What About Food Poisoning After SHTF?

Am I the only one who feels like a post disaster/SHTF situation may result in more cases of food poisoning? Unless you are running on solar energy or have some sort of generator set up, refrigeration probably isn't going to be something that you have access too. While there are make-shift fridges like the clay pot ones mentioned in a past post, they still won't work as well as the ones we have today. With foods being a precious necessity, I can only think that some people will have a hard time throwing things out if they think it's just starting to go bad, so maybe the foods that are a bit iffy will still be consumed with fingers crossed that no one gets sick. But what if you do? Food poisoning is nothing to play around with. I've asked a little over a handful of people what their take on this was, and even though I consider everyone that I asked to be better seasoned preppers than myself, they all said they hadn't even thought about it. I know that abdominal cramps, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting aren't something we like to sit around and think about, but since those are the symptoms of food poisoning I think they're pretty important to at least bring to your attention once. So let me tell you my take on it, and then let me share some natural remedies that could just help you get through it, especially during a time when hospitals aren't accessible.

I've had food poisoning twice. I went to the hospital the first time, I thought I had caught some disease and was a goner. The hospital ran a small series of tests, then gave me an IV to make sure I didn't get anymore dehydrated than I already was when I arrived, kept me over night, and I was given antibiotics.  The second time I got food poisoning, some 4 years later, I didn't go anywhere. It hit me so fast and so hard that I couldn't drive myself to the hospital, my mind and vision both seemed too blurry to function enough to even remember where my cell phone was at, my body hurt so bad that it felt like it was shutting down, and every movement resulted in vomiting or 'other' toilet uses. I had somehow managed to pull a pillow and blanket onto the bathroom floor, and couldn't do anything but wait for the person I was living with to get off work... it seemed like he'd never make it home. I thought for sure I was living the last hours of my life right there on that bathroom floor, just inches from the toilet.

When he did make it home and found me in the bathroom, I remember mumbling to him that I knew I had food poisoning, but couldn't get up to even go to the car. After who knows how long, he returned and told me he called him Mom (in Mexico), and she told him what to give me. Without asking anything, I assumed she had told him of some magic cure and I gathered enough strength to sit up. I drank the first cup he handed me, which instantly resulted in the worst and longest session of vomiting that I went through since I had gotten sick that day. The vomiting eventually turned to a few dry heaves, then it stopped. My headache and dizziness seemed to immediately ease up and I was able to sit up against the bathtub. I still felt horrible though. He handed me a raw clove of garlic, told me to chew it just enough to make it small enough to swallow, and then swallow it with the liquid in the second cup. The thought alone made me think I would get sick, but I did as he said. I waited a second thinking for sure I'd throw up again, but I didn't. After a couple minutes I felt remarkably better and was able to stand up, wash my hands and face, I drank a bottle of water and was able to keep it down, and I went to bed where I slept solid the rest of the night.

When I woke up the next morning I felt perfectly fine, aside from barely noticeable sore stomach muscles. He had already left for work by the time I woke up, so I decided to call his Mom and ask what all he had given me. Since her seemingly magical remedies helped me almost instantly, I thought it was well worth taking note of incase they were ever needed in the future. The first cup was nothing more than some sort of homemade Alka-Seltzer which contained the following ingredients:

1 cup of carbonated water

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 fresh lime squeezed into the cup

 



I'm not sure what it was in this Alka-Seltzer type concoction that made me throw up the way it did, but I'm guessing it worked because it got out whatever bit of spoiled food that was left in my stomach at the time I drank it. The thing he gave me after that was the garlic clove and the second cup. I asked her the story behind the garlic and she told me that it's used in some of the poor areas of Mexico as a natural antibiotic, and it helps strengthen the immune system. She said the second cup that he gave me to drink with the garlic was a tea that contained the following:

5 fresh basil leaves

tablespoon dried chamomile

2 cups of water

 

The tea was made by bringing the basil and chamomile to a boil in the water, letting it boil down to about half its original volume, straining the basil and chamomile out of the water, and drinking it without any sugar, honey, or other sweetener. The basil worked as a natural pain reliever, and the chamomile helped with digestion and cramps.

