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Treatment for pneumonia

To begin with, the patient should be kept on a diet of raw juices for five to ten days, depending on the severity of the disease. In this regimen he should take a glass of fruit or vegetable juice diluted with warm water every two or three hours. Fruits especially kiwifruit, tangerine, orange, mosambi, apple, papaya, pineapple and grapes and vegetables like carrots, avocado & tomatoes (drunk together) may be used for juices. Avocado helps the body absorb the carotenoids from carrots and tomatoes.

After a diet of raw juices, when the fever subsides, the patient should have three or four further days on an exclusive fresh fruit diet, taking three meals a day of juicy fruits such as kiwifruit, apple, grapes, pineapple, mangoes, tangerine, orange, lemon and papaya.

Thereafter, the patient may gradually adopt a well-balanced diet of natural foods consisting of seeds and grains, vegetables and fruits with emphasis on fresh fruits and raw vegetables. The patients should be given a warm warm enema daily to cleanse the bowel during the period of raw juice therapy and all fruit diet and thereafter, when necessary.

The patient should avoid strong tea, coffee , refined foods, fried foods, white sugar, white flour and all products made from them. They should also avoid all meats as well as alcoholic beverages and smoking. To reduce temperature naturally, during the course of the fever, the procedure outlined on the Bacteria page may be followed.

Sipping of cold mineral water has also been found beneficial in the treatment of pneumonia. The patient should sip cold water at short intervals so long as the fever continues.

Natural remedies for pneumonia

Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of pneumonia. During the early acute stage of this disease, a herbal tea made from fenugreek seeds  will help the body to produce perspiration, dispel toxicity and shorten the period of fever. In can be taken up to four cups daily. The quantity should be reduced as condition improves. To improve flavour, a few drops of lemon juice can be used. During this treatment, no other food or nourishment should be taken as fasting and fenugreek will allow the body to correct these respiratory problems in a few days.

Garlic is a the ultimate remedy for pneumonia, if given in sufficient quantities. Garlic will bring down the temperature as well as the pulse and respiration within 48 hours. Garlic juice can also be applied externally to the chest with beneficial results as it is an irritant and rubefacient.

Sesame seeds are valuable in pneumonia . An infusion of the seeds, mixed with a tablespoon of flaxseeds, pinch of unrefined sea salt and a desert spoon of pure honey, should be given in the treatment of this infection. This will help remove catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial-tubes.

Chilli peppers, hot mustard, radishes, pepper, onions and garlic contain substances called ‘mucolytics’ (similar to over-the-counter expectorant cough syrups) that liquefy thick mucus that accumulates in the sinuses and breathing passages.

The pain of pneumonia can be relieved by rubbing oil of turpentine over the rib cage and wrapping warmed cotton wool over it.
When suffering a fever, the patient should avoid any supplements containing iron or zinc, iron causes great tension in a body that is fighting infection and zinc is not absorbed by the body during fever.

Pleurisy

A common complication of all kinds of pneumonia is pleurisy. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, a serous membrane which envelopes the lungs and also lines the inside of the chest. It can affect just one lung or both.

Pleurisy may be acute or chronic and mild or severe, It may be limited to one side of the chest or it may include both the sides. This disease can attack people of all ages, from children right through to the very elderly. Like any other viral infection, pleurisy can occur in small epidemics. The membranes that cover the lung are called pleura.

The outer membrane, known as partial pleura, is applied to the inner wall of the thorax, and the inner membrane, known as the visceral pleura, covers the substance of the lungs. There is a capillary space between the two membranes which is filled with fluid.

This fluid enables the lungs to move freely in the chest. The parietal membrane is reflected from the chest wall to cover the upper surface of the diaphragm and, in the midline, it covers the mediastinum, the partition which separates the two sides of the chest and contains the heart, great vessels and other structures which run through the thorax.

Symptoms of pleurisy

The onset of pleurisy is generally marked by a sharp and stabbing pain, which may be felt in any part of the chest wall or over the diaphragm. Deep breathing or coughing increases the pain.
In many cases, the disease begins with a chill, followed by congestion of the pleura and later by fever. The degree of the fever determines the severity of the disease.

The inflammation destroys the tissues and chokes the circulation within the tissues. Breathing becomes difficult due to the clogging of the circulation and by pain and swelling within the chest.
Later a liquid effusion escapes from the pleura, filling the open spaces in the chest cavity till the effect of the distension becomes oppressive. After absorption takes place or after the drainage of the effusion, the pressure is lowered, the pain is reduced and the patient feels relieved. It is sometimes dry pleurisy, a form where there is little or no effusion or the effusion may be circumscribed. The effusion may become gangrenous, or become mixed with blood, or be of a dirty brown colour with an offensive odour, leading to much suffering.

