tuberculosis, Ayurvedic and yogic approach

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Life begins and ends with a Breath!

 

In supporting Life itself the lungs are among the most important of

all the organs.

 

Amongst diseases of the lungs TB is the most difficult to treat. In

fact, posts 11415, 11431, 11444 give the opinion that there is no

ayurvedic cure for TB, despite it being discussed as " Kshaya " in

ancient texts. Pessimistic statements prod this author to write

something more on the subject.

 

While most lung diseases are covered adequately on ayurveda, TB

has not been greatly discussed. Approximately 45 years ago, the

author's sister suffered from TB and the remedies prescribed for her

by our family Vaidya together with additional remedies have been

recorded in post #11434. The additional remedies posted today are

those the author learnt about from his Guru.

 

For other members a short introduction to TB from the modern

scientific model is given here.

 

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease usually affecting the lungs,

although it can affect other parts of the body such as the lymph

nodes, kidneys, bones, skin, and joints, etc. The infection spreads

through airborne droplets from a sneeze, cough, or even just talking.

Our immune system attacks the bacteria for up to eight weeks after

infection. If the immune system is strong, it will kill all the

bacteria during that time frame and completely clear the condition.

If the system is not quite strong enough to totally destroy the

bacteria, they remain in the body in an inactive state and cause no

symptoms. They can remain in this latent condition until illness or

old age compromise the immune system enough for the bacteria to

become " active. "

 

In the few who have latent TB, the infection advances to the " active "

phase. There still may be no visible symptoms for many years - but

even if there are no visible symptoms damage is occurring and

infection can be transmitted to others. This is what makes TB

especially insidious. A person who has no idea they have active TB

can unwittingly infect hundreds of other people simply by sneezing in

a crowd.

 

The allopathic drugs need to be taken for 6 to 9 months and as side

effect can cause severe liver damage and the patient develops a

dislike of, or nausea for the drugs. Taking inadequate dosages or

stopping the treatment prematurely can cause drug-resistant strains

of the bacteria which are more dangerous and difficult to kill. This

generates drug resistant TB, needing up to two year courses of highly

toxic allopathic drugs. Even after treatment, surgery to remove

infected areas of the body to repair the lung damage may still be

necessary. This form of TB sends four out of five patients to the

graveyard. The higher order form of the TB list continues, resistant

to antibiotics given in cases of drug resistant TB.

 

Here we are dealing with a fatal airborne disease with a global

potential.

 

Just a couple of days ago W.H.O. announced that cases of drug-

resistant TB in parts of the former Soviet Union had reached the

highest rates ever globally recorded:

 

http://www.who.int/tb/challenges/xdr/news_feb08.pdf

 

The report showed that 22% of multi-drug resistant cases in Baku,

Azerbaijan, were in newly diagnosed people and that 19.4% of drug

resistant cases in Moldova were also new cases. They announced that

it was feared that these rates could soar even higher, spreading the

potentially fatal disease elsewhere.

 

These levels surpassed the highest levels that nearly all experts had

once thought possible. As Dr. Mario C. Raviglione, Director of

W.H.O.'s TB program, said in an interview, " We are seeing levels of

multi drug-resistant TB that we never expected – 20% is a very high

level, " when W.H.O. started a drug surveillance project in 1994, he

said, " the general thinking was that multi drug-resistant TB would

never be a real problem, since it was felt to be confined to immuno-

suppressed patients. " A decade ago when W.H.O. first received reports

of 9% to 10% rates of multi drug-resistant TB in some areas, many

scientists thought the figure was inaccurate. Experts also said that

higher rates were impossible. But as Dr. Raviglione now says, " It is

possible; it tells you they are really doing something wrong in

places where this form of TB is spreading…..if we don't act now,

we're going really to risk a disaster of enormous proportions here. "

 

Ayurveda and Yoga approach

 

Ayurveda follows the statement by Pasteur on his deathbed, " soil is

everything, germ is nothing " . And ayurveda often does not act

directly on the germs themselves, but strengthens the immune system

and reduces ama, the food for germs.

