, whose rate of reproduction translates them into a malignant form;
  • oppression of the spleen, which is fraught with the removal of the organ.

The rate of leukocytes in the blood

The rate of leukocytes changes during the life cycle, gradually decreasing with age and fluctuating slightly, depending on gender. White blood cells are measured in units per liter, where the unit is 10 to the ninth power. The indicator is often indicated in the forms of analyzes as WBC.

The quantitative indicators of leukocytes are as follows:

  • In infants, the rate of leukocytes is in the range from 7 to 32.2 units / l, turning to 7.7-12 by the year, and decreasing to 5-14 by five;
  • between the ages of six and sixteen, values ​​between 4.5 and 13.5 are considered normal;
  • for adult women, the norm is 3.9-10.4 units / l;
  • for men 4.2-9, and for older people 3.7-9.

The farther from the lower limit the concentration of leukocytes in the blood goes, the stronger the degree of severity of leukopenia and the risk of developing pathological processes in the body. As a rule, a mild degree (3.5-4 units / l) is not accompanied by severe symptoms, but its presence indicates a violation of the internal systems of the body.

With a decrease in leukocytes to 2-3.7 units / l, the body becomes defenseless against common viruses and bacteria, and in the case when the content of leukocytes drops below 2 units / l, severe inflammatory diseases are almost always observed.

To prevent serious health consequences, you should have an idea of ​​​​how to increase white blood cells.

How to increase white blood cells after chemotherapy

As mentioned above, chemotherapy has a very negative effect on the composition of the blood. The combination of a low content of its various elements can lead to critical consequences for the body. To restore leukocytes in the blood after chemotherapy, doctors prescribe vitamin and mineral complexes, hormonal drugs, diet and a calm daily routine as an adjunctive therapy. In especially severe cases, a blood transfusion or a bone marrow transplant is performed after a chemotherapy course. However, the main method of restoring white blood cells is pharmacotherapy.

Pharmacotherapy

For the treatment of leukopenia, various drugs are used that increase white blood cells in the blood after chemotherapy. It is possible to distinguish the main and auxiliary groups of drugs.

The main drugs for increasing leukocytes after chemotherapy are aimed at stimulating the formation of leukocytes. The most famous drugs are:

  1. Neupogen. This medicine is aimed at increasing the number of one of the groups of leukocytes - neutrophils, which are responsible for fighting bacterial infections. It is administered by injection, between courses of chemotherapy. Possible side effects.
  2. Lenograstim. The action of the drug is directed to the bone marrow and also increases the rate of production of neutrophils and other white blood cells. The dosage of the drug is adjusted depending on body weight and prescribe courses. The drug can cause side effects in the form of a decrease in platelets.
  3. Methyluracil. This medicine for raising white blood cells after chemotherapy is prescribed most often. It has a lower risk of side effects, and quickly stimulates the formation of leukocytes, while accelerating tissue repair and metabolic processes in cells after a chemotherapy course. The usual dosage of the drug is 1 tablet 4 times a day. Courses of taking methyluracil can last up to several months. However, this medicine is not suitable for the treatment of leukemia.
  4. Leucogen. It is aimed at increasing the formation of leukocytes without much specificity in groups, it is effectively used after chemotherapy. Take 1 tablet up to 4 times a day. Contraindications for use are leukemia and lymphogranulomatosis.

Auxiliary drugs help the body fight infections and bacteria, while practically not including white blood cells in the process, so that they have time to recover. These include antibiotics, antiviral drugs, drugs that reduce the immune response, some vitamins administered intramuscularly (folic acid, vitamin B12).

The complex also uses antihistamines, which reduce allergic reactions to the components of essential drugs and hepatoprotectors, to maintain the functioning of the liver. In addition, doctors often advise the use of certain dietary supplements of the immunomodulatory group and vitamin-mineral complexes.

