YourVitalHealth.com provides information on treatment and prevention of botulism.

Organism
Clostridium botulinum bacteria

Overview
Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacterium. The botulinum toxin causes muscle paralysis of the face, lungs and other nervous tissue. Paralysis of the lungs causes respiratory failure by creating weakness in the muscles that control breathing. It can cause death in up to 7% of infected individuals.

Carriers back to top
Contaminated foods, primarily canned vegetables, fish, fruit; secondarily beef, milk, pork and poultry. It could be spread through the air or by inadvertent or deliberately contaminated food.

Biological Weapons Use
Botulinum toxin could be applied to foods, dumped into water reservoirs, or sprayed from a crop duster. Experts maintain that "with modest facilities, an individual could produce in a relatively short period several hundred thousand lethal human doses" of botulinum toxin (Mullen, Robert K., "Mass Destruction and Terrorism." Journal of International Affairs 1978, 32:1, pg 74). On October 14, 1984, a Red Army Faction "safe house" that included a "primitive laboratory" (according to one source, a bathtub) was discovered in Paris, containing quantities of botulinal toxin. It is believed that Terrorists and several nations now possess biological weapons grade "Type A Botulinum Toxin" or have the capability to manufacture it in large quantities, including Russia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, China, and North Korea.

Toxicity back to top
Botulinum toxin is the single most poisnous substance known. Type-A botulinal toxin, with a mean lethal dose estimated to be as low as a few tenths of a microgram (Kupperman and Trent 1979: 65), has been described as "the most lethal substance known" (Kupperman and Smith 1993: 40; Berkowitz et al. 1972: VIII-40). It has variously been estimated to be a thousand times (Kupperman and Trent 1979: 65) or a hundred thousand times (Kupperman and Trent 1979: 57) more deadly than nerve agents.1 Theoretically, according to one source, a single ounce of BTX (botulinal toxin) is sufficient to kill 60 million people (Jenkins and Rubin 1978: 224). Another author states that "one-half ounce, properly dispersed, could kill every man, woman, and child in North America" (Livingstone 1982: 110).

Contagiousness
Botulism is not contagious. The bacterium may enter the body through wounds, or they may live in improperly canned or preserved food. Clostridium botulinum is found in soil and untreated water throughout the world. It produces spores that survive in improperly preserved or canned food, where they produce toxin. When eaten, even minute amounts of this toxin can lead to severe poisoning. Botulism may also occur if the organism enters open wounds and produces toxin there.

Incubation back to top
The incubation period is usually 8-36 hours, but may be up to 4-8 days.

Prognosis
Prompt treatment significantly reduces the risk of death. Most patients eventually recover after weeks to months of supportive care.

Prevention back to top
The key to prevention of Botulism is the ensuring the safety of the general food supply and your own personal food supply. Sterilize home canned foods by pressure-cooking at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. A healthy immune system may improve your chances. To make certain that you keep your immune system at its peak, Dr. Hansen recommends the following:

Treatment
Treatment A supply of antitoxin against botulism is maintained by CDC. The antitoxin is effective in reducing the severity of symptoms if administered early in the course of the disease. The objective of treatment is to establish a clear airway, provide aid with breathing, give botulinus antitoxin, and provide supportive therapy. Emergency hospitalization is recommended for immediate detection of respiratory mpairment. Antibiotics are often given, but have not been shown to be beneficial.

If breathing difficulty develops, intubation (a tube inserted through the nose or mouth into the trachea to provide an airway for oxygen) and mechanical ventilation are given. Intravenous fluids can be given while swallowing difficulties persist. Also, naso-gastric tube (tube inserted in the nose to the stomach) feeding may be initiated.

Additionally, Dr. Hansen recommends taking Homeopathic Biological Defense B: 1 tablet 4 times daily, every 4 hours. (Note: For an possible exposure without confirmed infection: Dr. Hansen recommends taking Homeopathic Biological Defense B: 1 tablet once daily for 8 days as a precaution. If symptoms occur, begin taking 1 tablet 4 times daily, every 4 hours)

Homeopathic Biological Defense B back to top
Homeopathic medicines are natural, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that work via amplification of the body's own healing response. Homeopathic medicines have been used to treat the symptoms of Botulism for more than 100 years. Botulinum is the key homeopathic ingredient. It is made from the toxin of Bacillus Botulinum. It is homeopathically diluted beyond the point of which any actual Botulinum Toxins are present in the final preparation

Indications by Ingredient
The following is a list of indications for each Homeopathic medicine included in the formula for Homeopathic Biological Defense B as described in the approved Homeopathic Materia Medica recognized by the FDA and the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States.