Tuberculosis (TB) mainly affects the lungs. However, it can also spread to other parts of the body — such as the kidney, spine, lymphatic system, and brain. It is curable, but it’s often a long-term treatment plan, so following your doctor’s advice throughout is crucial. Still, here are some tips to manage TB naturally at home—alongside your treatment plan—and accelerate your recovery.
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What is Tuberculosis (TB)? Video
TB is a bacterial disease that usually attacks your lungs, though it can also infiltrate other organs such as your kidneys and brain.
As always, “MedShadow” and its writers do not offer medical advice. You should consult your doctor with any intended change or supplementation to prescribed or recommended treatment plans.
1. Add Protein to Your Diet
Sarcopenia — or the loss of muscle mass and strength often present in older adults because of a lack of physical activity — is also prevalent among TB patients, especially those aged 40 years and older. It’s a sign of undernutrition that results in weight loss and further health decline.
Protein has a significant role in managing TB symptoms and preventing muscle loss. Load up by eating eggs, lean meat, fish, and beans that give the body energy to repair and maintain the affected tissues. Protein can also boost the immune system, help you to maintain an appropriate body mass index, and decrease the risk of sarcopenia.
2. Eat Raw Garlic
Garlic has been used for years to treat various bacterial infections due to its active oil-soluble organosulfur compounds, which include allicin, allyl sulfides, and ajoene, which are responsible for exhibiting antibacterial properties. Studies found crude garlic extract rich with allicin performed better at killing Mycobacterium phlei, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria than antibiotic drugs isoniazid and ethambutol.
Garlic also activates the lymphatic system to facilitate the draining of waste fluids from the body. It’s a process that helps decrease inflammation, which is critical in health since reactivation of latent TB often starts in the lymph nodes, and they are also common sites of extrapulmonary TB. If you notice swollen nodes or abnormalities, it could be a TB-related symptom. It’s best to check with your healthcare provider to identify the cause.
Raw garlic can be potent, so get health advice to determine how much you should eat. The general recommendation is 1–2 cloves or 3–6 grams daily.
3. Stock Up on Antioxidants
People with active TB have reduced vitamin C, E, and selenium levels — which have antioxidant benefits — compared to healthy controls. They also have increased levels of malondialdehyde — a marker of oxidative stress linked to many diseases.
TB triggers oxidative stress that further weakens your immune system and causes you pain. Eating more foods rich in antioxidants — such as beans, spinach, spices, herbs, and blueberries— is essential to equip your body with the sickness-fighting compounds it needs.
4. Load Up on Vitamin D
Vitamin D maintains bone health, muscle function, and boosts the immune system. One recent study found it can help manage TB symptoms by suppressing the bacterial reproduction. Experts see it as a promising solution to manage the condition and restore oxidative balance in the body.
Since the body can’t synthesize vitamin D, the only way to get it is through sunlight, eating foods with vitamin D, and taking supplements. It’s best to get some sunlight in the morning, when possible. If you require supplements, refer to your doctor’s recommendations. Some foods you can include in your diet are fatty fish, egg yolk, and cod liver oil.
5. Drink Tea
Tea contains polyphenolic compounds, including epigallocatechin gallate that may help treat infectious diseases, including TB. One study documented the impact of tea drinking on TB incidence in over 63,000 individuals. After following these people for 16.8 years, researchers found consuming black or green tea was inversely correlated with developing active TB, meaning participants who drank the teas most often had the lowest risk for developing an active tuberculosis infection.
If you’re living with someone with latent TB, drinking tea can be an excellent strategy to help keep the infection at bay.
6. Try Aromatherapy
Unmanaged stress and other psychosocial factors can compromise the immune system’s vaccine response. Instead of healing, you become more susceptible to diseases when you’re distressed. People with TB may benefit from aromatherapy to reduce their stress levels so their immune systems can function at their best.
Various essential oils are used in spas as diffusers or massage oils to provide a soothing effect — researchers wanted to determine if the same relaxed state could be achieved for TB patients. They studied 29 patients and found both lavender and peppermint aromatherapy were effective in minimizing stress and could be used as a non-drug therapy to complement medicinal TB treatment. The next time you feel pressure, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the diffuser to decompress.
7. Learn Relaxation Techniques
Several psychological symptoms are associated with TB, so addressing these through relaxation techniques can help prevent worsening inflammation. In one study, 47.9% and 42.6% of TB patients had depression and anxiety, respectively. Those with depression, anxiety, or both also had more dysfunctional immune responses to the disease.
Stress management strategies like breathing exercises, meditation and hobby-based activities can help moderate stress contributing to these mental health symptoms. Read more on managing your stress with MedShadow’s article here.
Manage Tuberculosis Symptoms Naturally
Tuberculosis disease can reduce your quality of life. It can be life-threatening at worst, but it’s treatable and symptoms are manageable with proper care. Prioritize nutrition to provide your body with all the resources to fight and contain the infection. Use aromatherapy to relax, and learn how to manage stress to minimize the psychological impact of the disease.
