Food Poisoning: Understanding Escherichia Coli Infections

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on knowledge and understanding you might wish to acquire in advance of a disaster in case no higher care is available.  As long as our society is functioning, you should leave anything more substantial than applying a Band-Aid to the professionals.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care. 

Escherichia coli was first isolated and identified over 130 years ago.  There are the good E. coli bacteria that we are supposed to have in our intestines, and there are the bad actors that make us sick. They've been implicated in a myriad of illnesses, including urinary tract infections, meningitis, pneumonia, and cholecystitis.  And some strains can cause food poisoning as well.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides information on the four most common types of E. coli food-borne infections.  Symptoms take from one to ten days to develop after exposure, but most commonly appear within three to four days.  All types of E. coli food poisoning have the following symptoms in common:

• Severe abdominal cramping
• Profuse, watery, usually bloody diarrhea

Other symptoms that may occur include:

• Low-grade fever (below 101 degrees)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Chills
• Headache
• Muscle aches

While most cases of this type of infection are contracted through feces-contaminated food and water, cows, petting zoos, contaminated food handlers, and failing to wash thoroughly after helping a small child with the toilet or changing a diaper have also been implicated.  The illness usually concludes within five to seven days, but in some cases may last up to three weeks. Treatment is largely supportive care with fluids.  Most strains have developed antibiotic resistance, and the CDC suggests that antibiotic use, especially in the case of E.coli O157:H7, may increase the risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome.  One physician recommends treatment with azithromycin or ciprofloxacin (but provides no dosing regimen for these) or doxycycline, 100 mg twice a day for the first day, and then 50-100 mg once or twice per day for 10 days.[1]

In no case should Imodium or any other anti-diarrheal medications be administered.  Imodium works to keep bodily fluids in, but in the case of a bacterial infection, the patient needs to get the bacteria out.


Diarrheagenic E. coli is often referred to as traveler's diarrhea.  It makes its victims very uncomfortable but doesn't do any lasting damage.[2] 

Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) is very similar to diarrheagenic E. coli and is another form of traveler's diarrhea not common in the US.  While physicians used to prescribe antibiotics for travelers going abroad, this practice is being increasingly curtailed.  In general, TMP-SMZ and ampicillin are usually not effective.  Ciprofloxacin often works, but it's not without side effects and risks.  It's probably best to let the illness run its course.[3]


Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O104:H4 caused a large outbreak in Europe in 2011.

Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) O157:H7 is the most common of all the STEC strains and the one that gets all the press.  The others sometimes making headlines include O26, O103, O111, and O145.  The O157:H7 strain sometimes causes hemolytic uremic syndrome, which begins about seven days after the onset of the first symptoms in five to ten percent of cases.  The very young and very old are at the greatest risk of complications.[4]

The berberine family of herbs have been demonstrated to be effective against these E. coli infections.[5]

References:
[1]  Joseph Alton, et al., Alton's Antibiotics,  51, 160.
[2]  "Diarrheagenic E. coli," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/diarrheagenic-ecoli.html (accessed 3 March 2020).
[3]  "Enterotoxigenic E. coli," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/etec.html (accessed 3 March 2020).
[4]   "Questions and Answers," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/general/index.html#what_shiga (accessed 3 March 2020).
[5]  Stephen Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, 177-78.

FLASH DRIVE UPDATE and Alternative Medicinal Uses of Coconut Oil

Flash drives:  The robust flash drives are on their way from Amazon.  (I knew absolutely nothing about them, so it was very helpful to have Aaron running this project and the input from all of you.)  We have sufficient for all who commented on the original flash drive announcement earlier this month, plus all who emailed me.  At this point there are a few that are not spoken for yet.  Aaron still has to get the online store set up for orders. I shall remind him of that today.  ;)

 

We've previously discussed the value of coconut oil in baking as an excellent substitute for butter.  And coconut oil is all the rage for everything health and beauty oriented, but most of those uses are outside the interests of this blog's audience.  That's not to totally dismiss coconut oil's value in making lotions and soaps, nor to suggest that it shouldn't be stored for those purposes.  Some coconut oil should definitely be stockpiled for caring for our skin.  However, making those products is a whole field of study and research unto itself, and there are lots of other people with more experience writing about it, so I'll defer writing of the health and beauty uses of coconut oil to them.