 

She said she had heard of these remedies used by numerous people in the past, was given them herself when she got food poisoning once, and that she had even used them on her children a couple times. She swore by these little concoctions and said she never had, and never would, turn to the hospitals or doctors for food poisoning when it can be so cheaply, simply, and quickly dealt with right at home.

 

Here's my comparison on it from my own experiences. When I went to the hospital with my first case of food poisoning, I remember feeling like it was a long process. I was sick for a few days, getting a bit better as each day passed. Even though I was fine after it all, going through the testing, the prick of the IV when my whole body already hurt, having to stay overnight in the hospital, and having to take antibiotics until they were gone wasn't pleasing. It only seemed to make me more uncomfortable. If I were to ever get food poisoning again, which I pray I don't since it's so horrible, I will definitely just go with the natural remedies that I was given on my second spell of it. The recovery time seemed almost immediate after I had taken the little remedies that were given to me, and I didn't feel any of the leftover type of weakness the next day like I did from the hospital's 'cure.' I can't tell you not to go to the hospital if you have, or think you have, food poisoning, I just want to acknowledge you of these natural remedies. If S really does HTF in the future like so many of us are preparing for, this is just another remedy to add to your list of things in the event that you can't get to a hospital.

Natural Remedies - Basil - Part 2 - Holy Basil, or Tulsi (Ocimum Tenuiflorum):

Thank you for coming back for part 2 of this series. As I mentioned before, there are numerous varieties of basil. Today I'm going to be sharing some of the health benefits and remedial uses of holy basil alone, along with the ways to prepare it for each use. I became familiar with each of these uses by word of mouth, but I took them all a step further and searched for confirmation from multiple places. Even though I'm not going to quote anything from what I've researched, I'll still place the links for the content I read so you have access to further references and research of your own. Let's get started.

Holy Basil Tea Preparation:  Pour 8 ounces of boiling water over 10 leaves of fresh holy basil, cover it and let it steep for around 5 minutes. After it has steeped, strain off the basil leaves and drink. Prepare this without honey or other sweeteners unless specified. Some teas have alterations depending on what they are being used for, the alterations will be stated.

Remedial Uses of Holy Basil Tea:

Arthritis Relief, also Reduces Inflammation and Swelling - Drink as needed.

Asthma and Bronchitis Relief - The tea for this is a bit different, boil 15 fresh basil leaves and 2 thin slices of ginger in 1 liter of water until the water has boiled down to half its original volume, then add a bit of honey to taste and drink.

Blood Sugar - One 8 ounce cup per day could keep blood sugar regulated.

Cold and Flu Relief - Drink twice daily.

Fever Reducer - Can be drank every 2 - 3 hours to keep fever down.

Headache Relief - Can be crank at first sign of headache, this could prevent the headache from worsening and relieve the current pain.

Increases the Function of Kidneys - When drank daily with a small bit of honey, this can increase the function of kidneys. This may also help expel kidney stones (renal stones) in about 6 a month period. I know that's a long time, but if it were to ever come down to not having other options, this is a natural alternative.

Respiratory - Promotes healing of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.

Sore Throat Relief, Soothes Cough - Can be drank or gargled.




Chewing Fresh Holy Basil Preparation: Following the harvesting instructions on the previous page, harvest the specified number of holy basil leaves you will need off the plant, rinse them well, and chew them fresh.


Remedial Uses for Chewing Fresh Holy Basil Leaves:

Mouth Infections - Chewing about 3 - 4 fresh leaves could cure mouth infections and ulcers, this may need to be done one time daily, for a couple days simultaneously. This can also help bad breath.

Stress and Anxiety - Chewing 12 fresh leaves a day could prevent stress and anxiety disorders. If you choose not to chew these daily, you can chew them at the first sign of heightened stress or anxiety to keep it at bay and provide calming.




Topical Holy Basil Leaf Preparation : Pound about 8 to 10 fresh holy basil leaves until it becomes a paste or cream-type consistency unless otherwise specified. You may need to add drops of water as you pound it out, but only use one or two drops at a time to ensure that you don't make it too watery.

