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DISORDERS
(Their description, characteristics or symptoms,
causes, and complementary or alternative treatments)
Disorder: NAUSEA AND VOMITING
Description: Nausea is the unpleasant sensation that usually occurs in the higher abdominal area, and may proceed on to vomiting. It is not an illness itself but secondary to other factors such as pregnancy, inner ear disorders, overindulgence in food or alcohol, flue, or parasites. While distinctly unpleasant, vomiting actually has a positive value; it is a natural defense mechanism that helps to protect the body from harmful substances.
Symptoms: Nausea is the queasy, uncomfortable feeling that you are about to vomit. It may be accompanied by abdominal pain, an inability to tolerate certain smells, a too-full feeling and/or cramping. It often is followed by vomiting, in which contractions of the abdominal muscles force food and other ingest substances back up and out of the body through the mouth. Nausea is often felt in waves that peak right before a vomiting episode. After vomiting, you are likely to feel better, at least temporarily.
Causes: Nausea and vomiting can result from many causes, among them food poisoning, overeating, motion sickness, viral or bacterial infection, hepatitis, HIV disease, appendicitis, constipation, muscle strain, sleep deficit, fatigue, food allergies, reaction to cancer treatments, or the accidental ingestion of drugs and poisons. Anxiety, worry, or great emotional shock can also trigger nausea and vomiting. Food poisoning and infection can both be caused by a wide variety of organisms, eg., E. Coli, Salmonella or Staphylococcus bacteria, either by the bacteria themselves or by toxins they produce. Nausea and vomiting related to a bacterial infection of the intestine are often accompanied by diarrhea and fever. Food poisoning, which is usually caused by a toxin produced by bacteria rather than direct infection with the bacteria, is less likely to cause a fever. Viral infections can cause diarrhea in addition to vomiting.
Treatments: Many episodes of nausea and vomiting can be helped by the remedies outlined in below. However, if you have persistent vomiting, blood in the vomit, severe abdominal pain, abdominal pain that lasts more than a few hours, or any other symptoms that are sufficiently abnormal to cause concern, call your health care provider. A physical examination and laboratory tests may be required to diagnose the cause of persistent nausea and/or vomiting. If you experience nausea and vomiting with progressive pain and tenderness in your lower right abdomen, seek medical help immediately. This can be a sign of developing appendicitis.
Herbs:
 | If you are feeling sick and restless, take a cup of
chamomile tea twice daily, between meals.
| Ginger is helpful for nausea, vomiting, and
stomachache. Take a cup of ginger tea as needed. If the tea tastes too strong,
mix it with apple juice.
| Green tea has antibacterial properties and is helpful
for nausea and vomiting related to food poisoning. Take a cup of strong green
tea as needed.
| Peppermint tea is an effective and safe digestive aid,
especially helpful for nausea or vomiting that occurs after a heavy meal. | |
Recommendations:
| Guard against dehydration. Fluids are lost at an
alarming rate when the body is coping with episodes of vomiting or diarrhea.
Do not try to drink a whole glass of liquid at a time; take frequent small
sips instead. Choose liquids high in glucose and salts, such as soups and
fruit juices. Avoid carbonated beverages, which may aggravate the condition.
| As long as you are vomiting, take only clear liquids
to give your intestinal tract time to heal. Once the vomiting is under
control, slowly progress to solid foods to give the digestive tract time to
readjust itself.
| Raw honey or barley malt extract can be used to settle
an irritated stomach. Take 1 teaspoon of either every hour, as needed.
| Don’t force yourself to eat if you don’t feel like
it. Your body often instinctively knows what’s best. When your appetite
improves, start with a bland, simple diet. Thin cooked oatmeal, dry toast, and
applesauce are good foods to start with. | |
Considerations:
| Emetrol is a safe, over-the-counter syrup that settles
the stomach. It is useful for relief of nausea caused by infection,
overeating, or emotional upset, and produces no side effects. Take it every
few hours as directed on the product label.
| Busmuth subsalicylate, more commonly known as
Pepto-Bismol, provides a protective coating along the gastrointestinal tract.
It is helpful for relief of nausea and diarrhea. Take it as directed on the
product label.
| Unless your doctor prescribes one, do not take any
type of painkiller, whether prescription or over-the-counter, if you have an
upset stomach. In relieving stomach pain whose cause has not been diagnosed,
you may mask an underlying condition that could become worse without
treatment. | |
Vitamin For Life Recommended Regimen and cost:
|
Product No. 59618- |
Description |
Comments |
Cost |
|
888-15 |
Acidophilus hardshell |
As directed on label. |
$4.95/100 |
|
618-20 CH |
Green Tea Bags |
As needed. |
$1.49/20 |
|
1811-44 |
Pink Bismuth Liquid |
As directed on label. |
$2.55/8 oz. |
Sources:
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2nd Edition
By James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.
Smart Medicine for Healthier Living
By Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreen, M.D., James B. LaValle, R.Ph.
