Home Remedies and Herbs for Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that easily spread between humans. While TB mainly affects the lungs, it can also attack other parts of the body including the brain, spine and kidneys. People can be infected with TB but never experience any resulting sickness from the infection.¹ Because some people get sick from TB and some people don’t, there are two types of the infection:²

• Latent TB Infection (LTBI): - People with LTBI have no symptoms or sickness and are not infectious and cannot spread the TB infection to others.
• TB Disease: - People with TB disease cannot fight the infection with their immune systems and eventually LTBI begins to produce symptoms. People with TB disease are considered infectious and can spread the infection to others.

Tuberculosis used to be considered a rare disease in developed countries. However, in the late 1980s, rates of TB started increasing along with the rates of HIV. HIV compromises the immune system. This makes people more susceptible to developing infections like TB. By the early 1990’s rates of TB in developed nations, including the United States, decreased thanks to strong TB control programs.³

What Causes Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis causes are well known the be due to a bacterium called the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacterium is spread between people through microscopic droplets that get released into the air through actions like coughing, sneezing, spitting or laughing.¹ When a person breathes in the TB bacterium, it settles inside the lungs where it starts to grow and attack healthy lungs. From the lungs, the bacteria can grow and spread into the blood and end up in other parts of the body.⁴ Contrary to common belief, TB is not easy to catch. TB causes are not due to being spread through shaking hands, sharing food and drinks, making contact with toilet seats, kissing or sharing toothbrushes.⁴

Tuberculosis Symptoms

Tuberculosis symptoms are only present in people with TB disease, not in people with Latent Tuberculosis Infection. Tuberculosis symptoms include:³

• Persistent cough that lasts more than 3 weeks
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain and painful breathing
• Unintentional weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night Sweats
• Chills

Tuberculosis natural cures can help to control symptoms and can also help to prevent the disease from becoming active in those who have LTBI. Tuberculosis natural cures do this by helping to boost the immune system.

References

1. https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm
2. https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/ltbiandactivetb.htm
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/home/ovc-20188556
4. https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/howtbspreads.htm