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