Natural Remedies for Food Poisoning

Hardly anyone ever expects to get food poisoning, since the food or drink itself may look, smell and taste perfectly fine at the time. It’s only a few hours or days after ingesting the contaminated item that the worst of the symptoms may appear. These can include vomiting, severe headache, diarrhea, fatigue, digestion distress, etc. It is vitally important to treat symptoms of food poisoning as soon as they appear.

Our first instinct might be to run to the doctor to get antibiotics for a ‘quick fix’, but antibiotics can wipe out all of the beneficial bacteria in our system. This bacterium is necessary to help balance the “bad” bacteria that we have consumed. We can also develop immunity to antibiotics, so it is only a short lived remedy at best. Are there natural, less harsh remedies we can make and use at home? 

Natural Remedies

One home remedy for food poisoning is complete bed-rest. Many cases of food poisoning are caused by parasites or bacteria, which enter the body by the thousands or millions. As part of our body’s brilliant design, it will begin to send out antibodies to fight the invasion. We should minimize other activities in order to allow our body to heal itself. We should also abstain from any solid food for twenty-four hours so that we don’t place unneeded burden on our digestive system.

Sipping on warm water with added lemon juice will not only be soothing, but it will also assist in the cleansing of our system and fight infection.

An Ayurvedic remedy is to combine 1 tsp black pepper, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp of cumin seeds, and a little sea salt in 4 cups of water. Boil this mixture until it reduces to 2 cups. Sip on this three times daily to cleanse and treat diarrhea.

Chinese herbalism suggests chewing on ginger to ease nausea. Alternatively, sipping on ginger tea would have the same desired effect.

Sipping on tea can be of great benefit to your system. It will keep you hydrated and at the same time help with various symptoms. For example, comfrey root and meadowsweet tea will help to treat infection and relieve symptoms. Arrowroot or slippery elm tea can soothe the digestive tract and help restore bowel health. Licorice tea will help to flush out toxins. Nausea can also increase in intensity if we are stressed, so chamomile tea will not only help to ease digestion and reduce inflammation, it can also induce calmness and even sleep.

Aromatherapy can also assist in our recovery. Spray chamomile oil into the air or rub into the temples to calm and ease symptoms. Lavender oil can be rubbed into the abdomen to reduce any spasms and to help encourage healing. Bergamot on a cold cloth and placed on the head will reduce any fever.

In cases where there is diarrhea with a burning sensation, vomiting and a craving for cold drinks, red phosphorus can help. Phosphorus is obtained from bone ash and can also treat anxieties and fears.

If you wish to induce vomiting to expel the poison, drinking cider vinegar with some warm water will do this.

Travelling

Some individuals fear contracting food poisoning when travelling. Strong spices like cayenne, curry and turmeric have preventive properties against food poisoning and can be added to food and water. Bringing superfoods, MSM powder, green powders, and vitamin C will give your body extra strength to fight whatever you might come into contact with. Oregano oil is also great to have with you as it is known for its ability to stop infections. Taking bentonite clay can be used to remove all the toxins and harmful waste and buildup in our bodies. Additionally, it can resolve digestive distress.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Once our symptoms start to subside and the worst is over, it is time to replenish and heal our bodies. When the vomiting has ceased, ripe bananas can be eaten to help restore the bacterial balance in the gut. Cultured vegetables (fermented foods) and probiotic supplements can help as well.

Prevention

The best remedy for food poisoning is prevention. Good hygiene practices before, during, and after food preparation can reduce the chances of contracting an illness. Keeping our diet clean and fresh is also a great prevention technique.

Let us always rely on our instincts when it comes to the foods we eat.