As far as external uses are concerned, coconut oil, in and of itself, is antibacterial and anti-fungal.  It promotes healing and is anti-inflammatory and analgesic.  So all by itself, it is useful for treating the following:

• ear infections--a couple of drops in the ear;
• athlete's foot and other skin fungus--rub some into the affected areas;
• skin irritations, including chickenpox, shingles, and eczema--apply liberally to affected areas;
• bug bites and stings--apply to affected areas;
• nosebleeds--rub inside nose to reduce occurrences;
• diaper rash--use instead of diaper rash creams;
• burns--apply generously to burn and cover with non-adherent dressing;
• wounds--apply generously to wound and bandage.

While most readers will accept the idea of using coconut oil to treat the first six items on the above list, many are going to dismiss the whole article, and maybe even the whole blog, as quackery upon reading the seventh item, using coconut oil to heal burns.  When I was young, my mother used butter on at least one of my kitchen burns, and shortly thereafter we started hearing about the horrors of using butter or other oils to treat a burn.  Coconut oil is a good substitute for butter in baking.  Coconut oil is nothing like butter when it comes to treating burns.  There is solid scientific research backing the use of coconut oil to treat burns; one such address to the article on this research is provided at the end of this post.

In treating and hastening the healing of burns, even partial-thickness burns, coconut oil was spread on the burn and then covered with a non-adherent dressing once a day from the date of the injury until it was completely healed.  Coconut oil was also used to treat other wounds.  In both instances, it was shown that wounds treated with coconut oil healed much faster than those that did not have coconut oil applied. 

Due to coconut oil's antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties, it really is the preferred carrier oil for almost everything we are treating when TEOTWAWKI hits.  Coconut oil brings an added layer of protection or defense to the table.  While coconut oil alone can be used to remedy the following conditions, adding in essential oils ups the game:

• hemorrhoids and piles--1 teaspoon coconut oil with 2 drops lavender essential oil;
• cold sores--1/4 teaspoon coconut oil with 1 drop oregano essential oil;
• thrush--1 teaspoon coconut oil with 2-3 drops peppermint essential oil, swished in the mouth;
• wound salve--1 teaspoon coconut oil with two drops each frankincense, lavender, and tea tree oil;
• insect repellent--1 tablespoon coconut oil with 2 drops each peppermint, rosemary, and tea tree oil.

One study showed that coconut oil and anise spray were more effective than permethrin in getting rid of lice.  A search on Amazon for anise spray yielded a bunch of hits for fish bait.  So I'm not sure what this anise spray is or that I really want it.

Another treatment for lice that uses coconut oil seems much more practical in a grid-down situation.
Rinse hair well with apple cider vinegar and leave the vinegar in to dry.  Then work melted coconut oil into the hair, covering every strand of hair from the roots out, and put on a shower cap.  Leave the oil in and shower cap on all day.  It will take several hours for the coconut oil to suffocate the lice.  Comb the hair with a lice comb to remove eggs and lice.  Then shampoo as usual.

Internally, beyond the various benefits of cooking and baking with coconut oil, there are a few significant and interesting uses of coconut oil medicinally, and they're of particular importance to preppers.

The first is that coconut oil, as part of a ketogenic diet, has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of seizures in epileptic children.  Secondly, it has been shown to improve brain function in Alzheimer's patients.  But of most interest to all preppers is research showing that using coconut oil, a fat, actually reduces the number of calories a person desires to consume.  Men who ate coconut oil each day as part of their diet, consumed fewer calories each day.  That's significant!  When we can no longer afford to eat what we want when we want, and when even just a little bit of hunger can lead to irritation, lack of patience, or worse, any substance that is healthy and makes us feel a little fuller or more satisfied will be more than welcome.

So which kind of coconut oil do you want?  For external uses, any coconut oil will work.  For internal uses, cooking, and baking (for the most nutritional benefit), unrefined coconut oil is best.   Cold-pressed and/or "extra-virgin" are preferred with olive oil, but not with coconut oil, at least internally.  The heat processing treatment actually boosts the antioxidant properties of coconut oil.

