Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disease of the mucous and sweat glands, which affects mostly the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses and sex organs. This condition is also known as CF, Fibrocystic Disease or Mucoviscidosis. CF is caused by a defect in the CFTR gene which makes a protein that controls the movement of salt and water in and out of the cells of the body. A dysfunction of this gene causes the thick, sticky mucous and very salty sweat, which are the main features of this condition. CF is an inherited disease, which is more common in people from Northern Europe, Latin Americans and Native Americans.

Common symptoms of CF include frequent coughing with thick sputum; bronchitis; pneumonia; salty skin; dehydration; male infertility; diarrhea or bulky, foul smelling or greasy stools; stomach pain and discomfort; and failure to thrive. CF can also cause sinusitis, bronchiectasis, pancreatitis, recurrent intestinal blockage, nasal polyps, clubbing, collapsed lung, rectal prolapse, liver disease, diabetes, gall stones and low bone density. The sweat test is the most useful diagnostic test for CF.

The Ayurvedic treatment of CF is aimed at liquefying the thick sticky mucous, preventing blockage in secretory organs and preventing or controlling infections. Medicines which act on the ‘Ras’ and ‘Rakta’ dhatus (tissues) of the body are useful in this condition. These medicines include Indrayav (Holharrhina antidysentrica), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Patha ( Cissampelos pareira) and Musta (Cyperus rotundus). Other medicines which are useful in this condition are Arogya-Vardhini, Triphala-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Gokshuradi-Guggulu and Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu. Medicines like Sunthi (Zinziber officinalis), Marich (Piper nigrum) and Pippali (Piper longum), which are collectively called Trikatu; and medicines like Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Behada (Terminalia bellerica) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), which are collectively known as Triphala; are very useful in this condition, and have to be given on a long term basis, or probably life long, in very small doses.

Since this is an inherited disorder, life long life-style changes need to be made. Good self care includes eating a healthy diet, washing and exercising frequently, drinking lots of fluids, doing chest physical therapy regularly and taking medicines as prescribed. It is important that all such patients be under the regular care and supervision of a medical team which specializes in CF.

By: Abdulmubeen Mundewadi

About the Author:

This documentary short explores the struggles of living with cystic fibrosis. Produced by and for Current TV.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease of humans caused by homozygosity for a recessive gene (aa). In a particular large population, the frequency of newborns affected wth cystic fibrosis is 1 in 3,600. In this population, what proportion of marriages between genetically unrelated normal individuals is at risk of producing a child affected with cystic fibrosis? Is it:

1 family in 30

1 family in 300

1 family in 36

1 family in 900

1 family in 15

My friend had a little girl 2 weeks ago and today @ her 2 week check up she was told that the CF test they do in the hospital @ birth came back positive and they are re-testing and she will have results in 3 weeks. They also told her there is a high “false positive” rate.
Has anyone heard of this?
I am a CF carrier, and had to go to genetic counseling when my husband and I were in infertility treatment (he ended up not being a carrier) and never heard of this screen on infants…do they do it to them all? Are there false positives?? I just want to ease her mind.

My friend had a little girl 2 weeks ago and today @ her 2 week check up she was told that the CF test they do in the hospital @ birth came back positive and they are re-testing and she will have results in 3 weeks. They also told her there is a high “false positive” rate.
Has anyone heard of this?
I am a CF carrier, and had to go to genetic counseling when my husband and I were in infertility treatment (he ended up not being a carrier) and never heard of this screen on infants…do they do it to them all? Are there false positives?? I just want to ease her mind.

-What specific part of the cell/structure allows the mucus secretions to be thick and viscous rather than fluid (i.e., is it a membrane channel, organelle or something else)? Please be specific and describe the step-by-step mechanism whereby this altered structure/part of the cell causes the secretions to contain less water.
-Why does Alvin have salt crystals forming on his skin? Explain the mechanism for this.
-What is the accepted treatment for children with cystic fibrosis? Make sure to list at least three and explain why they work (i.e., what is the purpose of each individual treatment).
-List and explain the mechanism of at least two experimental treatments that are currently being tried to help patients with cystic fibrosis.
-Briefly describe how gene therapy may help cure a genetically inherited disease like cystic fibrosis.

link to website with more info (like who alvin is) http://www.sciencecases.org/cf/cf.asp

If you can’t answer all the questions (only some) that’s better than nothing.

Symptoms: Tired, unable to focus, headache, sleeping but not feeling well rested, appetite suppressed slightly, slightly anxious,

If anyone who has cystic fibrosis or is a medical professional that can give me some clues. I can give some more information if needed.
Sorry that the post was very general. Obviously I have the disease. I am asking if anyone who has this disease has experienced any of these symptoms on top of the everyday symptoms that occur. Yes, I have the availibilty to seek professional advice from my doctor just wondering if anyone who also has cf has had anything like this? Thanks, Hope this is more specific for the two people who posted below.

My 16 month old daughter had a sweat chloride test done and The number came back at 53. They say 40-60 is borderline. I was wondering if anyone out there had the same thing and what the outcome was. They are sending her to get more tests done on her lungs, but I am wondering if her number can still be high and not have cystic fibrosis. I am very scared I also have a 6 week old little girl and my 16 month has all the symptoms including the very salty taste to her skin. Can anyone tell me if this has happened to them and what advice they can offer me.

He’s had a terrible cough during his entire 2.5 years of life. He has been prescribed and is taking Claritin, Benadryl, Singulair, Zyrtec, Flovent, Albuterol, and Nexium. In the past he has had pulmicort and prednisone as well. His doctor’s say that since his symptoms are not being helped by these medications they have ruled out asthma, acid reflux and allergies. He goes in for a Barium swallow tomorrow morning and on Monday he has a Cystic Fibrosis sweat test.
Does anyone out there have any experience with anything like this? What could it be? We can’t let him run anymore because he’ll start coughing so hard his body shakes. Rescue inhalers don’t work….nothing helps.
Any help at all would be appreciated so much!!! Thank you.
Also, he has been diagnosed with viral pneumonia 4 times in the past 6 months. He is given antibiotics each time.

treatment