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