Remedial Uses for Topical Fresh Holy Basil Leaf Cream or Paste:

Arthritis, Inflammation, and Pain Relief - A larger quantity of leaves may need to be used depending on the size of the area that needs relief. Just follow the general instructions, adding leaves and a drop or two of water as needed until you have enough paste to apply topically to the area. This can be done as needed, generally every 3 to 4 hours.

Headache Relief - If the tea doesn't seem to be doing the job, you can pound the leaves with sandalwood paste to be applied topically to temples or right onto the area of your head where you feel the headache.

Insect Bite Relief - Can be applied right to the bite to reduce swelling and ease the stinging, burning, or itching.

Minor Cuts and Scrapes - This can be applied to help with the pain and promote quicker healing. I don't recommend this for burns, I've tried it and it seemed to make it feel worse. Aloe is better, we'll discuss that in another post.



While I'm sure there are additional uses for Holy Basil, these are the main benefits and uses that I am familiar with. If you're aware of additional uses, please comment below so I can add them to this post. Below are the links I looked at to confirm these natural remedies and benefits, feel free to check them out.


What Are The Health Benefits Of Basil?

Basil Plants Have Anti-Arthritic Properties

Holy Basil Benefits: Growing Your Own Medicine

Health Benefits Of Holy Basil - Tulsi

15 Benefits Of Holy Basil (Tulsi)

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 Please be sure and check back in for further information about other natural remedies. Leave a comment if you have one, and share this with others who may find it useful. I'm still interested in finding similar blogs and sites too, so please share yours or your favorites in the comments below. Don't forget you can contact me personally through any of the options on the Contact Magpie page, I'm always open to suggestions for article content and interested in getting to know my blog's readers.

Natural Remedies - Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) - Part 1

There are so many types of basil to choose from, but in the post I'm not going to get into any specific varieties. I'm going to share some tips on growing basil, how to tend to and harvest it as it grows, some of the remedial benefits that basil has to offer, and how to prepare it for the applications of each. Since this is going to be too much information to try and cram into one post, I'll cut it into two parts. I'll cover the tips on growing, tending to, and harvesting it now, and I hope you'll come back for part 2 where I'll cover the remedial uses and how to prepare it for them. Since I'm sure you'll be using a majority of your basil for preparing sauces and other foods, I'd like to share a food rating chart that I pulled from a site called 'The World's Healthiest Foods' before we get into the other information.



As stated in the chart above, these are the values of a half cup (21.20 grams) of fresh chopped basil. You can find a small bunch (usually about 6oz.) of fresh basil at almost any local grocery or big box store, but rather than paying close to a couple bucks for it, you could start growing your own from a pack of seeds for just about the same price, maybe less. It may be too late in the year to grow it outside depending on where you're at, but setting up a small windowsill herb box is always an option to growing any time of year. Just three basil plants that are properly cared for can provide about one to one and a half cups of basil leaves a week.

Wherever you decide to grow your basil, there are a couple things you'll need to take into consideration. Basil loves sunlight, so providing it with at least 6 to 8 hours a day is optimal. Choosing a south facing window will ensure that it receives the most possible natural sunlight in a day, you could also set up an area with grow lights to ensure that it receives adequate lighting if window space isn't an option. The other important thing to remember is that basil roots are very prone to rotting. You'll need to either choose an area outside with good drainage or use a container with holes in the bottom and a water catchment tray.

If you grow basil from seeds, be sure and cover them with between 1/4" to 1/2" of soil. They'll take anywhere between 8 days and 2 weeks to germinate, with an additional 2 - 3 weeks before you have the first true set of leaves. If you've planted the seeds too close together, you'll want to thin them out by either replanting them about 6" apart outside once the danger of frost has passed, or by sticking to two or three plants per 8" container. One of my neighbors told me that the pH levels of your soil are important, and that they should be checked every 4-6 weeks. She says that if the pH level is around 6.0, then you're basil will be just fine. I've never checked pH levels in my soil for any of the plants I grow, but I'm sure there is some sort of over the counter testing kit or something you could look into. She also claims that if you'll just use fertilizer at half strength as often as suggested on the package, this will help make sure the soil is good for the growing and you won't need to do any pH testing.

