TB Pulmonary Tuberculosis | MDR TB ayurvedic natural treatment & prevention
As per WHO World Health Organization roughly 1/4th of the World’s Population is infected by Tuberculosis, although please note that not all infections with tuberculosis cause TB disease as in many cases it stays in the latent stage.
In general people with latent TB infection have a 1 in 10 chance of developing active TB disease. As per World Health Organization report, TB disease killed around 1.4 million people and infected 8.7 million people in 2011.
Among all the countries India has the largest number of active TB cases. As per World Health Organisation (WHO), TB statistics incidence in India for the year 2016 was about 2.79 million cases of TB.
India accounts for around one-fourth of the whole global TB patients. There are around estimated 79,000 multi-drug resistant TB patients each year. India is also the country with the second largest number (after South Africa) of estimated HIV associated TB cases. In 2016 an estimated 28 lakh cases occurred and 4.5 lakh (0.45 Million) people died due to TB.
In India, the state of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have the maximum number of TB patients largely because of poor hygiene, lack of nutrition and knowledge.
Most tourists to these two states in India are often unaware the dangers these states pose to them because the actual number of cases in India could be at least 10 to 100 times higher as most cases remain undetected.
I have been to some of the cities of Uttar Pradesh (such as Bareilly) in India and I was shocked to find gross negligence even on part of eminent doctors. They put the same pipe for pumping air in Asthma patient mouth which they just put in TB patient mouth as they believe simply rubbing once with cloth is good enough to ward of any TB bacteria to other chest related patients???
I believe private “chest specialist”/ TB doctors here are spreading disease instead of curbing it, consciously or unconsciously. Similarly, they are using the same Nebulizer which is used for TB patient for Asthma patients.
TB Tuberculosis often damages lungs, but it can affect almost any part in the human body such as intestines, bones, brain, etc.
TB Tuberculosis an introduction
TB Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection spread via inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. It is a very serious disease as TB bacteria is quite resistant to many forms of antibiotics and long treatment is needed although can be cured with proper treatment.
TB mainly affects the lungs. However, it can affect any part of the body, including the glands, bones and nervous system.
Main causes of Tuberculosis
Germs through an infected person
Weak immunity
Poor diet or lack of nutrition
Main symptoms of Tuberculosis
Symptoms in the early stages of TB is an irritating cough, particularly in the morning, either without an expectoration or with a clear mucus or phlegm.
Fever especially in the evening
A persistent cough and coughing with blood
Chest Pain
Weight Loss
Sweating during night
Weakness or tiredness all the time
TB diagnosis
I would suggest you need both Sputum test & CBNAAT test (if you are in India) for diagnosis of TB or Tuberculosis. Note CBNAAT test is best & done for free by the government of India in all the TB centers. The main benefit of CBNAAT test is that it is able to confirm whether TB disease need the first line of 4 antibiotics medicine or it is MDR as MDR condition can’t be easily determined by any other test mentioned below. Also sometimes Sputum test may not be accurate by the testing lab because of various factors involved in detection.
Tuberculin Skin Test
The tuberculin skin test use killed TB germs which are injected into the skin. If a person has been infected with TB, a lump will form at the site of the injection which means that TB germs have infected the body although it does not necessarily mean the person has active disease.
Tuberculosis Blood Test
There are two new blood tests used nowadays to test for exposure to tuberculosis germs in place of the tuberculin skin test as these tests appear to be more sensitive and specific. Each test involves the collection of blood that is then stimulated with a group of antigens (proteins) found in the bacteria that causes TB. If your immune system has ever seen these antigens, your cells will produce interferon-gamma, a substance produced by our immune system and, which can be measured in a laboratory.
These two tests are the QuantiFERON-TB® Gold (QFT) Test and the T-Spot®.TB Test.
NOTE: In India, Tb gold test is banned by the government of India and it is also expensive around Rs 3000 & you would still need CBNAAT test results (cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test )for precise analysis of disease so I don’t think TB gold test is needed.
Chest X-ray
This test may not detect TB in its latent stage. If a person just has been infected with TB, but the active disease has not developed, the chest X-ray will often be normal. Most people with a positive skin test or TB blood test have normal chest X-rays.
Only when the TB germ has attacked and caused inflammation in the lungs, an abnormal shadow could be visible on the chest X-rays.
Sputum Test
Samples of sputum coughed up from the lungs can be tested to see if TB germs are present. The sputum is examined under a microscope (a “sputum smear”) to look for evidence of the TB organisms. This test roughly cost around Rs 300 in India.
TB Ayurvedic Treatment for Tuberculosis or Pulmonary Tuberculosis
The below mentioned are some of the remedies for TB in Ayurveda & considered effective to be used in the daily meal.
