Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of some herbal and foods on tuberculosis patients

Abstract EN

This study was conducted to determine the effect of treatment of certain foods and herbs in treatment and improving the health status of tuberculosis patients.

The study was conducted on 60 patients in Mansoura Chest Hospital – Dakahlia governorate of both sexes (48 males, 12 famales) aged 18-60 years.

Some physicall measurements of weight, length and clinical examinations were conducted by hospital doctors.

Some laboratory tests were carried out on blood samples of the patients to identify the proportion of hemoglobin and hematocrit.

Also the sputum samples were taken to estimate the extent of tuberculosis incidence.

Patients were divided into four equal groups (15 patients each) as follows: group1 (positive control group) fed on hospital meal only.

Group 2 was fed on the hospital meal in addition to the herbal mixture drink (echinace, juniper, honeysuckle and horehound) 3 times daily.

Group 3 was fed on the hospital meal in addition to the mixture of liquid consisting of honey bee, grounded yellow fenugreek, peanut and goat's milk 3 times aday.

Group 4 was fed on both the mix of herbs and the liquid mixture.

All the four groups continued on the hospital drugs beside food treatments over the period of the experiment (3 months).

The herbs mixture and liquid mixture were subjected to sensory evaluation and chemical analysis to identify their contents of protein, fiber, ash, moisture and fat.

All the mentioned tests were run during the frist and second months of the experiment and at the end of the trial period (3 months).

The combination of herbs showed the best results in the elimination of the tuberculosis bacteria.

Meanwhile, the liquid mixture recorded the best results in improving hemoglobin and hematocrit and increasing the weight of normal TB patients.

Basedon the results, mixed herbs and liquid mixture can be used together side by side with hospital medicines to improve the patients' health status in a short period of time.

Key words: Tuberculosis, Juniper, Horehound, Echinacea, Sputum examination, Peanut, Fenugreek, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Therapeutic effect.