Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an acute or chronic bacterial lung infection. The first signs of TB can be easily missed, with the symptoms becoming obvious only after the disease is developed enough to be seen on an X-ray. The typical onset appears gradually as fever, malaise and weight loss. Then coughing begins with scanty sputum that eventually takes on a green, pus-like quality. Often, the first noticeable sign is a bloody cough, pain in the chest wall and shortness of breath.

Infection usually starts in the lower-middle part of the lungs and spreads through the lymph system to other organs. About four to ten weeks into the illness, a small area of inflammation develops in the lung. The immune system often stops the bacterial growth at this point. However, it does not rid the body of the infection, which can lie dormant for some time is quickly arrested. In ten percent of people, active TB occurs within one to two years. In about ninety percent of the cases, infection remains dormant, but it is capable of reactivating. Determining TB infection is done by taking a chest X-ray, a culture which takes up to eight weeks to grow, an acid fast sputum stain or a TB skin test.

Less than a century ago, TB was known for its rapid destruction of tissue and many months of recovery for those who survived. With the improvement in health and with antibiotic treatment, tuberculosis has been well controlled. In North America, tuberculosis really only thrives in unsanitary conditions and in people with poor immune systems. The elderly and those with HIV are at high risk. Entirely new strains of tuberculosis bacteria have emerged that are resistant to antibiotics, thus creating a vital need for natural alternatives in addition to traditional avenues of therapy.

Tuberculosis can attack any number of the body organs and mimic a variety of diseases before it is recognized: The most common type is tuberculosis of the lungs. Symptoms are persistent coughing, abnormal fatigue, night sweats, recurring fevers, poor appetite and weight loss, not all of which are present at once. While these symptoms indicate other illnesses as well, TB should be ruled out if indications for it exist. Coughing up traces of blood and difficulty breathing occur in the late stages. Other common sites for tuberculosis are the lymph nodes, bones and kidneys.

Due to greater environmental pollution, the stresses of big city living, the excessive use of corticosteroids and drug and alcohol abuse, TB is making a resurgence in North America.

Tuberculosis is a highly infectious illness. Most cases in North America are transmitted by tiny droplets of tuberculosis bacteria coughed into the air by someone with TB and breathed in by some-one else. In the past, milk was a source of infection, but since all milk is pasteurized in North America today, this source has been eliminated. Most people subjected to tuberculosis bacteria never become ill because their strong immune systems keep the bacteria inactive permanently. Others fend off the infection for decades, but become ill later in life, when their immune system weakens. Although a TB vaccine exists, vaccination is not without problems. The conventional TB treatment involves the use of antibiotic drugs for a year or longer. Natural therapies work quite well in conjunction with conventional medical treatments.

Supplements and herbs

Nutritional supplements are needed to help the body regain strength and fight the illness. To maintain the natural flora of the intestinal tract, supplement the diet with Lactobacillus acidophilus and other similar cultures. Acidophilus replenishes the natural bacterial cultures disturbed by antibiotics. To support the body's fight against bacteria, vitamin C is also important. The B vitamins help maintain the body's strength and energy. Vitamin B6 especially helps prevent liver problems resulting from prolonged treatment with certain antibiotics. Vitamin A and beta-carotene heal mucous membranes weakened by constant coughing. Take all supplements until healing is complete.

To reduce inflammation and bleeding, plus speed healing, take herbal remedies for effective results.

