Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a fatally contagious disease caused by a tubercle bacillus bacteria or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These bacteria enter the body through the nose or mouth. It travels down to the windpipe and finally settles on the lungs where it multiplies in millions and produces tubercles, or small raised spots.

Symptoms
Tuberculosis may start anywhere in the body although it commonly affects the glands, lungs, bones and the intestines.

The most common type of is the pulmonary tuberculosis. When the lung is infected, the patient will lose their strength, weight and normal color.

Other symptoms include chest pain, chronic cough, difficulty in breathing, coarse voice, shoulder pains, high temperature especially in the evening, indigestion, and blood in the sputum.

Causes
Low resistance to infection is the primary cause of TB. It is due to improper and inadequate nutrition, and living in an unsanitary environment.

Lifestyle or habits such as inadequate sleep or rest, overworking, tobacco smoking, drinking liquors, exposure to polluted air and cold allows growth of various impure bacteria such as tubercle bacillus. These germs are naturally harmless for those who have strong vitality and immune system.

Home Remedies
Custard apple: To make a sitaphalasava, a fermented liquor, boil the pulp of 2 custard apples and 25 seedless raisin in water over a slow fire until it is reduced to a third. Filter then mix 2 teaspoons of powdered sugar candy, and ¼ teaspoon each of cardamom, cinnamon, and other condiments. It is a rejuvenating drug used by ayurvedic practitioners to cure tuberculosis.

Indian gooseberry: Mix 1 tablespoon each of fresh amla juice and honey. Take it every morning to bring back vigor and vitality of the body within a few days.

Pineapple: Drink a glass of pineapple juice everyday. It can dissolve the mucus which speeds up recovery.

Banana: Drink the juice of plantain or ordinary bananas to help cure advance stage of TB with high fever, chronic cough and abundant expectorant within 2 months.

Orange: Mix 1 glass of orange juice with a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon of honey. Take it daily. It has saline action on the lungs that eases expectoration and prevent further infections.

Drumstick: Prepare a soup by boiling a handful of drumstick leaves in 200 ml boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove from fire and leave to chill. Add a little amount of limejuice, salt and pepper. Drink it first thing in the morning.

Bottle gourd: Eat cooked bottle gourd regularly to strengthen the immune system against tubercular bacteria.

Mint: Mix 1 teaspoon of mint juice with 2 teaspoons of pure malt vinegar, 2 teaspoons of honey and 120 ml carrot juice. Take it 3 times a day. It liquefies the sputum, improves lung health, prevents harmful side effects of anti-tubercular drugs and increases resistance against infection.

Diets
TB can be ultimately cured through calcium. Milk is the richest source of calcium and consuming it liberally will supply the body of much needed organic calcium.

An exclusive milk diet is even prepared especially for cases of tuberculosis. This diet can be done by undergoing an initial raw juice diet, which is done by drinking a mixture of equal parts orange juice and water every 2 hours, from 8am – 8pm.

For the full milk diet, drink a glass of milk every 2 hours, from 8am – 8pm on the first day. Drink another 1 ½ glass every hour on the second day. Gradually increase the quantity of milk until the patient can drink a glass every 30 minutes.

Things to remember while undergoing the milk diet:
- Preferably 6 liters of milk should be taken everyday.
- For women, drink at least 5 liters everyday.
- Stir milk gently before drinking.
- Sip milk slowly. The saliva will dilute it thoroughly for easy digestion.
- Drink raw milk for best results, instead taking those that are processed or pasteurized. It should also be pure and clean.
- Milk should be kept cool at all times and away from direct sunlight. It should be stored in a clean place devoid of dust, dust, and odors.
- Continue treatment for at least 6-8 weeks for best results.
- Take a moderate amount of rest by lying down for about 2 hours twice a day.
- Avoid strong tea, coffee, condiments, pickles, sauces, puddings and pies, white bread and sugar products, and tinned, canned or preserved foods.

Further Suggestions
Allow the mind and body to rest properly to get rid of stress. Stress will only delay the healing process.

Take plenty of fresh air by staying in well-ventilated place or room.

Take enough amount of sunshine for the sun’s rays can quickly kill the spread and growth of tubercle bacilli.

Avoid strain by having slow body massage, taking deep breathing exercises and performing light work. This will not only improve physical health but also takes away mental worries.