I've never used any store bought fertilizer. I have access to as much horse manure as I want to pick up, so that's what I use. It may or may not be doing the job, but here's what I do. Occasionally I'll go and shovel some manure from the oldest side of the poop pile, bring it home, and put about a 1/2 or 3/4 of a shovel full worth in a 5-gallon bucket and fill it with water. Every couple days I go out there and stir it around with a stick or something... I've even used my hand. No big deal. About once a month or so I'll fill my watering can with the manure water from that bucket and I'll water whatever plants I can until the there isn't enough water to scoop out anymore. You could try this too or buy fertilizer, it's really up to you.

In order for basil to grow well and keep producing the best amount of leaves, you'll need to harvest it often. Once there are five or six sets of leaves on it, you can start plucking them. The way I do it is to snip off the center shoot just above the second set of leaves from the bottom. If you aren't going to use it right away, you'll need to decide how to store it. Basil doesn't dry out well for me, it never does. It always turns black and the taste very noticeably fades. I believe it has something to do with the high water content in it. If you want to keep it as fresh as you can, keep the center shoot/stem and the leaves intact and put them in a glass or a vase of water just like you would fresh cut flowers. If you keep them like this on a counter and out of direct sunlight, they could stay green for almost 2 weeks.

Basil also freezes well. Make sure you rinse them off before preparing them. If you want to make it into a pesto or something before you freeze it, that's always an option. You could also pluck off the leaves and make them into oil cubes. Roll each leaf, slice them up into thin strips, and loosely put the strips into an ice cube tray. After that you can pour just enough olive oil in each section to cover the strips, and freeze it that way. After they're frozen you can transfer them into a freezer baggy if you'd like, or just keep them in the tray and cover it with plastic wrap.

You can also freeze the leaves whole. By this I mean you can just pluck the leaves off the stem, carefully rinse them off so you don't bruise them, and then dry them on a paper towel or in some sort of salad spinner if you want. Once they're dry, lay them out on a cookie sheet and stick them in the freezer for an hour or two. After that, take them out and loosely stick them in an airtight freezer bag, seal them shut, and stick them back in the freezer until you're ready to use them. Make sure you label the bag with the name and date for future reference. When you harvest more basil, I don't suggest adding the new leaves to the bag that's already been in the freezer. I would just start with a fresh bag every time.

I don't let my basil grow flowers, I pick from it far too often for it to do that. I still don't quite know how long basil will grow before it will just die off if you don't let it flower and go to seed either. Once you decide you're ready to stop using your basil plant and would like to get seeds for future planting, let it grow until it starts to blossom. Once the flowers are there, just leave them alone until they turn brown and the seed pods form. After that, you can pull the pods off and set them in a shallow bowl or something to dry out more. If you look inside the pods, you'll see the seeds inside. You can rub your fingers on them to help the seeds come out, or if you're patient, they'll fall out on their own. You'll need to store the seeds in a cool, dark, and dry area. Some say the freezer or fridge is fine, but I just keep all my seeds in individual baggies inside a jar and stick them in the pantry. You can check into which method is best for you, but when the seeds are stored right they could last for at least 5 years... some argue that basil seeds could last 10+ years, but I don't know that I would have any sitting around that long to test that time length.

Here is a simple video on How To Save Basil Seed by bsntechdotcom that you can watch if you're interested in seeing how it can be done.

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Don't forget to come back for the next post, it will cover the remedial uses for basil, and the applications for each. If you haven't subscribed yet, please consider doing so. Leave a comment if you have one, and share this with others who may find it useful. I'm still interested in finding similar blogs and sites too, so please share yours or your favorites in the comments below. Don't forget you can contact me personally through any of the options on the Contact Magpie page, I'm always open to suggestions for article content and interested in getting to know my blog's readers.

Are You Familiar With Natural Remedies Yet? You Should Be.

This post isn't intended to persuade you to completely cut ties with all over the counter (OTC) and prescribed medicines, but more to encourage you to familiarize yourself with, and maybe even try your thumb at growing your own, remedial herbs and plants. There may come a day when doctors, hospitals, stores, and pharmacies aren't so widely available like they are today, so this is much more rewarding than just having something nice to look at in your yard, greenhouse, or window sill. Instead of adding more confusion to your life and trying to figure all this out at the last second, make yourself familiar now with which plants and herbs are medicinal and what they may help with.

