Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis or consumption is one of the most
dreaded diseases. It is a major health problem in India and often rated the number
one killer. Over five lakh people die of this disease every year. Tuberculosis
is caused by a tiny germ called tubercle bacillus which is so small that it can
be detected only by a microscope. The germ enters into the body through the
nose, mouth and windpipe and settles down in the lungs. It multiplies by
millions and produces small raised spots called tubercles.
Tuberculosis is not hereditary but an infectious or
communicable disease. Those suffering from the disease for a considerable time
eject living germs while coughing or spitting and when these enter the nose or
mouth of healthy persons, they contract the disease. Mouth breathing and kissing
as well as contaminated food and water are also responsible for spreading tuberculosis.
Symptoms
Tuberculosis is of four types, namely of lungs,
intestines, bones and glands. Pulmonary tuberculosis or tuberculosis of the
lung is by far the most common type of tuberculosis. It tends to consume the
body and the patient loses strength, colour and weight. Other symptoms are a raise
in temperature especially in the evening, a persistent cough and hoarseness,
difficulty in breathing, pain in the shoulders, indigestion, chest pain, and
blood in the sputum.
Causes
Lowered resistance or devitalisation of the system is
the chief cause of this disease. This condition is brought about mainly by
mineral starvation of the tissues of the body due to an inadequate diet; and
the chief mineral concerned is calcium. In many ways, therefore tuberculosis is
the disease of calcium deficiency. There can be no breakdown of the tissue and no
tuberculosis growth where there is adequate supply of organic calcium in the
said tissue. Thus an adequate supply of organic calcium in the system together
with organic mineral matter is a sure preventive of the development of
tuberculosis.
Lowered resistance also results from a variety of
other factors such as suppression of the disease by drugs and medication, use
of stale, devitaminised and acid forming foods, eating wrong combination of
food, such as taking fruits with starchy foods at one meal, causing fermentation
the stomach; wasting of energy through excessive loss of semen and living in ill-ventilated
houses. Other causes include exposure to cold, loss of sleep, impure air, a sedentary
life, overwork, contaminated milk, use of tobacco in any form, liquor of all
kinds, tea, coffee and all harmful drinks. The factors prepare the ground for
the growth of germs of various kind, including tubercle baccilus. These germs
may be present in the body but are quite harmless for those who are full of
vitality and natural resistance.
Treatement
Tuberculosis is no longer considered incurable if it
is tackled in the early stages. An all round scheme of dietetic and vitality
building programme along natural lines is the only method to overcome the
disease. As a first step, the patient should be put on an exclusive fresh fruit
diet for three or four days. He should have three meals a day of fresh, juicy
fruits, such as apples, grapes, pears, peaches, oranges, pineapple, melonor any
other juicy fruit in season. Bananas, dried or tinned fruits should not be
taken. For drinks, unsweetened lemon water or plain water either hot or cold
may be taken. If losing such weight on the all-fruit diet, those already under weight
may add a glass of milk to each fruit meal.
After the all-fruit diet, the patient should adopt a
fruit and milk diet. For this diet, the meals are exactly the same as the
all-fruit diet, but with milk added to each fruit meal. The patient may begin
with a liter of milk the first day and increase by quarter liter daily up to
two to two and a half liters according to how the milk agrees. The milk should
be fresh and unboiled, but may be slightly warmed if desired. It should be
sipped very slowly. The fruit and milk diet should be continued for four to six
weeks. Thereafter, the following dietary may be adopted:
Breakfast: Fresh
fruits, as obtainable, and milk. Prunes or other dried fruits may also be
taken, if desired.
Lunch: Steamed
vegetables as available, one or two whole wheat chappatis and a glass of buttermilk.
Dinner: A
bowl of raw salad of suitable vegetables with whole wheat bread and butter.
Stewed fruit or cooked apple may be taken for dessert.
At bed time: A glass of milk.
The chief therapeutic agent needed for the treatment
of tuberculosis is calcium. Milk, being the richest food source for the supply
of organic calcium to the body, should be taken liberally. In the dietary outlined
above at least one liter of milk should be taken daily. Further periods on the exclusive
fruit diet followed by fruit and milk diet should be adopted at intervals of
two or three months depending on the progress. During the first few days of the
treatment, the bowels should be cleansed daily with the warm-water enema and
afterwards as necessary.
The patient should avoid all devitalised foods such
as white bread, white sugar, refined cereals, puddings and pies, tinned, canned
and preserved foods. He should also avoid strong tea, coffee, condiments,
pickles, sauces, etc. The custard apple is regarded as an effective food remedy
for tuberculosis. It is said to contain the qualities of rejuvenating drugs.
The Ayurvedic practitioner prepares a fermented liquor called sitaphalasava
from the custard apple in its season for use as medicine in the treatment of tuberculosis.
It is prepared by boiling custard apple pulp and seedless raisins in water on
slow fire. It is filtered when about one third of water is left. It is then
mixed with powdered sugar and candy and also the powder of cardamom, cinnamon
and certain other condiments.
Indian gooseberry has proved to be an effective
remedy for tuberculosis. A tablespoonful each of fresh amla juice and honey
mixed together should be taken every morning in this condition. Its regular use
will promote vigour and vitality in the body within a few days. Regular use of
radish is also beneficial.
The patient should take complete rest of both mind
and body. Any type of stress will prevent healing. Fresh air is always
important in curing the disease and the patient should spend most of the time
in the open air and should sleep in a well-ventilated room. Sunshine is also
essential as tuber bacilli are rapidly killed by exposure to sun rays. Other
beneficial steps towards curing the disease are avoidance of strain, slow
massage, deep breathing and light occupation to ensure mental diversion.
Hydrotherapy
Certain water treatments are helpful in cases of
tuberculosis. The patient’s vital resistance can be built up by a carefully
planned graduated cold bath routine twice a day. The intensity of the cold
applications should be gradually increased to achieve satisfactory results.
However, care must be taken to keep the patient from catching a chill. A short
hot fomentation with alternate short cold application to the chest and back,
and in the stomach region or a neutral immersion bath (water temperature 98° to 100°F) for an hour just before retiring at night is also beneficial.
Certain yogic practices are beneficial in the
treatment of tuberculosis in its early stages. These include asanas like
viparitakarani, sarvangasana and shavasana and jalneti kriya and anuloma-viloma
pranayama.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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