Guide to Herbal Remedies

Infectious Diseases is an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and management of infectious and sexually transmitted diseases in humans, as well as related molecular genetics, path physiology, and epidemiology.

Infectious diseases kill more people worldwide than any other single cause. Infectious diseases are caused by germs. Germs are tiny living things that are found everywhere – in air, soil and water. You can get infected by touching, eating, drinking or breathing something that contains a germ. Germs can also spread through animal and insect bites, kissing and sexual contact. Vaccines, proper hand washing and medicines can help prevent infections.

Anaerobic infections are typically supportive, causing abscess formation and tissue necrosis, often the result of thrombophlebitis and/or gas formation. Many anaerobes produce enzymes that devitalize tissue as well as some of the most potent paralytic toxins known. Clues to the presence of anaerobic infection include gas formation in tissue, foul feculent odors, and abscess formation or tissue necrosis.

Over the centuries, man has gone from a simple diet consisting of meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains, to a diet that often consists of foods rich in fats, oils, and complex carbohydrates. Nutritional excess and nutritional deficiency have become problems in today’s society – both contributing to several chronic diseases.

Sore Throat
Sore throat is a symptom of many medical disorders. Infections cause the majority of sore throats and are contagious. Infections are caused either by viruses such as the flu, the common cold, mononucleosis, or by bacteria such as strep, mycoplasma, or hemophilus.

Treatment
Diet and Nutrition Give plenty of liquids, especially if the child is vomiting. Avoid dairy products and large meals.

Homeopathy Drosera rotundifolia or Aconitum napelius will help, especially at night.

Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for:
Herbal Medicine White horehound, mullein flower, thyme, and lavender may be prescribed.

Chickenpox
Chickenpox is caused by a virus called varicella zostervaricella zoster. People who get the virus often develop a rash of spots that look like blisters all over their bodies. The blisters are small and sit on an area of red skin that can be anywhere from the size of a pencil eraser to the size of a dime.

Treatment
Naturopathy Give plenty of fresh orange juice, lemon tea, or lemon juice sweetened with honey. Sponge the spots with tepid water. Three tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate added to a bath of lukewarm water should help ease itching.

Homeopathy Rhus tox. will soothe the irritation: Antimonium tart. can help heal the scabs.

Herbal Medicine An infusion of elderflower sponged onto the spot, should relieve itching. For fever, offer yarrow, lime blossom, or meadowsweet herbal tea.

German Measles (Rubella) Rubella is an acute viral disease whose symptoms include a slight pink rash of tiny spots, starting behind the ears or on the face and spreading down the body, and possibly watery eyes and swollen glands.

An infectious disease is a disease or sickness that happens when an organism (a living thing such as a plant or animal) is attacked by a pathogen. Pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses, and other germs) are too small to see. Some infectious diseases are contagious, which means that the sick plant, animal, or person can get other things sick. The pathogen can get from one organism to another through air, food, water, blood, or physical touch. Usually, the sick organism heals. Then, the organism’s body learns how to fight the pathogen. If the pathogen attacks again, the immune system knows how to fight it.

Infectious disease is a large cause of pain and death. Infectious diseases cause about 25% of all deaths. These three pathogens cause the most deaths such as, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that infects the human immune system. It causes AIDS. Vitamins, supplements and herbs have long been used by people with HIV to help manage the side effects of their therapies or improve their general health. Sore Throat is also A virus or bacterium infectious diseases. There are many alternative medicines are treat sore throat.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Caused by a bacterium, whooping cough attacks the mucous membranes that line the airways. The illness may last up to four months and can be extremely serious. Whooping cough symptoms include a “whoop”, or noisy intake of breath, at the end of a cough, accompanied by a mild fever, runny nose, and loss of appetite. Tuberculosis is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Its symptoms include a long-lasting bad cough, pain in the chest, coughing up blood or sputum. Chickenpox highly infectious disease is caused by the herpe, zoster virus.

German Measles (Rubella) is an acute viral disease whose symptoms include a slight pink rash of tiny spots, starting behind the ears or on the face and spreading down the body, and possibly watery eyes and swollen glands. A cool infusion of lavender, sponged onto the skin, should help relieve any itching. Malaria in travelers typically manifests weeks after patients leave the endemic area. Symptoms include a rash of very itchy spots, usually on the body, which then spreads to the limbs, face, and head. Try to avoid scratching, which spreads the infection. Wear long pants and shirts with long sleeves.

There are hundreds of pathogens present in the environment capable of causing infectious diseases in humans. Some of these diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Ebola are highly dreaded where death is the only way of getting rid of the infection. Most of these diseases occur as a result of certain risk factors that can be categorized into controllable and uncontrollable risk factors.

Some of the risk factors that can cause disease are highly ignored and not attended to properly. These sorts of risk factors are known as controllable risk factors. It is possible to control the spread of infectious diseases and prevent an outbreak by managing these factors in a proper way. Some of the risk factors of infectious diseases are explained below.

1. Unprotected sex: Sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS occur mainly due to unhealthy or unprotected sexual practices. It is always better to use condoms while having sexual intercourse. Apart from that, one should always avoid performing oral sex with a stranger. It is always better if one remains faithful to his/her better-half.

2. Untreated open wounds: This factor poses the biggest risk to getting infected with pathogens. Open wounds should always be treated with immediate affect.

3. Poor hygiene: Soil contaminants such as nematodes spread into the system when people consume food with unwashed hands. It is always good to maintain good hygiene. One should wash hands before and after consuming food. Clothes including innerwear should be changed regularly. They should be thoroughly cleaned using a good detergent.

4. Spoiled food: Several food borne infections such as Brucellosis spread through consumption of spoiled food that is already contaminated with pathogens. Even pathogens such as nematodes spread through uncooked food. Hence, it is important to cook food thoroughly and consume it before it gets spoiled.

5. Unhealthy diet: Diet that lacks important ingredients such as proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates can lead to decreased immunity. Individuals with unhealthy diet are highly vulnerable to infectious diseases.