A term applied to a number of intestinal disorders, especially of the colon, characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes. Types of dysentery: amebic, bacillary, balantidial, malignant, viral.
Back to Top
Bacterial or viral infection; infestation of protozoa or parasitic worms (see Worms); chemical irritants. Inflammation of the rectum and large intestine, insufficient foods, improper diet, drinking too much liquid with meals, overeating, wrong combinations of foods, stimulating foods, liquor, tea, coffee, drinking impure water, unhygienic surroundings, eating fruits or vegetables that have begun to decompose, eating foods that have been standing in pantries that are not well ventilated, and eating improperly refrigerated, contaminated foods. Irritated bowels, habitual constipation, and taking certain types of medicine, such as laxatives, may also be the cause.
Back to Top
Abdominal pain, tenesmus (spasmodic contractions of anal or vesical sphinctre with pain and persistent desire to empty the bowel or bladder, with involuntary ineffectual straining efforts), diarrhea with passage of mucus or blood. More or less fever, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, and restless at night. Sometimes the abdomen is distended.
Severe symptoms: Increasing fever, great thirst, red tongue, the abdomen may appear sunken in some cases, straining ceases, and the bowels become relaxed and may protrude. Passage of urine is infrequent and is accompanied by a burning sensation. The pulse becomes slow, breathing is rapid, and generally the patient looks pale and emaciated. Do not let this condition continue. See a doctor for the severe symptoms.
Back to Top
Bedrest. Light diet. Use potassium broth, soybean milk, or oatmeal milk, and drink at least a pint a day of slippery elm water and barley water. Whole wheat flakes can be completely dissolved in soybean milk. Chew the food thoroughly before swallowing. See the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Back to Top
- Agrimony
- Alder
- Allspice
- Aloe
- Alum, root, wild
- Apple
- Arbutus
- Arnica
- Ash, prickly
- Balm
- Barberry
- Bayberry bark
- Bearberry, (Uva ursi)
- Beechdrop
- Benne leaves
- Bilberry
- Birch
- Birthroot
- Bistort root
- Bitterroot
- Bitter sweet
- Blackberry root
- Black haw
- Black Indian hemp
- Black root
- Blueberry
- Blue flag
- Boneset
- Burdock
- Butternut
- Calamus
- Capsicum
- Carrot, wild
- Cascara bark
- Castor bean
- Catnip
- Cayenne
- Celandine
- Centaury
- Chamomile
- Chapparal
- Cherry, wild, bark
- Chestnut
- Cinnamon
- Cinquefoil
- Cloves
- Cohosh, black
- Collinsonia
- Colombo
- Comfrey
- Coriander
- Cranesbill
- Crowfoot
- Cranesbill
- Crowfoot
- Cypress
- Dock, yellow
- Elder
- Elecampane
- Elm, slippery, bark
- Eryngo
- Eucalyptus
- Fenugreek
- Fireweed
- Fleabane
- Flag, sweet
- Flaxseed
- Frostwort
- Garlic
- Ginger, wild, African
- Golden rod
- Goldenseal
- Grape
- Horseradish
- Horsetail, grass
- Hound's tongue
- Jasmine, yellow
- Knotweed
- Labrador tea
- Lavender
- Life everlasting
- Life root
- Lobelia
- Lotus leaf
- Lungwort
- Marshmallow
- Matico
- Meadowblossom
- Meadowsweet
- Moss, Iceland
- Mullein
- Nettle
- Nutmeg
- Oak, white, bark
- Onion
- Patchouli
- Peach tree leaves
- Pennyroyal
- Peppermint
- Persimmon bark
- Pilewort
- Plantain, water
- Pleurisy root
- Pokeroot
- Pomegranate
- Poplar
- Poppy seeds
- Primrose, evening
- Privet
- Privet
- Psyllium
- Ragweed
- Raspberry, red, leaves
- Red root
- Rhubarb, root
- Pomegranate
- Sage
- St. John's wort
- Samson snakeroot
- Sanicle
- Sassafras
- Savory
- Sesame seeds
- Shepherd's purse
- Skullcap
- Spikenard
- Squaw vine
- Stoneroot
- Strawberry, wild, leaves
- Sumac
- Sumbul
- Sunflower
- Sweet gum
- Tamarack
- Tansy
- Thuja
- Thyme
- Tormentil
- Valerian
- Wahoo, bark
- Water Avens root
- Water Pepper
- White pond lily
- Willow, black, American
- Wintergreen
- Witch Hazel
- Yam, wild
- Yarrow
- Yerba santa
Back to Top
A tea for the relief of dysentery:
Black pepper (1 part)
Coriander (2 parts)
Sweet flag root, powdered (30 parts)
Boil 2 oz. of the mixture in 1 pint of water until 1 cup liquid remains. Strain immediately. Take 1 tsp. 3 times a day.
Back to Top
Back to Eden
, by Jethro Kloss; Back to Eden Publishing Co., Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994
Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants
, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000
The Healing Plants, by Mannfried Pahlow, Barron's Educational Series, Inc. 250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788, 1992
Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. WI 53181., Copyright 1988, published 1992
The Herb Book, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.
The Nature Doctor, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; Keats Publishing, Inc., 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. Vogel, Teufen (AR) Switzerland 1952, 1991
Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973
The Old Herb Doctor, by Joseph E. Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1984, sixth printing 1994.
Earl Mindell's Herb Bible, by Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., Simon & Schuster/Fireside, Rockefeller Center 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020
The Rodale Herb Book, edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA, 18049., 1974
The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993
The Yoga of Herbs, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., Avery Publishing Group, Inc., Garden City Park, NY
The Magic of Herbs, by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England. (Out of print)
Back to Top
