Dietary Treatment for Dysentery

Eliminating the root cause of dysentery forms an important part in treating and curing the intestinal disorder.



Hence, the treatment of dysentery in effect aims at removing the offending and toxic substances from the intestine. Clearing the intestine of all impurities helps in reducing the painful symptoms, terminates the spread of bacteria and promotes healing of the ulcer.
A good diet plan and effective natural remedies can help combat the impact of an intestinal disorder like dysentery. The diet must be supplemented with a physical fitness regime to keep the body healthy and help build resistance to diseases.

Diet for Dysentry:

The treatment can be initiated and continued with a fast as long as acute symptoms are present.



During this period, one should take only orange juice and water or buttermilk. The latter combats offending bacteria and helps in the building of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines. It is advisable to take very low-pressure warm water enema, only admitting as much water as one can tolerate.
After the acute symptoms are over one can progress to a relatively solidified form of food such as rice, curd, fresh ripe fruits, banana, bael fruit, pomegranate and skimmed milk.



Solid foods need to be introduced very carefully and gradually according to the pace of recovery. Foods, which are detoxifying and cleansing in nature such as fruits and vegetables can do good to the intestines.

Natural Remedies for dysentery:

Among specific food remedies, bael fruit is perhaps one the most effective in the treatment of dysentery of both acute and chronic type. Fresh half ripe bael fruit is mildly astringent and is known to cure dysentery and diarrhoea. The Bael fruit is one of the most nutritious fruits, rich in riboflavin. It is ideal to consume the pulp of the fruit mixed with jaggery, at least thrice daily. In case of chronic dysentery, the unripe fruit can be roasted over the fire and the pulp can be then mixed with water. The pulp of the unripe fruit mixed with an equal quantity of dried ginger can also be given with buttermilk.

The use of pomegranate rind is another effective natural remedy for dysentery. About 60 grams of the rind should be boiled in 250 ml of milk. Boil milk and remove from heat when one-third of the milk has evaporated. Consuming this concoction in three equal doses at suitable intervals will definitely bring relief.

Lemon juice is very effective in dealing with ordinary cases of dysentery. A few lemons, peeled and sliced, should be added to 250 ml of water and boiled for a few minutes.



The strained infusion can be had thrice daily.

Small doses of castor oil in the form of emulsion acts as a mild astringent and facilitates quicker removal of offensive matter, minimizes the strain during motion and also acts as a lubricant to the ulcerated surfaces.

It is necessary to exercise caution when consuming meat and other foods such as tea, coffee, white sugar and white flour and products made from them as well as alcohol in all forms to avoid any form intestinal disorder.

Other Preventive Measures :

• It is advisable to take complete bed rest, as movement induces pain and aggravates distressing symptoms.
• Applying hot water bag over the abdomen is another effective remedy.
• Heating compresses may also be applied at 60°F over the abdomen.
• These compresses may be changed every half an hour or so. Hot footbath, once or twice daily, will also be beneficial.
   

TREATMENT CHART FOR DYSENTERY

Here is a short and crisp version of the aforementioned diet and health guideline to serve as a ready reference in combating the ill effects of dysentery:

Diet:

Step 1:

Fast on orange juice or buttermilk for 3 or 4 days. Supplement warm water enema daily during this period.

Step 2: After the fast, take a light diet consisting of rice, curd, buttermilk, fresh ripe fruits, especially bael, banana, pomegranate, orange and skimmed milk for a week or so.

Step 3: Progress to a solid diet in the following manner:-

• Start the day with a glass of lukewarm water with half a freshly squeezed lime and a teaspoon of honey.
• Breakfast must comprise of Fresh fruit and a glass of buttermilk.
• Have a bowl of freshly prepared steamed vegetables, rice or whole wheat wheat tortilla, curd or buttermilk for lunch.
• Beat your hunger pang or thirst with a glass of carrot juice or coconut water.
• Dinner must comprise of a large bowl of fresh green vegetable with lemon juice dressing, sprouts or alfalfa or a vegetable soup.
   

Step 4:

Avoid meat, alcohol, tea, coffee, sugar, white flour and products made from them, fried and refined foods.

Note: Rice, pomegranate and bael fruit are foods truly beneficial in combating dysentery.
 
Other Measures:

• Wet abdomen pack for one hour twice daily.
• Hot fomentation to the abdominal region in case of pain.
• Yogic asanas like pavanmuktasana, shalabhasana, abdominal breathing and shavasana, abdominal breathing and shavasana.