Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is most commonly a reaction to toxins produced by
bacteria. These
organisms thrive in food that is not prepared hygienically, that is kept out of
refrigeration for too long, or that is not thoroughly cooked.
Most cases of food poisoning are the result of food being handled by unclean
hands or the failure to cook meat long enough and at a high enough temperature
to kill microorganisms. For example, if a cook shapes hamburger patties and then
cuts raw vegetables, without washing his hands in between, bacteria from the
meat can migrate via his hands to contaminate the vegetables. Foods with
mayonnaise-type dressings that have been left out of refrigeration for too long can
also cause problems, as can cooked foods (such as pizza) that have been removed
from heat and left at room temperature for too long. Other food poisonings occur
as a result of a toxic reaction to poisonous plants, certain types of mushrooms, or
contaminated shellfish. Eating raw fish or shellfish, foods containing raw eggs
(such as homemade eggnog or Caesar salad dressing), food that was canned
improperly, or food from damaged cans can also lead to food poisoning. Another
possible cause is exposure to chemical contaminants such as heavy metals or
pesticides.
Common symptoms of food poisoning include
nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea,
abdominal pain and cramping, fever, and general malaise. Symptoms of food
poisoning usually come on suddenly, sometimes within hours of eating the
contaminated food. Because the symptoms can persist for several days, however,
food poisoning is often mistaken for a case of the
flu. If your child experiences a
sudden bout of nausea, vomiting, and/ or diarrhea a couple of hours after eating,
he may be suffering from food poisoning.
If you have any suspicion of food poisoning, contact your child's physician
immediately if any of the following symptoms develop:
- Fever above 102°F.
- Severe vomiting.
- Severe diarrhea, especially if it continues for more than twenty-four hours or contains
blood.
- Difficulty breathing or speaking.
- Changes in vision.
- Localized abdominal pain.
Supplements and herbs
See age-appropriate dosages of herbal remedies
- Ginger tea helps to stop nausea and cleanse the digestive
tract, as well as
providing fluids. Give your child one dose, three times a day, for the first
twenty-four hours.
- Curing Pill formula, a Chinese herbal combination, helps to resolve diarrhea,
nausea, and stomach pain. Give your child one dose, three or four times a day,
for the first day or two following an episode of food poisoning.
- Goldenseal tea is useful as an antibacterial for resolving diarrhea. It has a bitter
taste, however. If your child will accept it, give him one dose, three times a day,
for the first twenty-four hours.
- A paste made from the Japanese umeboshi plum is gentle and very settling
for a child's upset stomach. This can be diluted
in warm water and drunk as a tea, or you can put a small dab (about 1/4 teaspoon)
on your child's tongue and have him eat it. It has a pleasing taste and is very
gentle, so it can be repeated frequently.
- Peppermint tea may help to restore
appetite following a bout of food
poisoning. Try giving your child one dose, three times a day, for two to three days.
Homeopathy
Take the remedy as often as needed, according to symptom intensity.
This may be every half hour, hourly or less often with improvement.
- Arsenicum
Poisoning from canned food, bad fish or meat, ice cream, fruits
(especially melon), alcohol, old cheese, cold drinks. Ptomaine poisoning.
Violent burning pains in stomach. Extreme thirst for sips of cold water.
Diarrhea of foul, dark stool; followed by exhaustion. Restless, weakness.
Worse: cold food, after midnight, Better: hot food, drink or compresses.
- China
Effects of bad fish, meat, fruit or beer, sour wine or milk, impure water,
tea, smoking, alcohol. Distended with
gas, but passing it gives no relief.
Effects of fluid loss (prolonged vomiting or diarrhea). Irritable,
insomnia.
Worse: slightest touch, after eating, after stool, night, drafts, alternate
days. Better: hard pressure, bending double, loosening clothes, warmth.
- Carbo veg
From rich food, high living, decayed food, poultry, fats, butter, coffee,
milk, wine. Low vitality with chilliness, exhaustion,
fainting. Sleepiness.
Belching, heaviness, fullness.
Colic, with foul flatus; bending double.
Worse a half hour after eating. Empty, gnawing; as if full of sharp stones.
Worse: least food, warmth, pressure of clothes. Better: belching, cool air.
- Ipecac
After eating unripe fruit, berries, pork, veal, rich food, sweets, smoking,
sour, acid things. Indigestion, stomach feels as if hanging down.
Diarrhea.
Constant nausea; vomiting of food, bile. Cutting pain around the navel.
Accumulation of much saliva in mouth; tongue not coated. Hiccough.
Worse: heat, damp, overeating, ice cream or sherbet. Better: open air.
- Nux vomica
Craves all kinds of rich food, stimulants, spices, fats, but worse from bad
or junk food, bad water, spices, coffee, alcohol, beer, fats, tobacco, etc.
Cramps, sore abdomen and intestines. Gas with pressure upwards.
Irritable, critical, driven, workaholic. Works hard, plays hard, burns out.
Worse: morning, after food, cold, cold water, odors, touch, from medications.
- Veratrum album
Upset from alcohol, cold drinks, tobacco, bad meats or fruits; botulism.
Violent vomiting, retching; yellow, green or black vomit; shuddering.
Extreme cramps, felt allover the body. Craves ice water, acid fruits.
Icy coldness, cold sweat. Excessive weakness or even total collapse.
Worse: least drink, movement. Better: hot drinks, lying, cold milk.
More useful herbs
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