Often times, what seems like it’s a case of the common cold or flu can spread more than expected or winds up affecting areas outside your respiratory system. If this has happened to you, it’s a good idea to talk with a doctor to get correctly evaluated. You may have contracted a fungal infection, which is the case of Blastomycosis.
To fight it, today we’ll share five effective and natural treatments for the symptoms of Blastomycosis that you can easily try.
What is Blastomycosis?
Blastomycosis is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs, skin, and bones. Also known as Gilchrist’s disease, this infection is caused by a fungus known as Blastomyces dermatitides.
The respiratory system is the most affected, because the most common form of infection is through the airways when inhaling the fungus. Depending on the status of your immune system, the fungus can enter the bloodstream and spread to other tissues such as bones or skin.
This fungus is usually found where there’s decaying organic material, such as leaves and branches, and in moist soils. It rarely enters through the skin and is therefore less likely to reach other parts of the body. This type of cutaneous Blastomycosis tends to heal on its own.
Symptoms of Blastomycosis
Pulmonary blastomycosis doesn’t always have symptoms unless it begins to spread to other tissues of the body. In that case, the symptoms are similar to acute flu or pneumonia, such as:
- General discomfort
- Muscle pain or fatigue
- Joint pain
- Pain in the thoracic area
- Fever
- Cough (may include mucus with remnants of blood)
- Dyspnoea
When it comes to cutaneous blastomycosis, there are lesions that can be seen in areas such as the armpits, neck, face, or limbs. The symptoms are usually:
- Pustules or skin disorders that may look like ulcers or warts
- No presence of pain
- The warts can be gray or violet in color
- The nose or mouth are the places where symptoms tend to appear most
- The pustules can bleed easily and form ulcers
5 Natural Treatments for Blastomycosis
Given the characteristics of this disease, it can easily be confused with other conditions and finding the right treatment can be a bit tricky. No matter what, it’s important to get treatment by a doctor first.
Then, natural remedies can be very helpful for some of the symptoms. Here are some options:
1. Coconut oil
This oil is well known for its numerous properties, including being both anti-fungal and antibacterial. Because of this, it’s a very useful tool for treating fungal infections.
Ingredients:
- Coconut oil (as needed)
What should you do?
- Consume one teaspoon of coconut oil per day (5 ml).
- Where there are skin lesions, apply some of the oil to the skin after showering.
2. Garlic
Garlic is an excellent anti-fungal treatment and is highly recommended in the treatment of diseases caused by fungi, as is the case of blastomycosis. Thanks to its content of allicin, this herb stimulates the immune system.
Ingredients:
- 2 cloves of garlic or 1 garlic capsule (in case it’s unpleasant to eat raw garlic)
What should you do?
- Consume two cloves of garlic a day or a capsule of garlic three times a day.
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a great ally for the treatment of infections.
It helps strengthen your immune system, and taking this vitamin can reduce the symptoms of blastomycosis.
Ingredients:
- Citrus fruits (mandarins, lemons, oranges, etc.)
- Vitamin C capsules
What should you do?
- Eat at least one citrus fruit a day.
- If you prefer, you can take one capsule of vitamin C daily.
4. Eucalyptus vapors
Eucalyptus stands out thanks to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Because of this, it’s widely used in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract, since it helps to eliminate the possible causes of infections.
Ingredients:
- 10 drops of eucalyptus oil
- 4 cups of water (1 liter)
- 1 towel
What should you do?
- First, add the drops of eucalyptus oil to water and heat.
- Then, when it reaches a boil, remove from heat.
- After, cover your head with a towel and place your face over the saucepan with the liquid.
- Preferably, the towel should cover the surface of the saucepan to prevent steam from escaping.
- Inhale deeply so that the steam penetrates your nostrils until the water cools.
5. Goldenseal
In addition, the herb known as goldenseal is another powerful antifungal agent. If your take it in conjunction with other remedies that have the same properties, its effectiveness is even greater.
Ingredients:
- 10 drops of goldenseal tincture.
- 1 cup of water (250 ml)
- Goldenseal capsules (in case the taste seems unpleasant to you)
What should you do?
- Add the drops of goldenseal tincture to the water and stir.
- Drink this preparation three times a day.
- Otherwise, take one capsule three times per day.
These natural remedies can be very useful to treat infections of fungal origin, as in the case of blastomycosis. However, don’t forget to check with a trusted doctor first.
When you know the specific characteristics of your disease and find the best way to treat it, natural remedies can become your greatest resource for dealing with the symptoms!
Via: eMedicineHealth | eMedicine
