Tuberculosis - Nature Cures®

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Tuberculosis (TB) is a severe bacterial lung infection which can cause fluid to accumulate inside the lungs. But in most cases, TB causes excess build-up of fluid around the lungs and is also referred to as pleural effusion or ‘fluid on lungs’.

Normally, there is a small amount of fluid surrounding the lungs but in TB there is bacterial growth in the fluid-filled space between the chest wall and the lungs. Hence, the quantity of fluid circulating in this space increases tremendously, thereby impairing the expansion of lungs needed while breathing.

Pleural effusion may eventually cause fluid to leak into the lungs. Also, many times the onset of TB is followed by pneumonia, a condition commonly referred to as tuberculosis pneumonia. This medical condition too can cause water retention in the lungs.

Tuberculosis usually infects just the lungs, although other organs, the bones (affecting mainly the back, hips and knees) and nervous system are sometimes involved by spreading via the lymphatic system or the blood.

TB is highly contagious because it is airborne and passed by droplets from infected persons coughing or sneezing. Once the bacteria have entered the lungs it can remain dormant as Latent TB for many years. There is a difference between being infected with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium and having active tuberculosis disease.

There are three important ways to describe the stages of TB. They are as follows:

Stage one: TB Exposure

This occurs when a person has been in contact, or exposed to, another person who is thought to have or does have TB. The exposed person will have a negative skin test, and normal chest x-ray, and no signs or symptoms of the disease.

Stage two: Latent TB infection:

This occurs when a person has the TB bacteria in his/her body but does not have symptoms of the disease. This person would have a positive skin test, but a normal chest x-ray.

Stage three: TB disease:

This describes the person that has signs and symptoms of an active infection. The person would have a positive skin test and a positive chest x-ray.

The predominant TB bacterium is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Several people infected with M. tuberculosis never develop active TB. However, in people with weakened immune systems, like the elderly or those with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), TB organisms can overcome the body’s defences, multiply, and cause an active disease.

Natural remedies for tuberculosis

Betulinic acid is a tumour fighting, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compound found in the bark of white birch trees and chaga mushrooms and winged beans which can treat tuberculosis.

Bromine is used by eosinophils which are naturally occurring enzymes in the human body that have the ability to kill the tuberculosis bacteria. Bromine is found in sea salt and algae and seaweeds such as chlorella, kelp and spirulina.

Persian shallots (Allium stipitatum) Scientific studies have shown that the Persian shallot has properties that inhibit the growth of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Phyllanthus amarus herb is very effective in naturally treating tuberculosis.

Cloves contain the most powerful germicidal agent in the herbal kingdom known as eugenol. It also contains caryophyllene which is a powerful antimicrobial agent. These components travel through the bloodstream, killing microscopic parasites and parasitic larvae and eggs. Cloves are tremendously effective in killing the bacteria that cause cholera, malaria, scabies and as well as fungi, parasites and viruses. Crush three cloves into three cups of tea daily.

Hemp seeds are easily digested and very rich in essential amino acids and minerals and can help recovery from tuberculosis.

Natural antibiotic for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria

African lily (Agapanthus inapertus P.Beauv.)
African wormwood (Artemisia afra)
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Blue squill or hyacinth bulb (Merwilla plumbea)
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa)
Cape willow (Salix mucronate)
Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita)
Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum, Eugenia caryophyllata)
Common fig bark (Ficus carica L)
Christmas berry roots (Chironia baccifera)
Desert fig roots (Ficus platypoda, Rock fig)
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifoli)
Elecampane (Lula helenium)
Fever tree (Lippia javanica, Lemon bush)
Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa)
Garlic (Allium sativa)
Golden rod (Solidago)
Grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta)
Hard fern roots (Pellaea calomelanos)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera pericylmenum, Lonicera japonica)
Hops (Humulus lupulus)
Hu huang lian (Coptis chinensis)
Lemon tree leaves (Citrus lemon)
Liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Lomatium dissectum (Lomatium cous, lomatium geyeri, lomatium macrocarpum, lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis)
Loquat roots (Eriobotrya japonica)
Mint, spearmint and peppermint leaves (Mentha ssp.)
Mucura (Petiveria alliacea)
Papaya (Carica papaya)
Pau d’arco (Tabebuia serratifolia, Tabebuia impetiginos)
Phyllanthus amarus (Phyllanthus niruri)
Pineapple lily (Eucomis pallidiflora ssp. pole-evansii)
Propolis (beeswax)
Resurrection plant (Myrothamnus flabellifolius)
River red gum leaves and roots (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)
Small knobwood (Zanthoxylum capense)
Star grass tuber (Hypoxis hemerocallidea, African potato)
Tarragon (Artemisia dranunculus)
Turkey berry (Solanum torvum)
Usnea (Usnea lapponica)

Usnea is a lichen that is used for acute and chronic lung infections, such as pneumonia, and for treating colds and influenza, and as a supplement along side tuberculosis (TB) treatment.

For more natural remedies and nutrients required to treat all lung disorders see >> Respiratory disorders

A diet rich in antioxidants and bacteria-fighting fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices can help ward off TB disease and help the body to recover once TB has become active.

Antioxidants
Antimicrobial healing plants and foods

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