Links to related posts:
Lice
Coconut oil in food storage  

For further reading:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17651080 (coconut oil 100% effective against Candida)
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/68/2/226/4648722 (reduces hunger)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9701177 (reduces hunger)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26859528 (part of ketogenic diet to reduce epileptic seizures in children)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15724344 (eczema)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15123336 (Alzheimer's)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19437058 (abdominal fat loss)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19343362 (lice) 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20523108 (healing wounds)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792613/ (burns)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20645831 (analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects)
http://www.midwife.org/ACNM/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000000656/Perineal%20Massage%20in%20Pregnancy.pdf (perineal massage to prevent tearing and /or need for episiotomy during childbirth--massage with coconut oil starting 6 weeks before due date)
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/11/18/coconut-oil-uses.aspx

 22 april 2019

Dealing with an Abscessed Tooth in Doomsday

About 30 years ago my husband and I became acquainted with a local dentist, an avid Russophile.  He played the balalaika, a stringed Russian folk instrument, and formed a balalaika group, which my husband was interested in joining, but didn’t have the time for.  His sister, however, played with the group for a few years and we attended their events. 

When the Moscow Circus came to Reno in 1991, Dr. Ocean immediately made their acquaintance, and somehow we got introduced as well.  I can’t remember how it all came about.  The kindly dentist, whose knowledge of Russian was very rudimentary, also offered his services to the circus members, and as my work back then dealt with translating medical articles from Russian to English I was called in once or twice to facilitate the conversation. 

You see, Russian dental care at that time was nothing short of barbaric.  Anesthesia was unheard of.  People just avoided going to the dentist at all costs due to the sheer terror of having to experience that kind of pain.  Unfortunately, those days will return, especially as dental procedures can be safely performed without anesthesia.  And that’s why the most common solution to dental problems prior to the 1950-1960s was just to remove the offending tooth. 

Frequent brushing and daily flossing will prevent many dental issues.  Unfortunately, not everyone will practice prevention, and some people are just born with teeth made of chalk.  We have to be prepared to help.

Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition and Where There Is No Dentist provide more information on this topic than any of the other off-grid medicine references.  Unfortunately, the two are at complete odds with each other, with the latter’s solution to be just removing the tooth.  The former differentiates between the two types of abscesses and takes a more conservative approach with the hope of saving the tooth.

Abscesses are one of the most common causes of tooth pain.  There are two kinds of abscesses and they are managed differently.

APICAL ABSCESS

This infection occurs at the very tip of the roots and has penetrated to the thin bone of the jaw.  It involves the pulp and extends into the bone and gum.  Both the gum and tooth base appear normal. 

Signs and symptoms

• Fever[1]
• Pain all the time[2] [3]
• Abscess or pus pocket[4]
• Tooth often feels longer and even a bit loose[5]
• Swelling where the gum tissue joins the lip[6]
• Not sensitive to heat or cold[7]
• Painful to percussion[8]
• A sore on the gums near where the root ends[9]

Treatment

• Incision and drainage through the gum to the level of the bone[10]
• A small drain, such as a bit of rubber band or cotton wick will speed healing (remove when no longer draining) [11]
• Antibiotics, if required[12]

The tooth may need to be extracted if treatment doesn’t work.

GINGIVAL/PERIODONTAL ABSCESS

This infection occurs between the gum and the tooth, with the abscess usually forming on the cheek side.

Signs and symptoms

• Not sensitive to heat or cold[13]
• Sensitive to percussion[14]
• Swelling of the gums around the tooth, or swelling of the face on the same side as the bad tooth[15]

Treatment

• Incision and drainage, as above[16]
• Antibiotics usually unnecessary[17]

For both kinds of abscesses, Where There Is No Dentist advises extracting the tooth.  If there is no swelling, the tooth should be extracted immediately.  If there is swelling, the swelling must be treated first with antibiotics.  A warm compress held against the face, and repeated as often as possible, may help reduce the swelling.  Holding warm water in the mouth may also be helpful.[18]

WHEN TO USE ANTIBIOTICS

“Dental abscesses are best treated by drainage of any collection present.  Antibiotics should be used in patients who are systemically unwell—high temperatures, chills or shakes, nausea, vomiting, or gross local swelling.”[19]

• Penicillin, 500 mg, 4x per day[20]
• Erythromycin, 500 mg, 3x per day[21]
• Metronidazole, 400 mg, 3x per day or Tinidazole, 2 gm, once per day may be added for patients who are very unwell.[22]
• Augmentin is also a good choice for more serious infections.[23]

Herbal Options

Unfortunately, by the time an abscess has developed, it may be too late for herbal treatment.  Teeth don’t magically restore themselves after cavities have eaten away at them.  (Well, usually.  More on that in another post.)  However, some herbs have been effective in the treatment of dental issues.  Juniper tincture can be used to make a mouth rinse as effective as chlorhexidine.  Arrowleaf balsamroot[24], bee balm[25], echinacea, garlic[26], willow[27], and yarrow were historically used to treat a toothache.  Whether they would be of any efficacy in relieving the pain and treating the infection of an abscessed tooth by modern standards is unknown.  There are anecdotal reports on the efficacy of goldenseal extract in eliminating the infection due to an abscessed tooth.  Finally, another option for reducing the pain and swelling of an abscessed tooth is to make a poultice from charcoal powder wrapped in a thin piece of sterile, tightly-woven cloth. Instruct the patient to hold it in place over the abscess until the swelling is relieved.

