Tuberculosis or also called "TB" is a
very contagious disease caused by the bacteria named "Mycobacterium
tuberculosis". It is mainly a lung disease, but it can affect any
body organ, including the bones, kidneys, intestines, spleen, and liver.
One of the most deadly among infectious diseases, TB is found throughout
the world. Although it has a long history, modern medical knowledge of
this disorder was not acquired until late in the nineteenth century.
Early medical literature described it as phthisis which means
“consumption.” TB is usually spread by infected airborne droplets that
are coughed up by individuals with the active disease and then inhaled
by susceptible persons. Once inhaled, the bacteria normally lodge itself
in the lungs. The body may successfully battle the infection at this
point, if the immune system is not functioning well, however, or if
another onslaught of the bacteria reaches the lungs, chances are the
bacteria will multiply and proceed to liquefy and destroy lung tissue.
Tuberculosis may also be contracted from contaminated food or from milk
that has not been pasteurized. In such cases, the primary attack of the
infection normally is in the digestive system. This type of tuberculosis
is more common in developing countries.
Symptoms of TB may be somewhat slow in their developing and
look like the following: influenza, coughing,
loss of appetite, night sweats, chest pain, and low grade
fever. At first, the cough may be nonproductive, but as the
disease progresses, increasing amounts of sputum are produced.
As the condition worsens, fever, night sweats, chronic
fatigue, weight loss, chest pain, and shortness of breath
might happen, and the sputum may become bloody, in advanced
cases, TB of the larynx can occur, making it hard to talk more
than just a whisper. Chest X-ray, sputum culture, and a
tuberculin skin test are used to diagnose the disease. Not so long ago, the medical community expected tuberculosis
to become more of a curiosity than a serious public health
problem. Antibiotic regimens that could successfully combat
the disease had been developed, and living standards had risen
so that the poor nutrition and inadequate hygienic standards
that had once helped TB to spread and flourish were no longer
prevalent. Yet after decades of declining TB reported that
between 1985 and 1991, there was an 18% increase in active TB
infections in the USA. Other health authorities also report that TB is once again on the rise. Worse, new strains
of TB have been appearing that are resistant to conventional
antibiotic treatment.
Tuberculosis now appears to be more pernicious and
virulent than ever. Several factors that have come into play
have contributed to tuberculosis’s comeback. First, to be
successful against TB, antibiotic treatment must usually be
taken every day for about one year after the initial
diagnosis. The symptoms, however, improve much sooner.
Researchers have documented thousands of cases in which people
stop thier treatment after the symptoms are gone but before
the infection is under control. This results in the
most susceptible of the TB bacteria being killed off, while
the most antibiotic resistant bacteria staying alive and
proceed to produce new generations that resist conventional
treatment. Other important factors in the resurgence of TB are
the AIDS epidemic (HIV infection increases susceptibility to
infectious illness of every kind) and the rising numbers of
people living in circumstances that are conducive to the
spread of the disease, including both homeless shelters and
prisons. The worsening poverty and crowded living conditions
in our inner cities also provide ideal conditions for
tuberculosis to spread and grow. Increased immigration to
the USA from the world’s poorer countries and more world
travel in general may be a factor as well.
Unlike many infectious illnesses, TB is a chronic disease,
and it is debatable whether an absolute cure can ever be
achieved. In many if not most cases, some tubercie bacilli appear
to remain in the lung in a dormant state even after the
disease has been treated and its progress arrested. Relapses
can then occur at any time, normally in response to lowered
immunity. This can result from stress,
aging, poor nutrition and diet, steroid therapy, infection, a
chronic disease such as diabetes,
or anything else that impairs the functioning of the person's immune
system. The risk of contracting tuberculosis is highest among
African-American and Hispanic men between 25 and 45 years of
age; individuals who have had TB in the past; persons with
multiple sex partners; recent immigrants from Mexico and from
countries in Africa, South America, and Asia; drug
and alcohol users; residents in
institutions such as mental health facilities and nursing
homes; persons who have undergone gastrectomy the surgical
removal of all or part of the stomach; and individuals with
weakened immune systems, especially those with HIV or AIDS.
Nutritional and herbal treatment has grown in usage along
with conventional medical treatment as a combination to combat
the deadly nature of this disease.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Essential
fatty acids |
8 |
they help strengthen
your body's immune system which is weaken by TB. Fatty acids are found in omega fatty acids from fish
oil, flax seed oil, and borage seed oil. |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin
C, vitamin D , vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, selenium, potassium, and
zinc which all are helpful in
both the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis . The nutrients found in a daily
supplement are also needed for good general health and well
being. |
Pyridoxine |
10 |
vitamin B6 is needed
to prevent deficiency caused by TB drugs |
Pantothenic
acid |
10 |
good anti stress
vitamin |
Methioine |
10 |
protects both the
lungs and the liver |
Garlic |
10 |
garlic is
a natural antibiotic that has been
shown to inhibit the formation of free radicals
which can benefit people with TB . Garlic also
helps boost the immune system. A combination herbal immune
system remedy often includes garlic in an herbal blend. |
Reishi |
8 |
reishi mushroom serves to boost the
immune system weakened by TB.
Normally found in an immune
system herbal mixture like the Symmetry product Immunity. |
vitamin E |
9 |
this vitamin help to
protect lung tissues and aid in the body's healing process. |
vitamin C |
9 |
needed to have a
strong immune system and for general healing. |
vitamin
D |
8 |
People with TB may
need extra vitamin D for healing. It is also required for
proper utilization of calcium and phosphorus. |
Selenium |
9 |
this mineral is very
important to protect aganist free radicals and boost the
immune system. |
Zinc |
8 |
mineral that promotes
healing and works well with vitamin C, selenium, and vitamin
E. |
Bioflavinoids |
8 |
bioflavinoids are powerful anti-viral agents
and increase energy levels. They are found in fruit and vegetable
based supplements. |
Pomegranate
seed extract |
8 |
strong anti-oxidant |
Grape Seed extract |
8 |
is a powerful anti-oxidant
and promotes healing |
Glutathione |
8 |
aids in protecting the
lungs and cell from free radical damage |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|