| Anthrax. Smallpox. Plague. Diseases that can kill. | | | | aroma of a cup of spicy tea (there are many blends |
| Diseases that are now in the hands of terrorists. | | | | available, or make your own) could help forestall |
| What if these diseases were released in your | | | | anthrax.Medicinal mushrooms are not only immune |
| hometown, or the place where you work? What | | | | system tonics, they possess antibacterial properties |
| could you do if vaccines and treatments were in | | | | which make them ideal for preventing anthrax |
| short supply or unavailable? Is there anything you can | | | | infection, according to expert Paul Stametes. A |
| do now to prepare yourself and improve your | | | | tincture or strong infusion of any shelf fungus with |
| chances of survival?Herbalist Susun Weed recognizes | | | | pores can be used, he says. If you prefer to buy |
| the possibility of biological warfare and she is ready | | | | your mushrooms, rather than hunt for them, look for |
| to cope with it. With her help, you too can be | | | | reishii (Ganoderma lucidum) or shiitake (Lentinus |
| prepared with herbs and home remedies that you | | | | edodes). Both are adaptogenic, revitalizing, |
| can use now to help avoid infection and to build a | | | | regenerative, and able to directly suppress infection. |
| strong immune system. You can feel safer in these | | | | Side effects, even from large doses, are |
| troubling times by learning about herbs that are | | | | rare.Essential oils are antibacterial, and some sources |
| effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and that | | | | suggest rubbing them inside the nose or spraying the |
| can be used in conjunction with, or in place of (should | | | | air with these extremely concentrated oils to counter |
| there be a lack of) modern antibiotics.Anthrax | | | | anthrax infections. I don't. Essential oils are likely to |
| bacteria (Bacillus anthracis) enter the body through | | | | cause a variety of side effects (such as damage to |
| breaks in the skin or through the nose and lungs. | | | | the mucus surfaces of the nose and lungs, and |
| Early symptoms (which may take up to a week to | | | | stress to the lymphatic system) that could, |
| occur) include reddish-black sores on the skin or in | | | | paradoxically, make infection more likely and more |
| the lymph nodes around the lungs. Hemorrhagic fever | | | | virulent.Cayenne and golden seal are antibacterial, but |
| and death follows. Treated early, anthrax succumbs | | | | too strong to be used as preventatives. Snuffing hot |
| to antibiotics and most people (75-80 percent) | | | | pepper up your nose would kill anthrax, but at the |
| recover completely. Even without treatment, | | | | risk of irritating your nose and respiratory passages, |
| according to some sources, more than half of those | | | | damaging their protective mucus surfaces, and |
| infected survive. (Genetically-engineered varieties may | | | | stressing your immune system. I rarely use golden |
| kill up to 90 percent of untreated victims.) The | | | | seal, not only because it can cause severe side |
| inhaled variety is more lethal because the early | | | | effects, but also because it is approaching extinction |
| symptoms of infection are easily ignored, delaying | | | | in the wild.I prefer safer antibacterial herbs such as |
| treatment past the point of most effect, and | | | | Echinacea, usnea, or poke root, which not only kill |
| because pneumonia infections frequently complicate | | | | infection, but also help us keep our immune systems |
| the recovery. Anthrax is not contagious; that is, it is | | | | strong. That, of course, is the desired result from |
| not passed from person to person.The antibiotic | | | | immunization: to strengthen the immune system and |
| Cipro is one of the treatments approved by the US | | | | alert it to the possibility of anthrax infection. Anthrax |
| government for those definitely exposed to anthrax, | | | | vaccines currently available for animals are not |
| but neither it nor any other antibiotic can prevent | | | | suitable for humans, and one prepared for people is in |
| infection. It is dangerous to take antibiotics "just in | | | | short supply (and only 93 percent effective). To |
| case" for then they may not work when actually | | | | achieve full immunity, one must have immunization |
| needed. Instead, try these home remedies.Salt is | | | | shots every two weeks for six weeks, then again at |
| lethal to bacteria. The simplest home remedy for | | | | 6, 12, and 18 months. Given that, herbs seem a |
| those worried about exposure to anthrax is to rinse | | | | superb alternative: they have an extensive history of |
| your nose with salt (any kind will do) mixed into | | | | countering resistant bacteria and strengthening the |
| water. Taste your mixture to be certain it is very | | | | body's natural defenses.Echinacea root is the all |
| salty. Getting this up your nose can be accomplished | | | | American immune system strengthener. It triggers |
| by putting your nose into the salt solution and | | | | production of white blood cells, interferon, |
| snorting it in, or you may wish to buy a "neti pot," a | | | | leukocytes, T cells, and B lymphocytes, as well as |
| device from India used to rinse the nasal passages. | | | | directly inhibiting the growth of most bacteria and |
| Afterwards, blow your nose and spit out any residue | | | | viruses. Peter Holmes, author of Energetics of |
| that runs into the mouth.Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) | | | | Western Herbs, cites it as being effective against |
| has been scientifically shown to kill all gram positive | | | | anthrax. Echinacea tincture is my first choice for |
| and gram negative bacteria. A small spray bottle of | | | | countering infection. (Capsules and pills of Echinacea, if |
| the tincture of the flowering tops can be used to | | | | used for lengthy periods, may be |
| spray the inside of the nose, killing any bacteria | | | | counter-productive.) A dose of the tincture is one |
| lurking there. Spraying tincture in your nose does | | | | drop for every pound of body weight. I take this |
| sting a little and makes the eyes water, but don't | | | | several times a week as a preventative, several |
| dilute it - the alcohol is antibacterial too.Garlic has been | | | | times daily when there is active infection. If I were |
| used to prevent infection for thousands of years; | | | | exposed to anthrax, I would take a dose every hour |
| and it still works! No need to upset your stomach | | | | for at least ten days.Usnea, a common lichen, is |
| (and loved ones) by eating it raw; cooked garlic | | | | especially rich in a powerful antibacterial bitter called |
| retains its antibacterial powers, so long as you eat | | | | usnic acid (also usinic acid). I use the tincture ofUsnea |
| enough of it. During plague times, healers in some | | | | barbataI (a dose is 1-2 dropperfuls), but other lichens |
| areas wore a "bird's beak:" a stiff cone was made of | | | | show similar immune-enhancing and tonifying |
| paper or bark, stuffed with garlic and spices | | | | properties. There are no side effects reported from |
| (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg), and tied on over the | | | | use of even large amounts of usnea tincture.Poke |
| nose to help prevent contagion. That's a little | | | | root tincture (Phytolacca americana) kicks the |
| cumbersome for modern times, but inhaling the | | | | immune system into gear incredibly fast. |