Treating Food Poisoning

With the amount of travelling we are doing now, especially during the summer months, the possibility of food poisoning is ever more likely to affect us and our families. Unless the whole family is affected, it is often difficult to distinguish symptoms of food poisoning from a stomach or gastric flu, which can affect many in the community - a tummy bug doing the rounds.

With both food poisoning and gastric flu, the symptoms can be very similar - discomfort and diarrhoea (which disappear within a few days). Salmonella is the most common source of food poisoning and can be life-threatening in severe cases. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning are typical of other types of food poisoning, including stomach cramps, watery diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. A fever may be present. In the case of salmonella, stomach discomfort and diarrhoea occur between 6 hours and a full day after consuming food, and often continue for up to 5 days without treatment. Symptoms from other poisons can start within half an hour or not for a full two days.

Food poisoning occurs when a toxic substance has contaminated a particular food and is then eaten, causing sickness. Poisons can be bacteria or toxins produced by bacteria, but some plants and mushrooms can also be poisonous by nature. Fish and shellfish can be poisoned by toxins in the water. In most cases, however, bacterial contamination is caused by handling food with unclean hands. If the food is then kept at room temperature, the environment is ideal for bacteria to grow.

To prevent poisoning, eat perishable food only when it has been kept cold or hot (near boiling), but not if it has been left at room temperature for any length of time. Cook poultry, seafood and meat thoroughly before it is ready to be put in the oven. It may develop bacteria, which contaminate the meat. Barbecues are a leading cause of food poisoning due to the meats not being cooked well enough or left to stand for long periods uncooked in the sun. Never eat food from bulging or damaged tin cans. Honey given to infants under I year of age can cause infant botulism.

If food poisoning occurs, drinking a broth made from garlic and onions, which acts as a detoxifier, and potassium-rich vegetables like parsley and celery, will help the body rid itself of toxins. Drink citrus juices diluted with water to provide Vitamin C, which helps detoxify the body. Blueberries or Bilberries will kill the bacteria and can prevent diarrhoea that results from eating food which is no longer fresh.

Ginger Root Tea will stop the nausea and cleanse the digestive tract. Black tea made very strong works wonders to stop diarrhoea in food poisoning; it will also help kill the bacteria causing the diarrhoea.

The natural bacteria in Acidophilus are very helpful in fending off harmful germs. Acidophilus can be taken as a preventative. I remember once a group travelling to rural China. The individual in the group who had the chance to take Acidophilus with him didn’t get tummy upsets while the rest of the group did suffer from the dreaded travellers’ diarrhoea.

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM

Medical Herbalist