A tiny germ called tubercle bacillus, which is so small that only a microscope can detect it, causes tuberculosis, which is also dangerous, since it is an infectious disease. This germ enters into the body through the nose, mouth and windpipe and settles down in the lungs; later on it multiplies by millions and produces small raised spots called tuberculosis. 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.

Symptoms of Tuberculosis:
Tuberculosis 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 of Tuberculosis:
Lowered resistance or devitalisation of the system is the chief cause of this disease. This condition is brought about mainly by lack of calcium of the tissues of the body due to an inadequate diet, thus, being a calcium deficiency disease. Lowered resistance also results from a variety of other factors such as suppression of the disease by drugs and medication, use of stale and acid forming foods, eating wrong combination of foods, such as taking fruits with starchy foods at one meal, causing fermentation in 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 kinds, including tubercle bacillus. These germs may be present in the body but are quite harmless for those who are full of vitality and natural resistance.

Treatment of Tuberculosis by Nature Cure:
Diet:
The patient should be put on an exclusive fresh fruit diet for three or four days, by having three meals a day including fruits like apples, grapes, pears, peaches, oranges, pineapple, melon or any other juicy fruit in season. However, fruits like Bananas, dried or tinned fruits should not be taken. Apart from the fruits, drinks like unsweetened lemon water or plain water either hot or cold may be taken. If losing much weight on the all-fruit diet, those already under weight may add a glass of milk to each fruit meal. During the first few days of the treatment, the bowels should be cleansed daily with the warm-water enema.

After the all-fruit diet, the patient should adopt a fruit and milk diet and continue the same for about four to six weeks. The patient may begin with drinking a litre of fresh and unboiled milk (it may be slightly warmed, if desired) the first day and increase by quarter litre daily upto two to two and a half liters, to be sipped slowly. 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. Thereafter, the following dietary may be adopted:

Breakfast: Fresh fruits, dry fruits like prunes and milk are to be taken, if desired.
Lunch: Steamed vegetables as available, one or two whole-wheat chapatis 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 bedtime: A glass of milk.

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.

Exercise:
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.

Treatment of Tuberculosis by Yogic Asanas:
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.

Water Treatment:
The patient`s vital resistance can be built up by a carefully planned graduated cold bath routine twice a day. 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 100F) for an hour just before retiring at night is also beneficial.