Believe it or not, here we have another common historical killer that is only briefly touched on in the off-grid medicine texts, if it is mentioned at all. Didn’t any of these people play Oregon Trail?
A God who believes in letting recalcitrant children reap the rewards of their choices might indeed permit dysentery to pop up in Oregon. Forgive me, dear Oregon readers, but I find the situation amusing.
Fortunately, Oregonians afflicted with dysentery in the 21st century aren't dying from it.[1] Yet. It may well be a different story when the Chinese no longer supply American antibiotic junkies with the pills so many depend on for life. And maybe it won’t matter, because the strain currently circulating is antibiotic-resistant. People might want to consider having some herbs—and methods for preparing them—on hand.
Let’s first consider the differences between colitis, diarrhea, and dysentery.
“Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine (colon). Usually there is diarrhea, with our without lower abdominal cramps. Enterocolitis is inflammation of both the small and large intestines.
“Diarrhea is defined as an abnormal increase in the amount, frequency, and fluidity of the evacuations from the intestine. Diarrhea is not a disease itself but a symptom of trouble in the intestinal tract. In this respect, it is like cough, chills, and fever, which are general symptoms of many diseases.
“Dysentery is an inflammation of the intestines, particularly of the large bowel. There may be griping abdominal pains and frequent stools often containing blood and mucus.”[2]
SYMPTOMS
The most common form of dysentery in North America and Europe is bacillary (bacterial) dysentery. Amebic dysentery is more common in underdeveloped countries, presents with slightly different symptoms, and involves different treatment. It will be covered in another article.
So what, exactly, is dysentery, why did so many people die from it in previous centuries? How do we avoid falling victim to it in the dire days ahead?
As we’re all aware, diarrhea symptoms include a sudden urge to run to the bathroom, a loose, runny stool, and frequently running to the bathroom. Dysentery is like diarrhea on steroids. In addition to the diarrhea symptoms, dysentery is characterized by blood in the stool, vomiting, stomachache, fever, and muscle cramps. [3] Bacteria cause dysentery, entering the body by means of contaminated foods or liquids, unwashed hands, and crowded, unsanitary conditions.
The most common culprits are:
- Shigella
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
- E. coli
People traveling the Oregon Trail contracted dysentery just as people in Portland, Oregon, do—from unwashed hands or ingesting contaminated food or water.
We avoid contracting dysentery by washing our hands (at least 2 minutes with soap) and cleaning our produce well.
TREATMENT
All treatments should include oral rehydration solutions (DIY, Pedialyte, Gatorade, etc.) and solid food.
Conventional treatment
Herbal treatment
- Activated charcoal
- Arrowleaf balsamroot
- Arrowroot
- Bearberry
- Black pepper
- Blackberry
- Cattail
- Chocolate
- Chokecherry
- Ginger
- Hollyhock
- Japanese barberry
- Japanese honeysuckle
- Lamb’s quarter
- Mallow
- Onion
- Pomegranate
- Purslane
- Russian sage
- Spruce
- Sunflower
- Yarrow
- Yellow dock
Links to related posts:
[1] https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/report-city-portland-oregon-suffering-rise-cases-dysentery/
[2] Ship’s Medicine Chest and Medical Aid at Sea, 1978, 149-50.
[3] https://www.medicinenet.com/difference_between_diarrhea_and_dysentery/article.htm
[4] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4th Edition, 2021, 283.
[5] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 4th Edition, 2021, 283.
While salmonella does work as an effective weight loss program, I don't recommend it. My bought with it a few years ago was from contamination between uncooked turkey and a salad at a restaurant. Largest outbreak in our provinces history.
ReplyDeleteThe doctor had me on 2 different types of antibiotics. There were hours of sitting on a toilet with a bucket in my lap and not being able to replace fluids fast enough. It took about 4 days for the frequency to decrease and i slept for another week were if i wasn't on the toilet or drinking fluids i was passed out. Even after i was up and active it was weeks before i was at full strength.
Recovery is slow and something you'll need another person to help with.
Exile1981
Dysentery is fairly common Asian issue. Rice gruel (congee) is often used for bowel disruptions. They often include a lot of ginger in it. Helps resolve the dysentery inflammation and helps keep you hydrated.
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