To boost immune system I would recommend the holistic approach and must include daily practice of yoga (hatha yoga) and meditation. In case if the patient is feeling weak and don’t find enough strength for full hatha yoga class, one can start with practicing gentle yoga daily even for 15 min and that would give wonderful results.
Similarly one can begin with even 10 minutes meditation or mindfulness practice and one can notice positive changes and feel more optimistic outlook in fighting this illness as benefits of meditation are enormous.
Garlic: Garlic is an ancient Indian Ayurvedic remedy used for treating Tuberculosis (TB).
As per studies, garlic inhibited the growth of tuberculosis (TB) bacteria. In one study researchers tested 20 different strains of TB and garlic inhibited all strains of TB bacteria.
Garlic did not kill the TB bacteria or cure it but halt its multiplication which is great news for those suffering from Multidrug resistance TB.
Onion: It is said that eating an onion a day can keep the doctor away by cleansing and detoxifying the body to prevent ailments and boosting your health.
UCL and Birkbeck-led study also suggests that a type of onion could help the fight against antibiotic resistance in cases of tuberculosis.
In my personal experience, I can relate that the hygiene system is almost negligible in Indian food outlets especially which are along the highways and other areas which are poor in sanitation.
However, I noticed many people are eating that food and not falling sick and one of the thing I noticed that these outlets always serve one onion along with the food to everybody. Perhaps onion antibacterial properties helping people to stay healthy despite poor hygiene.
Turmeric: It is used to treat inflammatory conditions, skin issues, wounds, digestive ailments, and liver conditions.
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric and it has strong anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. Curcumin strong anti-inflammatory strength matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
Papaya: I would call papaya as a magic food or superfood because of the magical benefits one can get from this fruit because of its nutrients and vitamins content and would recommend while dealing with tuberculosis.
Pineapple: It is very good for TB patients as it helps dissolve mucus.
Triphala: It is proven antioxidant, anti-HIV and anti-allergic and can be safely taken singly or adjunctively whenever there are symptoms of inflammation, heat, infection, obesity and other conditions of excess.
It is also considered helpful in deficiency diseases including anemia, fatigue, candida, poor digestion, tuberculosis, pneumonia, etc.
Note: Triphala shall not be used during pregnancy. It’s ‘downward flowing’ energy is believed to favor miscarriage.
Manjistha: Manjistha also known as Rubia Cordifolia or Indian madder and is considered to be one of the most valuable herbs in Ayurvedic medicine.
It is used for improving the skin complexion and as a detoxifier. It alleviates all the three doshas. It is a potent blood purifier and excellent for lymphatic support.
Eucalyptus Oil can Inhibit Tuberculosis Spread
Essential oils from three different plants have been shown to have antimicrobial activity against even drug-resistant TB.
The three essentials oils included Salvia aratocensis, Turnera diffusa (Damiana) and Lippia americana.
These essential oils were tested against 15 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria and all showed potential in fighting TB, with Salvia aratocensis being the most powerful of the three oils.
Other more well known essential oils that have shown their strength in fighting tuberculosis include eucalyptus and lemon eucalyptus essential oil.
Lemon eucalyptus essential oil contains anti-TB active constituents and is likely valuable for inhalation therapy to reduce the number of contagious TB patients and also to reduce the spread of TB.
Antibacterial effect of eucalyptus can be helpful in controlling the TB spread.
Researchers tested the oil against a similar bacteria called Mycobacterium smegmatis. This mimics the spread of the TB mycobacterium. The researchers utilized lung cells in the laboratory to duplicate lung infections. The researchers found that the eucalyptus oil helped the cells counteract becoming infected by the mycobacterium.
Research from the University of Illinois also found that eucalyptus essential oil can be used to stop the spread of tuberculosis from those who are contagious.
The researchers found that the essential oil significantly inhibited the spread of airborne tuberculosis using eucalyptus essential oil with inhalation therapy. The researchers also found that a combination of citronellol, linalool and eucalyptol inhibited airborne tuberculosis transmission by more than 90 percent.
Having eucalyptus essential oil when traveling through counties such as India is a good idea to prevent an infection. Oil can be applied to our skin, however, point to be noted that Eucalyptus oil is very strong and only 1 to 2 drop may be good enough. In fact, looking at above point Eucalyptus oil can be safely used as part of a natural treatment against tuberculosis TB.
In addition to eucalyptus oil, oregano oil can also be a part of natural treatment to fight tuberculosis. Oregano oil has been used traditionally for respiratory health, and later it’s also become an alternative remedy for cold and flu.
Vitamin D
Before the antibiotics were discovered, Vitamin D from the sun was used as the main solution to treat Tuberculosis. Doctors believed that the sun was helping to cure people with TB.
Scientific studies suggest a relationship between vitamin D and prevention of tuberculosis. Vitamin D helps the body to successfully fight off TB by killing off the bacteria that cause them.