Links to related posts:

Master Dental Shopping List  

Lose a Filling in TEOTWAWKI?  

Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition

---

[1] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[2] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[3] Where There Is No Dentist, https://hesperian.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en_dent_2022/en_dent_2022_07.pdf (accessed 26 April 2022).

[4] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[5] Where There Is No Dentist, https://hesperian.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en_dent_2022/en_dent_2022_07.pdf (accessed 26 April 2022).

[6] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[7] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[8] Where There Is No Dentist, https://hesperian.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en_dent_2022/en_dent_2022_07.pdf (accessed 26 April 2022).

[9] Where There Is No Dentist, https://hesperian.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en_dent_2022/en_dent_2022_07.pdf (accessed 26 April 2022).

[10] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[11] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[12] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[13] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[14] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[15] Where There Is No Dentist, https://hesperian.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en_dent_2022/en_dent_2022_07.pdf (accessed 26 April 2022).

[16] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[17] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[18] Where There Is No Dentist, https://hesperian.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en_dent_2022/en_dent_2022_07.pdf (accessed 26 April 2022).

[19] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[20] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[21] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[22] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[23] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 306.

[24] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 147.

[25] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 206.

[26] S K Banerjee, et al., Effect of garlic on cardiovascular disorders: a review, Nutrition Journal, 19 November 2002, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC139960/ (accessed 23 February 2022).

[27] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 342.

 

Stove Top Yeast Rolls—Bake in 10 minutes!

As part of a blog-writing and recipe-testing frenzy yesterday, I also made a batch of these stove top yeast bread rolls, adapting a recipe from Sheila of Hillbilly Kitchen.  She grew up with these rolls that her grandmother made when bread was needed for lunch but she didn’t want to heat up the kitchen baking loves in the oven.  Of course, there was no air conditioning at the time and running to the store wasn’t practical. 

As we encounter rising energy costs, more supply chain disruptions, spoiled food in stores, and additional challenges that seem to crop up weekly, we may find ourselves needing to make some bread quickly.  These yeast bread rolls require the normal kneading and rising times, but they’re cooked on the stove in about 10 minutes.  You get a light, fluffy roll (in comparison to the stove top quick bread posted previously this month) with the yeasty flavor without heating up an oven (and the rest of the house).

Stove Top Yeast Rolls

½ cup warm water (about 100°F)

1 teaspoon sugar

4 teaspoons instant yeast

 

2 cups all-purpose flour (may use bread flour)

2 tablespoons powdered milk

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoons honey

1 egg, lightly beaten

Oil to coat dough

In a small bowl, combine the warm water and sugar and sprinkle the yeast over the top.  Let proof 5-10 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, milk, and salt.  Once the yeast mixture has proofed and become nice and bubbly, add it and the oil, honey, and egg to the flour mixture.  Stir together until it forms a ball.  Knead on the counter until it becomes nice and smooth, about 6-8 minutes. 

Oil a bowl and place the dough in it, turning to coat.  Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and set in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter and divide it into eight equal pieces for hot dog buns or dinner rolls.  Divide into four to six pieces for hamburger buns.  With a little additional flour, form each piece of dough into a smooth roll or ball and flatten slightly.  Set on an oiled pan or counter to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. 

Preheat a heavy bottom skillet with a tight lid on low heat.  (My stove has settings for low, 2-10, and high.  Right between 2 and 3 is the sweet spot for me.)  Carefully transfer the bread dough to the skillet and cover.  Cook about 5 minutes on each side, until lightly golden brown.

Family reviews:  For us, nothing compares to our regular homemade buns.  These are acceptable, but a little bit of a hassle to watch carefully and cook and flip in the pan without causing them to collapse. The flavor is good, and this recipe and technique are a good option if the oven is out or time is short.

Links to related posts:

Stove Top Quick Bread

Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns

All the Different Kinds of Yeast

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT_88ZlWSiM