Dr Life is feeling a little woozy today. Why? Because, while doctors may seem impenetrable, we too are human and susceptible to all the nasty bugs that are out there doing push ups in the parking lot waiting to prey on weak immune systems. This weekend I had the pleasure of experiencing what my patients feel like when they are food poisoned (not on purpose of course)! And this morning as my woozy state lifts (from dehydration) and my appetite slowly returns I felt it fitting to share exactly how I treated myself and how I treat my patients with stomach and intestinal viruses and food poisoning.
For nausea and vomiting: Start with peppermint and ginger.
-Peppermint is known not only for it’s anti- nausea properties, but also for muscle relaxation. What this means is all the spasm and wretching that your stomach wants to do will be calmed. You can take this peppermint in the form of tea (best), or you can put it in a carrier oil and rub it on your abdomen. If your sense of smell doesn’t trigger your nausea, you can also put some on a tissue and inhale it to calm the stomach.
-Ginger is also good for nausea, but another great property of ginger is it’s anti-viral property. So if your nausea and vomiting is from stomach virus the ginger will help to kill the virus therefore speeding up your recovery. To prepare the ginger tea you will need fresh ginger root (found at your local grocery store in produce section). Just cut one inch off the root, peel, slice in 1/2 or 1/4 and boil for 15 min. Add some light sweetener if desired and sip.
Now as for what to eat (when you can eat), it’s best to stay on bland foods during the first 2-3 days. Begin with broths (chicken or vegetable). The old fashion chicken noodle soup is fine. Then you can progress to things like oatmeal, rice, breads, potatoes when your stomach can tolerate it. Next, add back fruits and vegetables (cooked) again as tolerated. You will probably tolerate dairy okay next (yogurt, milk, cheeses last). Finally, (if you are a meat eater) you can add back your meats in the following order: fish, poultry, pork, beef.
Remember if you add back too much too fast you will likely aggravate the situation, setting you back a good bit. So during the first 48 hours avoid meats, dairy, high sugar, spicy and fried foods to avoid doing more damage and feeling much worse.
The most important thing is making sure you stay hydrated. Many times we want to eat first but as you are losing bodily fluids from various places, you will only feel worse the more dehydrated you get. The best suggestion is to alternate water and pedialyte (popsicles if you don’t like the solution) to rehydrate, sipping 4-6 oz every 20 min.
Finally, if you do all of these things and you are still not getting better, or feeling worse, make an appointment with your doctor.
To learn more about how to keep wellness simple, go to www.backtobasicshealing.com!
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