How to increase white blood cells with food

In cases where leukopenia has not reached a severe degree, it is possible to increase the level of leukocytes in the blood by changing the diet, since there are many products that have a beneficial effect on blood formation processes.

Nutrition with low white blood cells should include high-quality foods rich in vitamins E and C, zinc, potassium, and omega-3 acids. Such a diet limits the use of fatty animal foods (lard, pork, liver) and their derivatives (butter, unpasteurized milk), mushrooms, canned, smoked and spicy foods. After chemotherapy, it is recommended to limit the intake of carbohydrates and increase the intake of protein foods. In general, nutrition should be balanced and contain a variety of elements in the daily diet.

  • Fruits and berries rich in vitamin C and containing folic acid (citrus fruits, rose hips, apricots, pomegranates, blueberries and currants). These products are the most important component of the diet after chemotherapy;
  • Vegetables and greens rich in fiber (asparagus, broccoli, celery, beets, pumpkin) will help increase the level of leukocytes;
  • Light varieties of meat and poultry (chicken, turkey, rabbit meat) and their by-products;
  • chicken eggs;
  • After completing a course of chemotherapy, fish and seafood are needed (salmon, shrimp, cod liver, red and black caviar);
  • Dairy and sour-milk products (with the exception of milk that has not undergone heat treatment) will help to significantly increase the number of leukocytes;
  • Cereals and legumes (buckwheat, rice, oatmeal, red beans, lentils, peas);
  • Nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews), rich in many useful substances and trace elements, are necessary after a course of chemotherapy.

How to increase white blood cells in the blood folk remedies

In addition to the above methods, there are many traditional medicine recipes that describe how to raise white blood cells after chemotherapy at home. The beneficial properties of herbs and certain foods, as well as their successful combinations, have led to the emergence of recipes such as:

  • Rosehip decoction is one of the most effective ways to get rid of leukopenia after chemotherapy. A few tablespoons of dried or fresh berries are poured with a liter of boiling water, brought to a boil and boiled for another 10 minutes. Such a decoction can be consumed regularly instead of tea and other drinks.
  • Kvass from beets. It is used if there are no contraindications in the form of gout. One peeled ripened root crop is cut into large pieces, which are placed in a large jar. 3 tablespoons are added there. salt and honey. The mixture is poured with three liters of warm water and infused in a dark place for 3 days. The finished drink is advised to drink a quarter cup once a day before meals.
  • Beer with sour cream. The recipe is not suitable for pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as minor children. 3 tablespoons are added to a glass of dark fresh beer. sour cream (can be replaced with heavy cream) and mixed. The mixture is used once a day.
  • Nettle with honey. The beneficial substances contained in the products effectively help to recover after chemotherapy. 100 g of crushed dry nettle is mixed with a half-liter portion of liquid honey. The mixture is taken in 1 tsp. after meals 3 times a day;
  • A decoction of oats is one of the effective methods for increasing the number of leukocytes after completing a course of chemotherapy. 2 tablespoons are placed in an enameled pan. unpeeled, but properly washed oats and pour them with water (2 cups), bring the mixture to a boil and cook in a water bath for up to 15 minutes. Cooled and filtered broth is consumed 3 times a day for half a glass. This recipe is recognized as one of the fastest.
  • Juice from string beans. Juice is squeezed from fresh bean pods and consumed in a tablespoon twice a day before meals.
  • Raise the level of leukocytes after chemotherapy will help a decoction of barley. One and a half cups of grain is placed in a two-liter enameled pan and filled with water. The mixture is boiled until half the volume of water is reduced (at least half an hour), after which it is infused for about an hour and filtered. The decoction is taken twice a day in a glass.
  • Infusion of sweet clover. 2 tbsp dry chopped grass is poured with 300 ml of cold water and infused for 4 hours. It is taken 50 ml 2-3 times a day for a month.
  • A decoction of flaxseed. 5-6 tablespoons of grain is poured with two liters of boiling water and boiled for 20 minutes over low heat. Cooled and filtered broth is taken 30 ml before each meal. The course of admission is 1 month.
  • Mummy. Mumiyo tablets are taken three times a day before meals for a month. The first 10 days, the dosage is 0.2 g, then it increases to 0.3 g, and in the last ten to 0.4 g. After the course, it takes a break for 10 days, after which, if necessary, it can be repeated.
  • Infusion of bitter wormwood. 3-4 tbsp chopped grass is poured with three glasses of boiling water and infused for 4 hours. Strained infusion is consumed 1 time per day before breakfast. If you are allergic to this herb, wormwood can be replaced with chamomile flowers. The effect will be similar.
  • Walnut tincture. A glass of vodka is poured into 100 g of walnut kernels crushed together with partitions. The infusion is aged for 2 weeks in a bright place without direct sunlight, after which it is filtered. Used tincture of 2 tsp, diluted in water, 1 time per day.
  • A decoction of fresh plantain leaves. It takes a lot of this herb. The plantain is washed thoroughly, and then dried until the water evaporates. Next, the leaves are scalded with hot boiled water and passed through a meat grinder. The resulting juice is boiled over low heat for a couple of minutes and consumed 3-4 times a day before meals, 1 tbsp.
  • Pollen. Flower pollen is mixed with liquid honey in a combination of two to one, after which it is infused for two days. This mixture is consumed with milk in 1 tsp. at breakfast.

