7 Natural Remedies For Food Poisoning.
If hunching over a porcelain bowl purging is not how you’d like to spend the rest
of your day, why not raid your pantry for some all-natural items that will eliminate
those nasty pathogens in your body.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is akin to a miracle
potion of sorts, and ACV helps with the body’s elimination channels to rid it of harmful
wastes and toxins. Often prescribed as a home remedy for indigestion issues, ACV’s antimicrobial
properties are so potent that the organic acids in vinegar (especially the acetic acid)
actually pass into cell membranes to kill bacteria. A study also found acetic acid to
be extremely lethal against E.coli strains, while lemon juice, or a combination of lemon
juice and vinegar, battle salmonella well.
Combine two tablespoons of ACV with warm water and drink. Go for the raw, organic and unfiltered
type that has the ‘mother’, or strands of protein and other helpful enzymes, still
intact.
2. Rehydrate! Food poisoning poses the risk of dehydration,
due to the purging experienced during diarrhoea and vomiting. Mild dehydration is common and
can be fixed by increasing your intake of fluids. However, severe dehydration may prove
fatal, as the body has an insufficient volume of water to sustain normal physical functions
and regulatory activities.
Replenish by drinking more fluids. Consume fresh, clean water as well as electrolyte-rich
drinks. Instead of going for sports drinks saturated with chemical sugars, give an easy
yet natural recipe like switchel a go. Another solution is to create your own Oral Rehydration
Salts from a litre of water, two teaspoons of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of salt and six
teaspoons of sugar. A more flavourful option is to have chicken soup.
3. Activated Charcoal. Activated charcoal may sound peculiar as a
prescribed remedy, but it is often administered to those with food poisoning. Activated charcoal
works its magic by adsorping (and no, it’s not a typo!) the harmful bacterial. Adsorption
is technically the property of a substance to attract and hold something to its surface.
It’s a fast process that neutralises foreign invaders, and activated charcoal is an effective
adsorbent that prevents the toxins from being absorbed into the body, hence stopping food
poisoning from progressing. Activated charcoal does not irritate the mucous membranes of
the gastrointestinal system. However, it is only able to retrieve the substances that
are still in the stomach or intestines, not those already absorbed by the gastrointestinal
tract.
4. Ginger. This Asian favourite is a powerhouse in curing
gastrointestinal ailments and quelling nausea. Traditionally used in Chinese medicine to
rid the body of ‘wind in the stomach’ (stomach bloating), ginger can bring relief
from the symptoms of food poisoning, and is touted to even reduce the severity and duration
of nausea, though not the vomiting itself. Make hot ginger tea, or add a teaspoon of
honey into ginger juice and drink it down to battle the tummy blues.
5. Honey. A sweet yet sensational natural remedy for
virtually anything, honey’s antifungal antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities has made
it an invaluable staple in both the kitchen and our day to day lives. Manuka honey is
known to be an extremely powerful variant of honey that is able to inhibit the growth
of the bacterial strains causing the food poisoning. Add in to your tea, or dilute a
spoonful in water for a sweet, energising yet soothing drink. Honey can be combined
with several of the other natural remedies listed here for a one-two punch!
6. Lemon Juice. Lemon juice is another versatile natural remedy
that is often used due to its immunity boosting, antiseptic and antibacterial properties. The
acidity of pure, undiluted lemon juice increases the acidity of the stomach, killing the microorganisms
and toxins, such as E.coli, that are in the gastrointestinal tract. Add it to your tea,
or drink a tablespoonful of pure lemon juice once every 4-5 hours to help cleanse and soothe
your stomach.
7. Basil. Basil is another extremely powerful natural
home remedy to curing acute stomach infections caused by tainted foods. Basil juice helps
to stop vomiting instantly, and adding a teaspoon of honey, a fellow antibacterial and antifungal
agent, provides quick relief. Another alternative would be to mix chopped or crushed basil leaves
and sea salt to three tablespoons of yoghurt with a pinch of black pepper. Consume this
three times a day until the symptoms of food poisoning stop.