 

Being an airborne disease, it always invades the body through the

lungs. Many people have weak lungs, ama accumulation in the lungs

causes suffering from asthma, coughing, colds, phlegm, etc. Breathing

techniques can not only strengthen the lungs, but also strengthen

immune system, digestion, reduce ama and boost circulation. Those who

continuously follow breathing techniques originating in the east

will never have to contract airborne diseases, this is an assurance

from the science of Yoga. The author now gives you a simple breathing

exercise which will try to save you from the invasion of coughs,

colds, asthma and TB for a lifetime. If a patient is already

suffering from any of these maladies you may find significant

reduction in their symptoms, this is all that can be stated in the

present scenario of " sponsored medicines " and health literature. We

can suggest improvement in health, not assure of any specific cure of

the condition!

 

Get up early in the morning. This is the time when noise pollution is

least and air pollution is also reduced. Ozone percentage in air is

slightly higher at this time of day. True Brahmins are supposed to

get up at 3 am, to worship Brahman, the knowledge.

 

Go for a walk, preferably after evacuation of bowels if possible.

After few weeks of exercise, your circadian rhythm will adjust so

that bowels will move even at 3 am, when you get up fresh. Beginners

can start this yoga remedy at say 5 or 6 am. Some gardens and jogging

parks in Mumbai open at 5 am.

 

Sit outside in an open air location, preferably in Vajrasana or

sukhasana. If it is difficult to fold the legs, sit on a chair or

garden bench, etc. When you breath in, suck the air through both the

nostrils, without putting much effort. When breathing out, force the

air out with the mouth half closed so that it makes a swishing sound.

The more the pressure of exhalation, the louder the sound. This

forceful exhalation automatically ensures deep breathing during

inhalation. Heart patients need not exert too much pressure. As the

oxygen levels in the blood increases, our nervous system knows the

benefit and you may begin to exert more pressure subconsciously.

It is well known that not only bacteria but even cancer tumors commit

suicide in an oxygen or ozone rich environment. Weak or infected

lungs become healthy when using breathing techniques. Increase the

number of inhale-exhale cycles slowly and reach up to fifty cycles in

a months time. Listen to your body and follow its rhythm. Shavasana

after breathing gives an advantage that is obtained by meditation.

The subconscious is very receptive at this time and you can put some

indoctrination into it. This breathing exercise is to be carried out

only once a day, only in the morning on empty stomach. It is

preferable to drink a glass or two of copper water before starting so

that mucous lining get hydrated.

 

Acharyas recognized the potential of the spread of TB through the air

and therefore living in seclusion in places with fresh air was highly

recommended. The philanthropists in society created sanitariums

especially for TB patients, many existing even today in major cities.

The classical treatments of " Kshaya " mentioned in Samhitas is not a

subject for discussion here, but rather the air itself is the main

focus of the health pathway. The breathing technique mentioned here

attempts integration of ayurveda and yoga, to reach a goal of

inexpensive treatments in the reach of everyone, especially the

downtrodden who may often be found in the grip of TB, as a

occupational hazard. Classical treatment can be dealt with by the

other vaidyas of this list. They are very expensive, and most

patients prefer inexpensive remedies.

 

Following dietary tips and home remedies compiled by this author from

his learning and Gurus, will help you further. Whether suffering from

T.B., frequent coughs and colds, asthma, pneumonia, dry coughs, or

pleurisy, it does not matter which one. Keep listening to your body

and if you have some problem, contact your nearest vaidya. Breathing

difficulties can cause you to experience nightmares through the

allopathic approach, e.g. visit the following site:

 

http://www.doctorslounge.com/chest/forums/backup/topic-3195.html

 

Take about 10 ml honey everyday around breakfast time. Honey

strengthens the lungs and gives relief from several other symptoms.