Therapy for leukopenia is one of the most effective treatments available today. The disease manifests itself in the form of a low content of leukocytes, which requires specific nutrition. But in order to get such nutrition, you should know which foods increase leukocytes.

Leukocytes are the most important element of our body, which gives a person protection from the external environment and its harmful effects. If their number decreases, then the immune system begins to weaken, which already threatens the development of a number of diseases.

Causes of leukopenia

To treat leukopenia, doctors use various medications that can stimulate the formation of white blood cells in the bone marrow. Among these drugs, methyluracil, pentoxyl, filgrastim, leukogen, lenograstim are most often used. Also, along with drugs, a specific diet should be used. At the same time, separate nutrition is used only as an auxiliary tool that makes up complex therapy. In addition, if you know which foods increase white blood cells, they can also be used as an independent tool to maintain a normal level of white blood cells. Thanks to the diet and the intake of foods that increase the content of leukocytes in the blood, it is possible to stimulate the hematopoietic function of the brain. It is proper nutrition that allows you to exclude hard-to-digest protein and animal fats from the diet. Also, thanks to the diet, which states which foods do not increase, but lower white blood cells, it is possible to reduce the carbohydrate content in the diet. Leukopenia can be caused by the following reasons:

  • oncological diseases;
  • autoimmune diseases;
  • pathology;
  • debilitating viral infections;
  • dysfunction of the bone marrow;
  • exposure to radiation;
  • chemotherapy;
  • anaphylactic shock;
  • benzene intoxication;
  • starvation.

Avoid these causes, and you can minimize the risk of leukopenia.

What foods increase white blood cells

Among the products that can increase the content of leukocytes, it is worth highlighting:

  1. Easily digestible varieties of fish, meat, offal, poultry.
  2. Berries, vegetables and fruits. In this case, preference should be given to freshly squeezed juices, carrots, beets, pomegranates, greens.
  3. Cereals: oatmeal, rice, buckwheat.
  4. Red and black caviar, crab meat, shrimp and other seafood.
  5. Dairy products.
  6. Decoctions and infusions of motherwort, sweet clover, plantain and horsetail.

Eating these foods can significantly increase the level of leukocytes in the blood, thereby increasing our immunity and ability to resist various diseases.

Knowing which foods increase the level of leukocytes in the blood is, of course, very important. But at the same time, you should know that a normal level of leukocytes can be achieved in other ways. To do this, it is enough to observe the daily routine, eat in a timely manner, walk in the fresh air, do exercises, and so on.

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