Herbal Remedies To Prevent Travelers Diarrhea
Author: Rebecca Prescott
Travelers visiting many tropical, sub-tropical and developingcountries run an increased risk of suffering a gastrointestinalillness. These are usually caused by bacteria, parasites andviruses. The microscopic bugs at the top of these rather gutwrenching (for all the wrong reasons...) charts are E Coli, thestaphylococci, shigella and salmonella species, campylobacterjejuni, cryptosporidiosis, and hepatitis A.
Infected food is the biggest culprit, with water coming insecond. Ice cream, cocktails served in re-used coconut shells,raw seafood, ice, and food from street vendors are potentialrisks that can interrupt your adventure with less salaciousmemories to pass on to family and friends.
The nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea from such acuteinfections usually sorts itself out after a few days (unless ofcourse you have contracted hepatitis A, or something likegiardia). Certainly, if you are unlucky enough to be sick aftera few days, you should see a doctor.
Fortunately, there are remedies you can take that willstrengthen your immune and digestive system and hopefully giveyour body a better chance at dealing with its new environment.The herbs I describe below would make an excellent travelersmix. The best form to take them in would be as a tincture, whichcan be made up by going to a local herbal dispensary if you haveone in your area, or alternatively, a local herbalist.
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)
Astragalus is a good anti-viral, anti-bacterial, andanti-microbial. The polysaccharides in it support the immunesystem. Astragalus increases the activity of phagocytes, naturalkiller cells, and the levels of antibodies in the blood.
Picrorrhiza (Picrorrhiza kurroa)
This is an Ayurvedic herb that is best given in low doses, ashigher doses can cause diarrhea and flatulence in more sensitivepeople. Its a bitter herb, so it stimulates the digestivesystem. It is also anti-malarial, supports the immune system,and protects the liver. Picrorrhiza encourages all aspects ofthe immune system, such as B and T cell activity, and theactivity of phagocytes. This herb is used in Ayurvedic medicinefor liver related problems and immune problems.
Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis)
Goldenseal is a gut antibiotic, which for example helps reduceadhesive e coli, and encourages some immune functions of thebody. For example, berberine, which is one of its activeconstituents, has been shown to increase the activity ofmacrophages, which digest bacteria and viruses. Barberry alsocontains berberine, so more information on this very valuableconstituent is below. Goldenseal, being a bitter herb, it isalso good for the digestive system. If you are pregnant orsuffer from hypertension, however, you should not takegoldenseal.
Barberry (Berberis Vulgaris)
Berberine, one of the active constituents in this herb is ananti protozoic, which helps protect travelers against giardia,leishmania, and treponema pallidum. Other notable effects ofberberine are its activity against giardia, dysentery, andcandida, as well as the cholera vibrio. The active constituentsberberine and palmatine are also anti-bacterial. And berbamine,which like berberine is an alkaloid, is a strong anti-bacterialwhich seems to work by increasing white blood cells andplatelets. The constituent palamtine is a uterine stimulant,however, and as such pregnant women shouldn't take this herb. Barberry is another gut antibiotic, but it is also anti-malarial(though no self-respecting herbalist would recommend anythingother than doctor's treatment if you do contract malaria).
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea or augustifolia)
Echinacea is an immune stimulant. Its main active constituentsare the polysaccharides and the alkamides (especially theisobutylamides), which are both immune stimulating, and thepolyaceytlenes, which are antibacterial, anti-viral, andanti-fungal. Echinacea supports the activity of phagocytes,which are part of the immune system, and is also consideredanti-viral and anti-microbial. One of the ways echinacea appearsto work is by inhibiting the action of the enzyme hyaluronidase. This enzyme is used by micro-organisms to break down theconnective tissue that prevents them from entering and spreadingthrough the body. For these reasons, it is excellent as part ofa travelers remedy mix.
These remedies are not designed as a prophylactic, like avaccine. They work on the principle of giving your body anincreased chance at staying healthy. But nothing replaces commonsense. Wash your hands before eating. Don't drink ice or fromwater bottles where the seal has been broken. Drink cocktails inglasses, not cute but probably old coconut shells. Don't eatanything fresh that you can't peel. Don't eat ice cream or drinkunpasteurized milk. Be wary of eating from street vendors. Somepeople do, and are fine. But they are a risk factor withgastrointestinal upsets. Its a good idea to pack some oralhydration salts as a precaution.
Refrences: C Fisher & G Painter, Materia Medica of Western Herbsfor the Southern Hemisphere Class notes from Ses Salmond, certified Natural Therapist and Herbal Medicine teacher
About the author: Rebecca Prescott is the author of the website www.vitaminstohealth.com which publishes information on herbssuch as http://www.vitaminstohealth.com/echinacea.html, and provides natural alternatives for many common healthproblems.