I thought about all the natural remedies that I've heard about or used based on other people's suggestions, and wanted to make a decent list to start you off with. This surely isn't every single one, but it's a start. There are many uses for most of these, so this list will just touch on some of their healing properties. I'll conduct further research and come back in future posts with the specifics on the identification, growing, remedial uses and health benefits, and the applications (preparation) for each one in this list, along others that I learn about along the way.


Aloe Vera - cuts, burns, achy, joints/arthritis

Basil - helps with nausea, lack of appetite, and gas, also as a mild antiseptic and anti-inflammatory

Calendula (Pot Marigold) - antifungal, antiseptic, wound healing

Cat's Claw - boosts immune system

Cayenne - prevents blood clotting, relieves migraines, tooth pain, and joint soreness, can be used on snake bites, wounds, and sores, and can bring relief from flu symptoms

Chamomile (German Chamomile) - calms colic in children, also helps upset stomach, calms nerves, and can be used as a sedative

Cilantro (Coriander) - digestion, also cleanses body of metals and toxins

Cinnamon - since about 99% of bacteria and viruses can't live in the presence of it, this would be good for an antibacterial/antiviral

Dandelion - increases ovarian hormones, calms PMS, and helps with menopause

Eucalyptus - reduces swelling

Fennel - eases stomach muscles, aiding in digestion

Feverfew - lowers fever (thus the name), headache and migraine relief, and can relieve the symptoms of arthritis

Foxglove - wound healing (topical use only, could be fatal if ingested)

Garlic - body detoxification, immunity enhancer, lowers fats in blood, fights infections, helps yeast infections, helps with asthma, sinusitis, circulatory problems, heart conditions, and possibly even cancer

Ginger - anti-inflammatory, nausea, motion sickness, indigestion, and circulatory problems

Lavender - helps with insomnia, alleviates stress, may also help heal cuts, wounds, and sores

Lemon Balm - can reduce stress and anxiety, helps fight off the herpes simplex virus and others that are similar to it, calms stomach spasms, and can be used to soothe and heal bites and stings

Mullein - soothes cough, helps heal bronchial/respiratory infections

Oregano - can prevent inflammation, also has anti-oxidants that could prevent chronic diseases like cancer

Parsley - can fight kidney and bladder infections, used as an iron supplement, can boost energy and circulation, and can be used as a diuretic

Peppermint - relieves vomiting and indigestion, also soothes sore muscles

Rosemary - helps the brain receive more oxygen, giving energy and sharpening the memory, also used for muscle pain relief and digestive problems

Sage - astringent and antibacterial properties that can heal mouth, gum, and throat inflammation, may also be able to stop bleeding

Sorrel - helps jaundice, can be applied to ringworm, sore throat relief, and lower fever

Spearmint - energy booster

Thyme - relieves mild diarrhea, has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that can prevent colds and flu

Turmeric - may slow rheumatoid arthritis


Just like OTC and prescribed medicines, natural remedies have guidelines too. Not only do you need to be 100% sure that you can properly identify the plants and herbs you're about to use, but you need to know which parts are needed. Some things are great for topical remedies, but could be fatal if ingested, so knowing the application guidelines is crucial. Natural remedies can also have some side effects depending on the user. If you're allergic or sensitive to any specific herbs or plants in their natural state, you clearly shouldn't attempt to alter any part of them into a medicinal application. Like every other OTC and prescribed medicine, you need to be familiar with dosages and what they can and can't be paired with. Some aren't intended for children or the elderly, and just like every other medicine, pregnant women need to take extra caution.




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For more guidance on remedial herbs and plants, their identifications, applications, possible side effects, and so on, be sure to check back in and click the 'Natural Remedies' label on the side of the page to find future updated information. If you have any experience using any natural remedies, please share some details in the comments below. I'm sure there's loads more to add to this list and not only will it help anyone else who's interested in this, but every bit of information that I can learn from you is much appreciated. If you haven't subscribed yet, please consider doing so, leave a comment if you have one, and share this with others who may find it useful. I'm still interested in finding similar blogs and sites too, so please share yours or your favorites in the comments below.