Food Poisoning

As much due to eating food of doubtful freshness as to indulgence in fruit or frozen dishes, food poisoning is frequently described as "a little gut infection" or "bad indigestion".

It may involve a temperature, combined with digestive disorders such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pains. It is normally resolved quickly and without aftereffects, but close attention should be paid to young children, the aged, and those with weak immune systems.

General advice

• Drink. drink, drink - water, bouillon, Coca-Cola. Drink plenty, but only a little at a time
• You should 'refuel' gradually, choosing easily digested foods

Oligotherapy

Zinc

Trace elements are normally supplied in the diet, which should be varied and of good quality. When there is a deficiency, zinc can be given as a supplement.

Dietary sources of zinc

Zinc is widespread in seafood, oysters++, other shellfish. and fish. However it is also found in cereals, some vegetables (broccoli. mushrooms, spinach, haricot beans)... brewer's yeast, walnuts, wholemeal bread, egg yolk, and meat.

• Zinc preparations: there are various forms and brands such as Organic Minerals (Colloidals) which contains 70+ trace minerals:
  - Available in 946ml bottles
  - Take 1-3 caps just before breakfast and/or evening meal
  - Children 1 teaspoon daily for each 20lbs of body weight

Or Maximol (Ionized colloidals):

-Available in 500ml bottles
- Take 1/2 capful once or twice daily on an empty stomach

Or you can take Zinc picolinate (Thorne) which contains 30mg of zinc:
- Available in containers of 60 or 180 capsules
- Take 1 capsule daily, preferably on an empty stomach

Caution

In all the following cases, seek medical advice without delay. Dehydration must be prevented or treated.

• If the symptoms arise after eating wild fungi, canned food, or seafood
• If you notice difficulty in swallowing, speaking, or breathing
• If there is a high temperature
• If there is intense thirst
• If there is continual vomiting
• If diarrhoea is abundant or persistent
• If micturition is weak

Homeopathy

• Aconite: start with Aconitum-Homaccord@ (Heel) which contains Aconitum D2, D19, D30, D200, Eucalyptus D2, D10,D30 and Ipecacuanha D2, D10, D30, D200:
  - Available in drop bottles containing 30 and 100ml
  - Generally ten drops to be taken three times daily Initially ten drops every 15 minutes
• Paratypho'idinum B - six granules at 7c just once a day for two or three days
• Arsenicum album - four granules at 5c, two or three times a day for several hours or days, increasing the intervals between doses as improvement occurs

Or you can take Oiarrheel@ (Heel) which contains Acidum arsenicosum D8. Argentum nitricum D8, Colocynth is D6, Veratrum D4...
-Available in packs of 30 and 200 tablets
-In general, one tablet to be dissolved under the tongue three times daily. In acute disorders, initially one tablet every 15 minutes

Aconitum napellus

- Vegetable origin: the plant aconite, also known as wolf's bane because the poison it contains was once used in hunting
- Homeopathic remedy for infections that are sudden in onset
- Two characteristic signs: mental and physical agitation

paratyphoi'dinum B

- Animal origin: prepared from bacter ial cultures of Salmonella paratljphi B.
- Homeopathic remedy for food poisoning with abundant diarrhoea

Arsenicum album

- Chemical origin: arsenic oxide
- Homeopathic remedy for food poisoning with acid indigestion
- Characteristic sign: condition improved by warmth

• You can use Lehning@ China Complex 107, which contains Arsenicum album 6x, Belladonna 3x, and Nux vomica 4x
  - Available in 30ml bottles of oral drops
  - Twenty drops to be taken in a little water three times a day between meals; ten drops a day for children
• You can also add a constitutional remedy decided upon after consultation with your homeopath, in this case it will often be Lycopodium, Nux vomica, Sulfur.

Changing the intestinal flora

Probiotics

- When ingested, these micro-organisms can restore the bacterial balance of the intestine. They control the proliferation of harmful bacteria, restore the intestinal flora, reinforce defence reactions, stimulate the immune system, and produce vitamin C;
- They can be found in natural yoghurts containing live bacteria (acidophilus, easeL bitidus), but also in the form of vials, capsules, tablets, and preparations in the pharmacy and in health food shops
- Take one or two doses a day during an infection, when travelling abroad, or following antibiotic treatment.

Possible Side Effects: Mild, but sometimes troublesome wind.

• You can use Acidophilis Extra (Lamberts) - each capsule contains 4 billion live bacteria:
  - Available in containers of 30 and 60 capsules
  - Take two capsules daily, one in the morning and one in the evening with glass of water or with a meal
• You can also take Replete (Biocare) a seven-day intensive probiotic combination of L. acidophilus, B. bifidum and L. bulgaricus:
  - Available in packs of 7 sachets
  - 1 sachet per day

Herbal treatment

Lady's mantle, carob, and purple loosestrife for their intestinal antiseptic action.

Possible Prescription: Obtain from your herbalist a 30ml bottle of mother tine. ture of purple loosestrife. Twenty-five drops to be taken in a little water, two or three times a day.

Lady's mantle

In former times, the alchemists referred to the dew that collected on the large leaves of this plant as 'heavenly water'. Lady's mantle is astringent, and can stop bleeding, slow menstrual flow, and halt diarrhoea.

Carob

This plant, from hot, temperate climes, affects the digestive tract in a number of ways. It encourages emptying of the stomach, relieves abdominal pain, and soothes the irritated colon.

When taken fresh it is a laxative, yet when used dry it soaks up bacteria and acts as an antidiarrhoeal.

