Food Poisoning, Ugh! Homeopathy to the Rescue!!
Common symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, fever and general malaise. Symptoms usually come on suddenly, sometimes within hours of eating the contaminated food. Becuase the symptoms can persist for several days, however, food poisoning is often mistaken for a case of the flu. If you experience a sudden bout of nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea a couple of hours after eating, you may be suffereing from food poisoning.
Minor food episodes can usually be treated at home with the remedies outlined below, however, you should contact your healthcare provider for advice if you suspect food poisoning and you develop any of the following symptoms: fever above 102F, severe vomiting, severe diarrhea, especially if it continues for more than 24 hours or contains blood, difficulty breathing or speaking, changes in vision, and/or localized abdominal pain. Any of these symptoms should be evaluated by a professional.
First-aid homeopathic include:
* Arsenicum Album - if the food is of a non-animal source
* Carbo Veg - pain in the center of the stomach
* China - if you feel exhausted and weak, with lower abdomen gaseousness and area is sensitive to touch. It is a good remedy to use once the initial phase of food poisoning has been addressed because it helps the digestive tract to repair itself.
* Colocynthis - stabbing pains in lower abdomen. Food poisoning effects may have occurred after you experienced overwhelming anger.
* Nux Vomica - consuming rich food and/or flesh. If you are feeling irritable, and your abdominal pain is improved by the passing of a stool.
* Phosphorus - if vomiting and diarrhea, burning and pain as stool is passed. Craving ice or iced drinks but unable to keep them down.
* Podophyllum - if greenish colored diarrhea that is worse in the morning and is accompanied by abdominal cramping.
* Pulsatilla - stools are quite varied and consuming fatty foods in the 72 hours after initial food poisoning episode makes the diarrhea worse.
The most important thing to remember in treating food poisoning is that an inflamed stomach tends to go into spasm when stretched, resulting in vomiting. Consequently, if you are vomiting and take anything by mouth, it should be in very small quantities, 1 tsp. or less in frequent intervals. Rest quietly and take frequent sips of fluids.
Do not eat anything until you really want to . Once you feel ready to eat, start slowly, with easily digested foods such as vegetable broth, applesauce, mashed bananas, and diluted juices. Do not consume milk or other dairy products, or proteins during and for at least 72 hours after an episode of food poisoning.
Nutiritional supplements can help? Yes! Probiotics, containing acidophilus and bifidus will reintroduce beneficial flora into the intestinal tract and should be started 24 hours after an episode of food poisoning. Take a dose as directed on the product label three times per day for at least a week. All probiotics should be taken on an empty stomach between meals.
Potassium is beneficial in that it helps restore your body's electrolyte balance. This is especially important if you have a lot of diarrhea or watery stools.
Herbal supplementation can provide added benefits in regaining a healthy gut after food poisoning. Cats Claw helps fight inflammation and infection; Ginger tea can help reduce or stop nausea and cleanses the digestive tract and provides fluids; Goldenseal has antibacterial properties that arrest diarrhea symptoms; and Peppermint helps restore appetite following a bout with bad food.
Prolonged diarrhea and vomiting can cause serious dehydration. If you suspect you are becoming dehydrated, with signs like,
* excessive thirst
*dry mouth
* decreased urination
* weakness, lethargy or lightheaded
You can make and take an oral electrolyte formula following the recipe below.
First glass: 8oz orange or apple juice, 1/2 tsp. honey and pinch of salt.
Second glass: 8oz water and 1/4 tsp. baking soda.
Directions: Take small sips of each, alternative between the two glasses. Stay out of direct sunlight, rest, and continue to take fluids until you feel better!
For more help, contact Ginger at 816-632-9449 or email questions to Health4You2@proton.me