Causes of pleurisy

The most common among the immediate causes of pleurisy is that of ‘catching cold ‘ followed by congestion and swelling of the pleural membrane. It is a disease that is not caused by germs. There will be germs of putrefaction later in the ooze of serum from the tissue. The disease may be a complication of pneumonia, or pneumonia may be a complication of pleurisy. In a few cases , the diseases may also occur in rheumatic fever, uraemia and other conditions.

Treatment for pleurisy

At the first sign of pleurisy, the patient should observe a complete fast, abstaining from all liquid and solid foods. Nothing should be taken except plain mineral water, hot or cold, as desired. Water may have bad taste, but at least three or four glasses should be taken daily for the first few days. The quantity of water should be gradually increased to five or six or more glasses each day.

A hot chest pack should be applied two or three times a day allowing it to remain for an hour or so each time. If the fever becomes high, the packs may be changed to cold ones. If, however, the reaction is not prompt and complete, it would be advisable to use the hot packs. Heat is always helpful for relieving the sharp pain associated with pleurisy. This should be applied for half an hour twice daily. The patient should practice deep breathing during this period.

Adequate rest and abundance of fresh air are essential. In cases of dry pleurisy, further relief from pain can be obtained by strapping the chest. Heat is not used when the strapping is employed.

A hot bath at 100F with a few drops of eucalyptus oil for one hour daily has also been found beneficial in the treatment of pleurisy.

After the acute symptoms have subsided, the patient may adopt a goat's milk diet. In this regimen, 250ml of goat's milk should be taken every two hours on the first day, every 1 1/2 hour on the second day, every hour on the third day and every three-quarters of an hour on the fourth day and onwards. The quantity of milk should not exceed four litres daily. The patient may also take one orange or tangerine (which is easier on the stomach) daily along with the milk diet. As soon as the patient has gained slightly in strength, they should undertake moderate exercise as a routine, avoiding fatigue.

Sunshine on the skin and a dry friction bath can be useful. If there is any particular disease, present along with the pleurisy whether as a causative or as a complicating condition, the same should also be given appropriate attention. Chronic pleurisy should be treated in the same manner as to the diet and the application of heat. All efforts should be made to increase the vitality, reduce toxaemia, and restore normal freedom of chest movements. Several short fasts, at regular intervals, followed by the goat's milk diet may be necessary depending on the progress for complete recovery.

Natural remedies for both pneumonia and pleurisy

Apple cider vinegar: A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar taken first thing in the morning before any food can help to fight infection.

Barley grass juice is highly nutritious and is one of the rare plants to contain vitamin B12 which may be lacking in the diet of a patient with pneumonia and pleurisy.

Beetroots are rich in anthocyanins which have powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. They also contain iron which is an essential nutrient. A glass of beetroot juice per day can help speed recovery.

Carrot juice blended with radish juice is an effective aid in cleansing and healing the mucous membrane of the digestive system as well as of the respiratory organs.

Coconut water and pineapple juice can prevent dehydration when a fever is present.

Herbs and spices have powerful antimicrobial and healing properties. Three cups of herbal tea a day sipped slowly can provide much relief and help fight infections such as pneumonia and pleurisy. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey for additional benefits. Mix and match any of the herbs and spices below. Seeds can be ground using a coffee grinder.

Herbal juices and teas that can relieve symptoms of pneumonia and pleurisy

Black tea and especially green tea) contains caffeine that helps to dilate the bronchial airways. Tthree cups should be consumed per day with freshly squeezed lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey.

NOTE: Avoid coffee as it causes many adverse side-effects and nutrient deficiencies that a person with pneumonia or pleurisy are too weak to withstand. See Coffee dangers

A tea made by steeping the following together in hot water for ten minutes before straining and gently reheating can be used to lower fever and fight infection:

• Daikon radish

• Shittake mushrooms

• Kombu seaweed

Propolis has powerful antibacterial properties which can aid with recovery from pneumonia and pleurisy.

Raw juice therapy can successfully treat pneumonia and pleurisy. Use a powerful (at least 900 watt) slow juicer for best results and the juice should be consumed immediately after making. Adding a pinch of chilli powder and turmeric can provide additional benefits due to their antimicrobial propeties.

The best organic natural foods to juice for pneumonia and pleurisy

Water: It is important to keep hydrated, especially when a fever is present. The patient should drink at least six glasses of bottled mineral water with freshly squeezed lemon juice per day. This can also help to flush out toxins from the infections.