Purple loosestrife

This plant is astringent and antiseptic, and very effective in treating diarrhoea and menorrhagia.

Plant essential oils

Ceylon cinnamon bark, and caraway, both antiseptic.

Possible Prescription: Ask your herbalis to prepare 12 capsules of a mixture of 0.01g Ceylon cinnamon, 0.01g essential oil of caraway, and enough colloidal sillica excipient for a NO.2 capsule (the size of the capsule that the herbalist uses for the ingredients). One capsule to be taken twice a day for six days.

Cinnamon

Used as a spice and as a medicinal plant Long considered to be one of the most precious aromatic plants. cinnamon is largely used to provide an aroma in confectionery, in punch, desserts etc. It is a very effective antiseptic.

Caraway

Caraway has an antispasmodic action that is very useful in relieving flatulence and colic. Very commonly used in food in northern European countries, it is a particular ingredient of Munster cheese.

Nausea,vomiting

Nausea is a common symptom experienced by everyone sometime or other, often referred to as 'feeling sick'. It may persist as nausea alone, or end in its logical conclusion, vomiting. Both are most often linked with the ingestion of foods that are poorly tolerated by the body, or to stress, but can sometimes indicate an underlying illness. Neither should ever be taken lightly and if they persist, a doctor should be consulted.

Caution: You should not treat nausea and vomiting yourself unless you are sure of the cause and are quite certain the condition is not serious.

General advice

• Drink moderately in small amounts: weak tea, fruit juice, bouillon, infusions These can be hot, warm, or at room temperature
• Start eating again very gradually, taking easily digested foods and avoiding anything greasy or fried
• If the vomiting persists, and is severe enough to prevent drinking, you should consult a doctor. There may be a risk of dehydration, for which treatment is imperative.

Homeopathy

Nux vomica, ipecacuanha - in that order.

- Four granules of each of these products at 5c, to be sucked like sweets, alternately, three to four times a day between meals, increasing the intervals as improvement occurs

Nux vomica

- Vegetable origin: the fruits of the Strychnos nux-vomica tree
- Homeopathic remedy for digestive disorders due to overindulgence
- Specific sign: improvement after a short sleep

Ipecacuanha

- Vegetable origin: the dried root of a shrub from the tropical forests of Brazil, the ipecacuanha
- Homeopathic remedy for nausea, with or without vomiting
- Specific sign: the tongue is clean, not coated

• You can use Lehning@NuxVomica Complex 49. which contains Arsenicum album 6x, Ipeca 4x, and Nux vomica 3x:
  - Available in 30ml bottles of oral drops
  - Fifteen drops to be taken in a little water three times a day, between meals; ten drops three times a day for children
• You should also add a constitutional remedy decided upon after consultation with your homeopath; in this case it will often be Lycopodium, Nux vomica, Sulfur

Herbal treatment

Ginger, mint, rosemary useful in treating nausea.

Dill, lemon balm, lime useful in treating vomiting.

Possible Prescription: Ask your herbalist to prepare a 60ml bottle of a fresh whole-plant suspension of lemon balm. A half-teaspoonful to be taken in a little water, twice a day.

Thanks to a method of cold stabilization, fresh whole-plant suspension provides the full therapeutic effect naturally present in the whole plant.

Lemon balm

Lemon balm sometimes known as 'bee balm' has been used since antiquity as a 'passport to longevity', thanks to its physical and mental stimulant properties. But above all, it is famous as the principal component of a digestive preparation made since the 17th century in the Carmelite monastery in Rue Vaugirard in Paris, and distributed under the name 'Eau de Melisse des Carmes'. Lemon balm is antispasmodic, encourages the secretion of bile, and helps digestion. These qualities led to its inclusion in the two famous liqueurs, Chartreuse and Benedictine.

Eau de Melisse des Carmes is a mixture of the leaves and flowers of lemon balm, angelica root, lemon zest, and some aromatics (coriander, ground nutmeg and cinnamon, and cloves), macerated in wine. It is basically used like an alcoholic liqueur as an aid to digestion, but can also be used externally on small cuts and abrasions, because it is antiseptic.

Dill

The seeds of dill, a plant related to anise and fennel, are mainly used as a spice in sauerkraut and marinades. They help with digestion, relieve flatulence and freshen the breath.

Ginger

A spice, condiment and remedy all in one, ginger is widely used throughout Asia. It is a useful digestive aid, but above all has a reputation as an aphrodisiac It is used in Chinese cooking because it provides an aroma, is spicy, stimulates the senses, and helps the digestion. You can easily obtain ginger from the more exotic groceries. Grate it finely and add it to some cooked dishes (e.g. chicken).

Plant essential oils

Basil, camomile, cumin

Possible Prescription: You can obtain a 1 ml bottle of one of these essential oils in solution from your herbalist. when symptoms appear, take one drop in an infusion of mint.

Basil

Basil, an ingredient of 'pesto', should be used fresh, because when dried it loses its medicinal properties.

It has a light neurosedative action but is primarily a good digestive remedy, assisting digestion, relieving nausea and vomiting, easing pain, and reducing flatulence.

Camomile

Camomile has many medicinal properties. It is a mild antispasmodic and can be used to treat infant colic as well as gastric or intestinal pain in adults. It encourages digestion and therefore is found in a number of digestive infusions. It can be used to treat nausea and vomiting, and its sedative properties make it useful in nervous conditions, irritability, and minor problems with sleep.