Advice on prevention and control of TB

Tuberculosis mainly affects lungs, intestines, bones, glands and brain with its meanings. Pulmonary tuberculosis or tuberculosis of the lungs is by far the most common type of tuberculosis. In the adults, the disease is characterized by cough with sputum, haemoptysis (spitting up of blood from the respiratory system), weight loss and night sweats.


Abnormal physical signs are present in the lungs and X-rays may show infiltration, cavitation, calcification and fibrosis. None of these signs and symptoms applies to primary tuberculosis in children.

Most children who are infected with tuberculosis anywhere in the body apparently look well, with no symptoms or signs. A few have a mild fever for a few weeks, may become cheerless and loose a little weight or fail to gain weight. In most cases, the primary focus heals with no further trouble. In some cases, however, clinical disturbances do occur at different stages of the disease process. Here are some common symptoms of tuberculosis.

• A bad cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks.
• Weakness or fatigue.
• Pain in the chest.
• Fever.
• Sweating at night.

• Persons anxious to lose weight can eat rice boiled without salt, sugar or spices. In cases of chronic dysentery or tuberculosis, rice cooked with lentil soup in the form of rice cooked with lentils is beneficial.
• Indian gooseberry is another valuable remedy for tuberculosis. A teaspoon each of fresh indian gooseberry juice and honey mixed together should be given to the child every morning in treating this disease. Its regular use will promote vigour and vitality in the body within a few days.
• The juice of pineapple has proved beneficial in the treatment of tuberculosis. It has been found to be effective in dissolving mucus and aiding recovery. This juice was used regularly in the past in treating this disease when it was a more common disease.
• A preparation made from vasaka flowers, known as gulkand is used to treat tuberculosis. A few fresh petals of vasaka flowers should be bruised and put in a pot of china clay. Some sugar crystals should be added and the jar kept in the sun. It should be stirred every morning and evening. The preserve is ready for use in about a month. Even the juice from its leaves is useful in treating tuberculosis. About 30 ml of the juice should be taken thrice a day with honey. It relieves the irritable cough with its soothing action on the nerve and by liquefying the sputum, which makes expectoration easier.
• The use of orange has proved useful in curing tuberculosis. The juice of this fruit should be mixed with a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of honey and taken regularly by the patient. Due to its saline action in the lungs, it eases expectorations and protects from secondary infection.
• The use of bottle gourd is considered an effective remedy for tuberculosis. According to Dr. C.D. Mehta of Bengal, T. B. Sanitorium, bottle gourd is one of the best vegetable useful for tuberculosis patients. He has carried out extensive researches which confirm that regular use of cooked bottle gourd helps in developing immUnity against tubercular germs.

I would recommend you read more about tuberculosis on both the CDC.gov and WHO websites.  A strong immune system is the best prevention for any illness.  Healthy food choices, sufficient pure/filtered water, and exercise are all important to staying healthy. Naturo-pathically, it is the "terrain" that keeps people healthy. Personally, I believe the BCG vaccine may trigger tuberculosis symptoms in susceptible individuals--particularly in children whose immune systems are not yet fully developed.  As a result, I would treat anyone who had received this innoculation with homeopathic remedies to clear manifestations of disease.  Homeopathically, there are other ways susceptible people may develop tuberculinic symptoms and these would also be treated with appropriate homeopathic medicines.  Tuberculinum, is the homeopathic nosode which is often used alone/or in combination with other treatments.