Tuberculosis is abbreviated as TB, which is one of the most feared communicable diseases. The Ayurvedic name for tuberculosis disease is Rajyakshma or Kshaya roga. The disease is an air borne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease generally affects brain, spine and kidney.
As the bacteria causing the disease is an air borne micro organism, it affects only those people whose immunity to fight against the bacteria is low. There are various treatments for tuberculosis in Ayurvedic medicines.
Ayurvedic View of Tuberculosis
- According to Ayurveda, the disease arises as a consequence of an imbalance of all the three doshas of body — vata, pitta and kapha.
- This leads to blocking of the srotas or the various channels and later the emaciation of dhatus or the body tissues, resulting in tuberculosis.
Ayurvedic Cure for Tuberculosis
- Aamla — Extract the juice of fresh fruit of aamla and take approx 20 ml twice with 1 tsp of honey.
- Vacha — Mix 1 tsp each of vacha powder and licorice in honey or warm water and take it twice.
- Cinnamon — Cinnamon combats phlegm and it has been researched that cinnamic acid has anti-tubercular properties. Take 1 to 3 gms of powdered cinnamon along with warm water twice a day.
- Cloves — both external and internal use of cloves reduce the vitiation of both the fire and phlegm body humors.
- Coconut oil – Ayurvedic therapy also recommends treatment of tuberculosis by coconut oil. It can be taken internally as well as applied locally.
- Neem — Neem bark contains an oily substance which helps in tuberculosis treatment. Prepare a decoction of the bark and take approx ½ a cup daily.
- Ashwagandha — Roots decoction of Withania somnifera or Ashwagandha along with long pepper and honey is used as a cure for the disease.
Characteristic Symptoms of Tuberculosis
- Loss of weight, loss of appetite and general malaise.
- Rising temperature in evening, night sweats and recurrent bouts of cough.
- The cough lasts for more than 3 weeks and remains unexplained.
- Pain in chest and sometimes blood in sputum.
Types of Tuberculosis
There are following types of tuberculosis –
- Tuberculous osteomyelitis
- Tuberculous salpingitis
- CNS Tuberculous
- Gastrointestinal Tuberculous
- Renal Tuberculous
- Adrenal Tuberculous
- Scrofula Tuberculous Lymphadenitis
- Cardiac Tuberculosis
These are some of the treatments of tuberculosis in Ayurveda medicine.
