Counseling Sheet

Agatha M. Thrash, M.D.
Preventive Medicine

If the onset of sarcoidosis is acute with fever, uveitis, and so forth, there is a good likelihood that the sarcoidosis will have a spontaneous remission. The slow onset sarcoidosis, with skin involvement and lymph node involvement, has a poorer prognosis for spontaneous remission. Therefore, treat the sarcoidosis early with all remedies known to be helpful.

Mullein, comfrey, licorice root and aloe vera are all good herbs for sarcoidosis. Mullein is a demulcent, and helps the alveoli to have proper lubrication. Comfrey is a general healing agent. Licorice root has beneficial steroid-like properties but without the side effects. Aloe vera is a general healing agent.

‍Case Report‍

A book salesman from Florida who sold books door-to-door was diagnosed with sarcoidosis. He was short of breath and had pain in his chest and sometimes down his arms and in his neck. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was confirmed by biopsy and was seen in his chest x-ray as increasing the width of the shadow made by his breastbone, heart, and lymph nodes in the mid-section of his chest. He was anointed by the brethren in his church according to the Scriptural instructions in the book of James. He began to take some herbal remedies, a very spare vegetarian diet, and much vigorous outdoor exercise in his garden. The first day, he was tired and had much pain in his chest. Day by day, as he continued the physical exercise out-of-doors and reduced the time he spent going door-to-door, with the stresses it entailed, he observed that he felt much stronger, and his pain gradually went away. Four months later, he could walk five miles with no difficulty whatsoever. The Lord has blessed him with healing.

Sandalwood has been used for scarring in the lungs, and may be helpful in sarcoidosis. Its use would be long-term, and indications of its benefit would be difficult to assess since sarcoidosis tends to speed up and slow down in its progress. It should be used as an experiment to determine benefit.