Food poisoning can be caused by eating food infected with bacteria, viruses, parasites or other toxins that might be present in the food. While the causes range from improper handling to cross contamination, the symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and dehydration can be quite distressing and suck the life out of you.
If you’ve fallen prey to food poisoning, replenishing your body with adequate fluids to make up for the loss should be your top priority. Though extreme dehydration requires immediate medical attention, some natural home remedies can curb mild to moderate symptoms. Here’s what you can try:
1. Ginger
An excellent digestive aid, ginger helps in treating a range of stomach issues, including food poisoning. Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger soothes the lining of the stomach and prevents vomiting. [1]
How To Use It: Boil 1tsp of grated ginger in a cup of water for two to three minutes to make a soothing tea or add four to five drops of ginger juice to 1tsp of honey. Have this mixture three to four times a day to minimize nausea and stomach pain.
2. Basil
Loaded with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, basil can reduce the cramps and nausea.[2] Here are nine reasons why basil is good for your health.
How To Use It: Crush about 10 to 12 basil leaves and strain the juice. Add 1tsp of honey and have this several times a day. You can even make a herbal tea by brewing dried (1tsp) or fresh basil leaves (five to six) in a cup of hot water. Have it three or four times a day.
3. Cumin
Cumin is a good digestive aid and helps the system return to normal when you start eating solid food after a food poisoning episode. Cumin also helps in getting rid of excess gas from the stomach, making you feel light. [3]
How To Use It: Take ½ tsp of cumin seeds with 1tsp of honey and chew them till you suck all the juice. You can even make a herbal drink by boiling 1tsp of cumin seeds with ¼ tsp salt and ½ tsp asafoetida. Sip it two to three times a day.
4. Garlic
A herb with multiple benefits, garlic is exceptional in controlling food poisoning symptoms. Its antibacterial and antiviral properties can kill the stomach infection bug as well as alleviate diarrhea and abdominal pain.[4,5] (Related: Unlocking The Health Benefits Of Garlic)
How To Use It: Crush a fresh garlic pod and swallow it with a glass of water. You can also add freshly grated garlic to your soups.
Note: While these remedies are known to treat food poisoning, consult your doctor if symptoms persist.
The content made available at Z Living has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or by any other governmental agency. It is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Read More:
Ease Your Digestion With These 5 Home Remedies
5 Natural Home Remedies For Nausea
When To Visit The Doctor For Stomach Cramps
References:
1. Butt MS, Sultan MT. Ginger and its health claims: molecular aspects. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2011 May;51(5):383-93. doi: 10.1080/10408391003624848. Review. PubMed PMID: 21491265.
2. Lixandru BE, Drăcea NO, Dragomirescu CC, Drăgulescu EC, Coldea IL, Anton L, Dobre E, Rovinaru C, Codiţă I. Antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils against bacterial and fungal species involved in food poisoning and/or food decay. Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol. 2010 Oct-Dec;69(4):224-30. PubMed PMID: 21462837.
3. Ahmad A, Husain A, Mujeeb M, Khan SA, Najmi AK, Siddique NA, Damanhouri ZA, Anwar F. A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb.Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013 May;3(5):337-52. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60075-1. Review. PubMed PMID: 23646296; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3642442.
4. Sasaki J, Kita T, Ishita K, Uchisawa H, Matsue H. Antibacterial activity of garlic powder against Escherichia coli O-157. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1999 Dec;45(6):785-90. PubMed PMID: 10737231.
5. Gull I, Saeed M, Shaukat H, Aslam SM, Samra ZQ, Athar AM. Inhibitory effect of Allium sativum and Zingiber officinale extracts on clinically important drug resistant pathogenic bacteria. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2012 Apr 27;11:8. doi: 10.1186/1476-0711-11-8. PubMed PMID: 22540232; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3418209.