For example, African Americans in general known to have a greater susceptibility to TB also had lower serum levels of vitamin D.
Another study examined at pulmonary tuberculosis patients who randomly received vitamin D (0.25 milligrams per day) or a placebo in the sixth initial week of their TB treatment. The patients who took more vitamin D had improvement in their radiology examination than the non-vitamin D group.
In our body, there are cells in the immune system called macrophages. Macrophages can “eat” invading bacteria and viruses, and protects our body from getting infections. The TB bacteria try to infect our body by attacking your macrophages but vitamin D can help our immune system by making macrophages stronger and able to fight the TB bacteria.
As per one study was done in Pakistan to examined if high vitamin D levels could prevent TB in someone who was at a high risk of catching it (for example people living in the same house where one person has active TB). They found that:
People with low levels of vitamin D were 5 times more likely to develop TB than those with higher vitamin D levels. None of the people with the highest vitamin D levels got active TB.
So vitamin D appears to be a way to not only prevent TB but also to treat it.
To be continued…………I will be adding more natural remedies for Tuberculosis regularly as I find out.
Frequently asked questions about TB Tuberculosis:
(1)Can there be tuberculosis without symptoms
People with latent TB infection do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB bacteria to others. In many people who are infected with TB bacteria, their body is able to fight back & prevent bacteria from growing.
However, if TB bacteria become active in the body and multiply, the person will go from having latent TB infection to being sick with TB disease.
Exception: However, I have seen a patient with active TB but have no visible symptoms except weakness and tiredness.
(2)How soon do symptoms appear?
Around 90 percent of people infected with the TB germ never develop the disease. However, if TB disease develops, it can happen within two to three months after infection or maybe years later. The risk of TB disease generally lessens as time passes.
(3)After starting allopathic medicine, how long is a person able to spread tuberculosis?
It is said that a person with TB disease may be able to spread the TB germs after starting medicine for at least 2 to 8 weeks. However, a person with latent TB infection, but not disease, cannot spread the infection to others, since there are no TB germs in the sputum.
(4)How to prevent tuberculosis?
People with TB disease should cover their mouth and nose when coughing, and to take all the TB medicine as prescribed by a doctor. It is equally important that people with latent TB infection shall also be treated.
(5) What are the common allopathic medicine for TB
If you have latent TB, you may need to take just one type of drug. Category 1 type of active TB generally require 4 antibiotics tablets for 6 months although some recommend taking 2 -3 months longer even though the medicine course is of 6 months.
The most common medications used to treat TB include:
Isoniazid
Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
Ethambutol (Myambutol)
Pyrazinamide
However, if you infected with drug-resistant TB, that will require several drugs at once and comes under the category of MDR (Multidrug resistance) and length of treatment can be up to 2 years.
You need to do CBNAAT test to confirm if you have MDR or category 1 TB infection.
Currently, the government of India TB centers does the free CBNAAT test.
(6) Is there any side effects of allopathic medicines?
Tuberculosis medications can be highly toxic to your liver so it is strongly advisable for you to take Ayurvedic herbs or proper nutritious food to avoid any ill effect of tuberculosis. Another related research finds out that with the use of ayurvedic Aswagandha and Chyawanprash the recovery of TB patients was very fast.
(7)How long it takes for tuberculosis to cure
It depends upon the type of TB disease one is infected with. With allopathic treatment alone one needs minimum 6 months treatment for a simple TB disease however in case of MDR, multi-drug resistant TB the treatment can go up to 2 to 3 years and unfortunately that treatment has lots of side effects.
However along with allopathic treatment when ayurvedic medicine or herbs are also taken, the patent can recover faster with less side effects.
(8)Can TB patent do yoga?
When people say yoga they often mean hatha yoga which is the physical aspect of the yoga system. The answer is absolute yes as yoga will help boost the immune system by reducing stress.
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(9)Is Tb curable permanently?
If you complete the whole allopathic treatment & keep your immune system strong with nutritious food than the answer is of course yes.
(10)Can TB come back after treatment?
Unfortunately Yes, if you inhale TB bacteria again and your immune system is weak you may catch TB again.
(11)Can TB kill you?
Yes, it can kill people if they don’t take medicine and don’t complete the course.
(12)How long TB bacteria last in the air?
It depends where exactly TB bacteria is expelled in the air and if that area is damp or full of sunlight. TB bacteria can’t live long in presence of sunlight and airy place.
(13)Who is most at risk of Tuberculosis?
Anybody who has a weak immune system and has exposure to Tb germs or living in the area where TB is widespread such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, or most country of Africa.
(14)Is TB is airborne?
Yes TB is airborne. Tuberculosis bacteria are carried via airborne particles. TB bacteria spread when an infected person who has Tb disease cough or sneeze.
To be continued…