Travelers visiting many tropical, sub-tropical and developingcountries run an increased risk of suffering a gastrointestinalillness. These are usually caused by bacteria, parasites andviruses. The microscopic bugs at the top of these rather gutwrenching (for all the wrong reasons...) charts are E Coli, thestaphylococci, shigella and salmonella species, campylobacterjejuni, cryptosporidiosis, and hepatitis A.
Infected food is the biggest culprit, with water coming insecond. Ice cream, cocktails served in re-used coconut shells,raw seafood, ice, and food from street vendors are potentialrisks that can interrupt your adventure with less salaciousmemories to pass on to family and friends.
The nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea from such acuteinfections usually sorts itself out after a few days (unless ofcourse you have contracted hepatitis A, or something likegiardia). Certainly, if you are unlucky enough to be sick aftera few days, you should see a doctor.
Fortunately, there are remedies you can take that willstrengthen your immune and digestive system and hopefully giveyour body a better chance at dealing with its new environment.The herbs I describe below would make an excellent travelersmix. The best form to take them in would be as a tincture, whichcan be made up by going to a local herbal dispensary if you haveone in your area, or alternatively, a local herbalist.
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)
Astragalus is a good anti-viral, anti-bacterial, andanti-microbial. The polysaccharides in it support the immunesystem. Astragalus increases the activity of phagocytes, naturalkiller cells, and the levels of antibodies in the blood.
Picrorrhiza (Picrorrhiza kurroa)
This is an Ayurvedic herb that is best given in low doses, ashigher doses can cause diarrhea and flatulence in more sensitivepeople. Its a bitter herb, so it stimulates the digestivesystem. It is also anti-malarial, supports the immune system,and protects the liver. Picrorrhiza encourages all aspects ofthe immune system, such as B and T cell activity, and theactivity of phagocytes. This herb is used in Ayurvedic medicinefor liver related problems and immune problems.
Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis)
Goldenseal is a gut antibiotic, which for example helps reduceadhesive e coli, and encourages some immune functions of thebody. For example, berberine, which is one of its activeconstituents, has been shown to increase the activity ofmacrophages, which digest bacteria and viruses. Barberry alsocontains berberine, so more information on this very valuableconstituent is below. Goldenseal, being a bitter herb, it isalso good for the digestive system. If you are pregnant orsuffer from hypertension, however, you should not takegoldenseal.
Barberry (Berberis Vulgaris)
Berberine, one of the active constituents in this herb is ananti protozoic, which helps protect travelers against giardia,leishmania, and treponema pallidum. Other notable effects ofberberine are its activity against giardia, dysentery, andcandida, as well as the cholera vibrio. The active constituentsberberine and palmatine are also anti-bacterial. And berbamine,which like berberine is an alkaloid, is a strong anti-bacterialwhich seems to work by increasing white blood cells andplatelets. The constituent palamtine is a uterine stimulant,however, and as such pregnant women shouldn't take this herb. Barberry is another gut antibiotic, but it is also anti-malarial(though no self-respecting herbalist would recommend anythingother than doctor's treatment if you do contract malaria).
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea or augustifolia)
Echinacea is an immune stimulant. Its main active constituentsare the polysaccharides and the alkamides (especially theisobutylamides), which are both immune stimulating, and thepolyaceytlenes, which are antibacterial, anti-viral, andanti-fungal. Echinacea supports the activity of phagocytes,which are part of the immune system, and is also consideredanti-viral and anti-microbial. One of the ways echinacea appearsto work is by inhibiting the action of the enzyme hyaluronidase. This enzyme is used by micro-organisms to break down theconnective tissue that prevents them from entering and spreadingthrough the body. For these reasons, it is excellent as part ofa travelers remedy mix.
These remedies are not designed as a prophylactic, like avaccine. They work on the principle of giving your body anincreased chance at staying healthy. But nothing replaces commonsense. Wash your hands before eating. Don't drink ice or fromwater bottles where the seal has been broken. Drink cocktails inglasses, not cute but probably old coconut shells. Don't eatanything fresh that you can't peel. Don't eat ice cream or drinkunpasteurized milk. Be wary of eating from street vendors. Somepeople do, and are fine. But they are a risk factor withgastrointestinal upsets. Its a good idea to pack some oralhydration salts as a precaution.
Refrences: C Fisher & G Painter, Materia Medica of Western Herbsfor the Southern Hemisphere Class notes from Ses Salmond, certified Natural Therapist and Herbal Medicine teacher
About the author: Rebecca Prescott is the author of the website www.vitaminstohealth.com which publishes information on herbssuch as http://www.vitaminstohealth.com/echinacea.html, and provides natural alternatives for many common healthproblems.
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