Pulmonary tuberculosis

Tuberculosis or TB is also known as consumption. It is one of the more serious diseases. According to WHO it is the greatest killer of humans and is the world’s most neglected epidemic. About 12 million people the world over are infected by this disease with 3 million people dying every year. It is the topmost killer in India, where about 40% of the world’s TB sufferers reside. About 6 lakh Indians die of this disease every year.

There are 4 types of tuberculosis: lungs, intestines, bones and glands. Of these pulmonary tuberculosis or tuberculosis of the lungs is the most common one and tends to consume the body. This disease is found among the elderly. It has a storehouse of mycobacteria which can become active as you age. It is pretty likely that the old people may have contracted the infection in their youth but the reduced immunity that accompanies ageing and ill health can lead to lung lesion, and the bacteria that were inactive might be reactivated.

Symptoms of Pulmonary TB :

• Loss of strength, colour and weight
• Rise in temperature hoarseness
• Difficulty in breathing
• Pain in the shoulders
• Indigestion
• Chest pain
• Blood in the sputum

Many a times, the elderly may not show these symptoms. They may vaguely report feeling unwell which can be attributed to ageing and depression. But when the postmortem was conducted, TB was diagnosed. Hence you should consider this diagnosis when an elderly person reports ill-health.

Causes of Pulmonary TB :

• Tubercle bacillus which is a microscopic germ. It enters the body through the mouth, windpipe and nose and resides in the lungs. It multiples rapidly and produces small raised spots called tubercles. If you are suffering from the disease for a long time, the germs are ejected out while coughing or spitting. When they enter the mouth or the nose of a healthy person, he contracts the disease. Mouth breathing and kissing as well as contaminated food and water also spread tuberculosis.
• Lowered resistance or devitalisation of the system. This is chiefly due to mineral deficiency especially of calcium. If your body has adequate calcium, your tissues will not breakdown and no tubercular growth will occur. Hence taking sufficient amount of calcium along with organic mineral matter will go a long way toward preventing tuberculosis.

Treatment for TB :

If tackled in the beginning, TB can be treated very easily. Start a routine of healthy diet and vitality building by using natural methods and this is the best way to treat the disease. Go on an exclusive fresh fruit diet for 3-4 days. Eat 3 meals a day of fresh, juicy fruits like apples, grapes, pears, peaches, oranges and pineapple. Once the fruit-diet is over, start with fruit-and-milk diet for 4-6 weeks. The meals that you eat in this diet are the same as that in the all-fruit diet but only milk is added. This milk should be fresh and unboiled, but you can warm it slightly if so desired. Sip this milk very slowly. Then adopt a well-balanced diet of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits.

Milk is the best treatment for this disease as it is the richest source of calcium. Drink at least a liter of milk daily. Go on the exclusive fresh fruit diet followed by frit-and-milk diet every 2-3 months depending on your progress. Cleanse the bowels with warm water enema daily in the beginning of the treatment and then as necessary. Avoid all the refined foods like white bread, white sugar, refined cereals, puddings and pies, tinned, canned and preserved foods, strong tea, coffee, condiments, pickles and sauces.

Using milk decoction with garlic is extremely valuable in treatment of tuberculosis. Boil 4 cloves of garlic and one scraped coconut in a liter of goat’s milk till it becomes half. Sweeten this milk with honey and drink it early in the morning for at least 6 weeks.

You can use the tonic prepared from jackfruit to treat TB. Put the edible portion of fully mature, but not fully ripe jackfruit with seeds intact in a glass container along with powdered jaggery. These 2 should be put in alternate layers, with the top and bottom layers filled with jaggery. Cover this jar and put it in the sunlight for 21 days. Then take 2-3 teaspoons of this mixture 3 times a day for at least 3 months.

Custard apple is a very effective fruit in treatment of TB. It has all the qualities of rejuvenating drugs. The Ayurvedic practitioners made fermented liquor called sitaphalssava from this fruit to use as a medicine in the treatment of tuberculosis. Boil custard apple pulp and seedless raisins in water on a slow fire and filtered when about 1/3 of water is left. This is then mixed with powders of cinnamon, cardamom and some other condiments.

You can use Indian gooseberry as an effective remedy for tuberculosis. Take a tablespoon each of fresh amla juice and honey together each morning to alleviate this condition. Using this tonic will promote vigour and vitality in the body within a few days. You can also use radish regularly to treat this problem.

Rest your mind and body completely. Any type of stress will prevent the healing. Fresh air is very important in curing the disease. Hence try to spend as much time outdoors as possible and sleep in a well-ventilated room. Sunshine is equally important because it kills tuber bacilli. Avoid strain, slow massage, deep breathing and light occupation to divert your mind are the other steps you can take to prevent disease.

You will find certain yogic practices very helpful in the initial stages. Include asanas like viparitakarani, sarvagasana and shavasana and jalneti kriya and anuloma-viloma pranayama to eliminate this disease faster.