Symptoms of food poisoning include loss of appetite, stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, muscle aches, and weakness. Most food poisoning resolves in 12-48 hours and can be managed at home, but if you have severe abdominal pain, severe dehydration, blood in your vomit or stool, or more than three days of symptoms you will want to consider seeking higher care.

One of the main issues we run into with food poisoning is the ability to keep anything down, especially supplements and mediations in capsule or tablet form. This is why we lean on remedies in a liquid form or, in the case of homeopathic remedies, dissolvable pellets.

Here are a few of my favorite strategies to resolve food poisoning quickly!

Electrolytes

I tell my patients that the MAIN THING to avoid when they have food poisoning is dehydration. Sipping on electrolytes to stay hydrated is important and my favorite electrolytes are Re-Lyte by Redmond (affiliate - 10% discount available!)

Activated charcoal

Used in the emergency department for certain types of poisoning or overdose, activated charcoal can also help absorb toxins from food gone bad and decrease bloating.

Bentonite Clay

Food-grade bentonite clay also absorbs toxins from the nasty chemicals that can be released with food poisoning.

Ginger

This powerhouse herb is anti-nausea and anti-spasmodic. And it comes in many forms to tempt a tender tummy: tea, ginger brew, ginger candy, tincture, etc. My company, Sage Sirona, features many different forms of ginger in our Natural First Aid Kits. I also like peppermint and chamomile to soothe the digestive tract.

Probiotics

Certain probiotic strains such as saccharomyces boulardii can squeeze out the bad bugs and re-establish proper flora, reducing and shortening the length of food poisoning symptoms.

Nux vomica (homeopathic)

This homeopathic remedy is a go-to for food poisoning and overindulgence in food or alcohol, particularly if the person is retching but can’t vomit and get any relief.

Ipecac (homeopathic)

This homeopathic remedy is particularly useful for food poisoning with intense nausea and vomiting, especially if the vomiting doesn’t relieve the nausea.

Both Nux Vomica and Ipecac are remedies I stock in The Kid’s Kit for Sage Sirona.

Carob Powder

When we have diarrhea, our first instinct is to shut it down. But, personally, I’m not a fan of Immodium. This anti-diarrheal will, of course, stop diarrhea but if my body is trying to flush out toxins from a food poisoning bug I don’t necessarily want to put the brakes on that process. If I want a more gentle way to slow down diarrhea, I will mix anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon of carob powder in water to provide some relief. I have included carob powder in Sage Sirona’s Home & Office Kit.

IV Fluids & Anti-Nausea Medications

Sometimes, food poisoning causes a person to become extremely dehydrated. Dehydration only prolongs the nausea, pain, and cramping that comes along with food poisoning. At times like these, an IV that provides hydration can speed recovery. Of course, an IV can be obtained in the ED but there are a lot of options for mobile IV therapy too!

Medications can be helpful, too. The most helpful anti-nausea meds can come in the form of an IV, an injection, a dissolvable tablet, or a rectal suppository. Over the counter medications, like bismuth salicylate (Pepto), can be helpful and found in a liquid or chewable form. Just be warned that some people are allergic and that bismuth can turn your stool black. Other anti-nausea medications, such as Zofran (ondansetron), can be very helpful but must be obtained through a healthcare provider or you can find it in The Wellness Company’s Medical Kits (affiliate).

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* Recommending to a Type 1 diabetic that they don’t need insulin (it happens!).

* Putting drops in an ear without looking at the eardrum.

* Skipping annual bloodwork.

* Ignoring high blood pressure.

* Buying supplements from Amazon.

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Disclaimer: Remember that the information in this article is not medical advice. I’m A doctor, but I’m not YOUR doctor and I don’t know your medical history or any other details about your condition.

I believe that knowledge is power (Schoolhouse Rock-style!) and don’t want this information to scare you. Knowledge is empowering and you can use this information to light a fire under you to get started on your journey to take your health (and your family’s health) more into your hands.

What I don’t want to see is you accidentally self-sabotaging your health with common mistakes I’ve seen people make for years. So, as promised, here is the link for you to join my free webinar Pitfall Patrol! Navigating DIY Health Hazards.

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