• There is almost a total absence of silica in the bones of tuberculosis patients. Silica not only increases resistance but prevents scar tissue. Take 1 tbsp. of horsetail juice, which contains silica, or vegetal silica aqueous extract powder, 3-4 capsules with meals three times daily.
• Raw nettle juice is rich in calcium. Young nettle shoots can be finely chopped and sprinkled on soups and salads, or sautéed with some onions for variety. Mix the nettle juice with carrot juice to make it more palatable. Take 1 tbsp. daily.
• Prepare a herbal tea using 1 part each of mullein, bugleweed, knotgrass and sage, plus 3 parts each of chamomile and horsetail to help relieve coughing. Pour 3 cups of boiling water over 1 tsp. of herb mix and drink 3-4 cups daily.
• Garlic is an excellent antibacterial agent and promotes intestinal health as well. Take 3 capsules three times daily.
• Build up resistance with the natural antibiotics horseradish, watercress and nasturtium juice. Take 1 tbsp. of juice daily or add pesticide-free watercress and nasturtiums to a fresh garden salad.
• The following should be used in rotation until symptoms abate:
• Elecampane, 1-2 tsp. of tincture daily
• Horehound, 1-2 tsp. of tincture daily
• Passion flower, 1-3 capsules daily
• Yellow dock, 1-2 tsp. daily
• Mullein, 1-2 tsp. of tincture daily
• Astragalus, 1-3 capsules daily
• Boneset, 1-2 tsp. of tincture daily
• Chlorophyll, 1-2 tsp. of tincture daily
• Comfrey, 1 tsp. of tincture daily
• Echinacea, 1-3 tsp. of tincture daily
• Licorice, 1-3 tsp. of tincture daily
• Marsh mallow, 1-3 tsp. of tincture daily
• Milk thistle, 1-3 tsp. of tincture daily
• Pau d'arco (taheebo), 1-3 tsp. of tincture daily

What else you can do

• Fresh air, sunshine, exercise and deep breathing are necessary to heal tuberculosis.
• Keep the bedroom well ventilated and cool. Ideally, the patient should spend an extended period of time in cool, fresh mountain air. Avoid stuffy, air-conditioned rooms.
• If coughing, hold a tissue up to the face to avoid spreading the TB bacteria.

How much to take

• Lactobacillus acidophilus, 3 capsules or 1 tsp.
• Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids, 1,000 mg every few hours, up to 5,000-10,000 mg daily up to bowel tolerance
• Garlic, 3 capsules three times daily
• Vitamin A, 25,000 IU (avoid during pregnancy) or beta-carotene, 50,000 IU
• Parathyroid glandular extract, 1-2 capsules
• Calcium, 1,000 mg, with 500 mg magnesium
• Vitamin B complex, 100 mg three times daily
• Cod or halibut liver oil, 3-6 capsules, for vitamin D
• Vitamin B6, 50-100 mg
• Zinc, 50 mg or more
• Copper, 4 mg
• Selenium, 600 mcg
• Coenzyme Q10, 100 mg three times daily
• Pycnogenols like grape seed extract, pine bark extract and bilberry, quercetin, hesperidin, catechin, 300 mg or more
• Green food supplements, 1 tbsp.

For kids

Tuberculosis is transmitted when an infected person coughs or sneezes and microscopic droplets containing the infecting organism dry in the air and are inhaled by others. Crowded living conditions therefore are conducive to the spread of the disease.

Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can spread to the joints and to other parts of the body, creating serious illness. Symptoms include fatigue, a chronic cough, bloody sputum, lack of appetite, weight loss, headache, and fever. A tuberculin skin test, chest x-ray, and a culture of sputum are used to confirm the diagnosis.

Herbal treatment for tuberculosis is aimed at supporting your child's recovery from the illness. It should not be considered a substitute for appropriate antibiotic therapy. For best results, do not use a single herb continuously, but set up a rotating schedule using the herbs listed here, so that your child takes one herb a week for six months.

See age-appropriate dosages of herbal remedies

• American ginseng is an excellent source of trace minerals and micronutrients, and also helps strengthen the immune system. Give your child one dose, three times a day.
  Note: This herb should not be given until fever and other signs of acute infection are no longer present.
• Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous) has a rich concentration of trace minerals and micronutrients, and helps to strengthen the immune system. Give your child one dose, three times daily.
  Note: This herb should not be given until fever and other signs of acute infection are no longer present.
• Licorice tea or tincture soothes the throat and respiratory tract, has antibacterial properties, and tastes sweet. For a cough, licorice works best when taken warm. Give your child one dose, three times a day.
  Note: This herb should not be given to a child with high blood pressure or to any child for prolonged periods of time. Use it by itself for one week out of every month for three to four months, or use small amounts mixed with other herbs.
• Marshmallow root lessens lung inflammation and coats and soothes an irritated throat. Make a tea and give your child one dose, twice a day. You can mix the marshmallow root with licorice as a tea.
• Make a cough syrup containing slippery elm, licorice, osha root, and marshmallow root. Simmer 40 drops or 1 tablespoon of each in 1 quart of water for fifteen to twenty minutes. Sweeten with honey and give your child a teaspoon at a time, every four hours, for two days. Each of these herbs is soothing to the throat and respiratory tract.

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