There are many articles on honey and its benefits in the list's

archives. It is especially recommended when there are parasites, lung

diseases, debility, etc. Honey itself has antibiotic properties.

Garlic is like an elixir for TB. It can stand as an alternative to

dangerous antibiotics. But it must be taken for a long time. Take two

buds of Indian Garlic, crush it with eight black dried grapes and

pound together. Eat this 30 minutes after the meal. The garlic

available in western countries is so big, that even a single bud will

be large dose. Author does not know how much dose should be taken

with this large variety. In such cases, mixing the juice of a clove

of garlic (10-20 ml) with the juice of the Ardusi leaves (25-30 ml)

has been recommended in post 11434 and supported in

 

http://health.ayurveda/message/12349

 

To enable the expulsion of mucous from the lungs, reduce coughing and

to make the lungs stronger, the following simple remedy may be tried.

 

Take 1 tsp black pepper (2-3 grams) and crush. Mix in a little ghee

and honey. Ensure that honey exceeds ghee by 2:1 ratio. Lick this

mixture slowly twice a day at breakfast time and at sunset.

 

To improve the blood circulation and Haemoglobin, take 10-15 dried

black grapes (Munakka in most Indian languages). Soak them in a cup

of water overnight. They swell due to soaking. Remove the seed from

each one and chew them well. Drink the soaked water too. This must be

done on empty stomach. Carry on for at least 6 to 8 weeks. The pus,

mucous in the lungs and whizzing reduces and the asthma attack

frequency will also reduce. The drink acts a little like a laxative

too. Chronic constipation, cough, piles, mouth ulceration,

menorrhagia, urinary track infection, anaemia, itching, sperm

debility are various conditions where this remedy helps. If you soak

the grapes further in milk for another half an hour, it acts as a

tonic for increasing strength too. Milk here means Indian cow milk

only.

 

Many other herbs such as ardusi, coriander, turmeric, ginger, peepal

bark, flaxseed, haritaki, tulsi, onion that can be used by Vaidyas

to make specific dosages for the patient to tame and relive the

symptoms of asthma/TB/chronic cough, dry cough, etc. Some of these

remedies have already been indicated in post #11434.

 

For children with frequent cough attacks, 1 tsp flaxseed, steeped in

200 ml boiling water for an hour and mixed with crystal sugar gives

relief when given twice a day.

 

If you can get fresh Ardusi leaves, extract 1 tsp of their juice, mix

it with 1 tsp ginger juice and 1 tsp honey and take just before

breakfast.

 

Take 1 cup cow or goat's milk, add 1 cup water and 3-5 grams of black

pepper powder. Boil on slow fire till 1 cup remains. Drinking this

milk twice a day will help, not only in TB, but also other conditions

of cough and chest congestion.

 

Haritaki, Ardusi and black grapes mixture ( the dose is 5 grams

thrice a day) helps not only in lung diseases but also in reducing

the bleeding in conditions such as nose-bleed, excess menstruation

etc.

 

Yogasanas which help lung diseases mostly start with alphabet m.

Makarasan, Mastyasan, Marjarasan and Naukasan. While many home

remedies have been given, choose them under guidance of a vaidya and

yoga teacher so that a proper balance is maintained.

 

The last food for the day should be finished before 7 pm local time.

All parasites (germs) become active after dark, according to

spiritual principles also. Digestion of the food consumed in the dark

hours is weak and gives rise to ama, in which all parasites can grow.

Hence early to bed, early to rise and start the day with breathing

exercises. All breathing techniques, under guidance, can be carried

out by anyone, despite poor health. Breathing strengthens the whole

body, as the maximum benefit we can take from our environment is the

air we breathe and not the food we eat.

 

Editing help received from Jane MacRoss is gratefully

acknowledged.

 

 

ayurveda , Ala Sudol <alasudol wrote:

>

> Namaste,

> Does anyone have some suggestion how to treat

> tuberculosis without using antibiotics? And how about

> the dormant state of virus, ? Is there something to

> worry about?