Getting Rid of The Squits

[Mikey P]

Right, not sure if this delicate subject has been broached here before but, no matter how careful you are, sometimes you might get unlucky and eat something that doesn't agree with you. This can result in crop-spraying from both ends which is rather unpleasant for all involved .

If this happens in the field, is there any natural plant/herb or something that can alleviate the symptoms, or is it Immodium all the way?

 

[beachlover]

If this happens in the field, is there any natural plant/herb or something that can alleviate the symptoms, or is it Immodium all the way?

Had just the problem this week
Wifey bought "freshly cooked chicken" from local Spar-type shop. Despite her well-intentioned worries, I decided we would make a curry by shredding the meat and re-cooking it. While I was preparing the meal and being a greedy b****r I scoffed some of the meat, then prceeded to recook the rest. The outcome was two days of cramps and virtual seclusion in the loo. We were fortunate in being away only locally and able to come home. I am now into day four and all seems to be just about settled. It seems that the chicken was freshly cooked on a rotisserie, then put slightly warm into a fridge for sale, in hot weather for which the fridge had not been checked in terms of performance. My cooking and currying the chicken for the missus killed the germs for her.

In terms of what to do;
1. Immodium - wonderful stuff when it all gets out of hand (tho I personally never used it). Although we also had some codeine based stuff too if the worst had come to the worst.

2. Fluids in abundance. Probably the most essential bit. I have had in my kit and never used, a double ended spoon which measures out salt and sugar to make up a rehydrating fluid with water. It is used in the third world (now West Wight!) for children and adults with D&V. It worked a treat.

3. Baby wipes and loo roll. Would have needed a rucksack full. Not even Gary's 37 litre Moray rucksack that I had with me to test out would have held enough! Would dread the idea of dock leaves (used 'em in the past, but only as one off measure) or sphagnum moss10-12 times daily! Coping with this aspect in a remote spot would be a trail in itself.

4. Personal hygeine. Not only keeping oneself clean but preventing spread to others would be a real issue too.

In the end we came home after one night of it because we could do and I see no need in suffering needlessly. That said I do have a personal thing about taking drugs too soon and in the end took none, preferring to get what was bad out and just pouring fluids in. Works for me as they say.

What would be a real concern in a remote and challenging environment as with any other illness, but especially one that mucks up electrolytes and gives you a fever is the substantial fall off in judgement and performance that it brings with it.

THE MORAL
Prevention is better than cure!
Don't eat grub you don't know the history of and haven't cooked, or seen properly cooked yourself, Have a look at a food hygiene course or pinch someones course material who has been on one. In my case, don't be a greedy s*d!

 

[Stuart]

whilst not a natural solution the following is usefull information in an expedition setting.

when on wanders in remote areas of the world I carry 10 x 500mg ciprofloxacin tablets.

as soon as the first signs of diarrhoea present themselves I take one 500mg tablet, often this brings the infection to an immediate halt.

if the symptoms persist you then you have a choice, ride it out (the majority of travelers diarrhoea is caused by E. Coli and will not last more than 24-48 hours)
Or if you do not have the luxury of the facilitys and time to let your body deal with it, take one 500mg ciprofloxacin every 12 hours for three days.

Ciprofloxacin will treat infections caused by E.coli, Campylobacter, salmonella, and shigella.

if symptoms persist after 3 days on ciprofloxacin then it is likley that you are suffering from Gardia or amobic dysentry (both will last around 14 days) in which case you will need to find your local pharmacy/doctor/expedition medic and you will be given 2 grams of metronidazole once a day for 3 days. (seek professionel medical help) absolutley no alcohol should be consumed whilst taking metronidazonle

be aware that ciprofloxacin should not be used only under professional medical supervision and with extra caution for pateints with a history of epilepsy, liver or kidney impairment, pregnancy, who are dehydrated, or young children.

Seek medical attention if the tempurature rises above 40 degrees or the fever lasts more that 48 hours, if the diarrhoea lasts more than 4 days, or if there is blood in the stools

in all cases people suffering from diarrohea should be kept hydrated with a mixture consisting of 8 level tea spoons of suger + 2 tea spoons of salt in a 1ltr of water, drink 400ml of this after every loose stool.

immodium and codeine phosphate only treat the symptoms they do nothing to combat the infection, I tend not to take either unless I have to. (I.E. on a long bus journey with no toilets )

 

[beachlover]

Could also pinch a copy of the BNF or MIMMs to look cool with the natives

 

[arctic hobo]

in all cases people suffering from diarrohea should be kept hydrated with a mixture consisting of 8 level tea spoons of suger + 2 tea spoons of salt in a 1ltr of water, drink 400m

That's what I was going to say. That way you literally flush the bacteria out of your system, even if you are making even more toilet stops than ever. I'd also add that however many times you end up having to do it and however unnecessary it may seem, it is essential to bury all your faeces, especially in a foreign country. Bacteria are spread faeco-orally, so washing your hands is of course also extra-essential, as is digging the hole away from water catchments.

 

[Paganwolf]

Bisto works well, doesnt get rid of it but it thickens it up

 

[AJB]

Hi Pagan,

What you said was disgusting!

But there’s not much makes me laugh on a Monday morning, thanks!

 

[greg2935]

I believe chalk has been used for centuries both in the west, and by the native american indians. I do not know the amounts but do know that overuse can result in severe constipation.

 

[FeralSheryl]

I've heard you can use the inner bark of White Oak wood to stop Diarrhea. Boil the bark first, let it stand for 10 to 15 minutes seive out the bark and then you can drink the decotion. I've never tried it myself.

There's a little more info here that looks useful but do note I found this site on a quick Google search so I'd suggest getting further validation on the suggestions given before you try them yourself:

"Diarrhea. Drink tea made from the roots of blackberries and their relatives to stop diarrhea. White oak bark and other barks containing tannin are also effective. However, use them with caution when nothing else is available because of possible negative effects on the kidneys. You can also stop diarrhea by eating white clay or campfire ashes. Tea made from cowberry or cranberry or hazel leaves works too."

​

 

[bambodoggy]

Ok, there's a short answer second from bottom line:

About ten years ago I was travelling in India, I'd made a concentrated effort to eat everyday local food as I was planning to travel off the beaten track. I eat off roadside carts, in local cafes and although I was in a hurry to find a loo a few times I soon got used to the food and after about two weeks found I could eat anything the Indians could...I met several western people over there who had tried to stay with "clean" food and had been sick on and off for the whole time they'd been there....moral is; eat like the locals and get over your sickness, it'll go away.

However (and this is the point of my post Mikey), while on a three month stopover in Goa to recharge my batteries I must have eaten something very very bad as I was, like you, crop spraying from both ends...looking back if I'd have lent over a railing I could have shot round like a mucky Catherine wheel...!!!

This went on for almost two days and didn't get any better. I'd drink 1/2L of water in half an hour, throw it up 5 minutes later and then drink 1/2L of dioralite (however it's spelt) and then promtly throw that up too, anything I didn't chuck up waited 10 mins and then came out just as watery at the other end, I literally couldn't keep anything inside me for more than 10 minutes and often it came up the moment it went down....after two days of this I was getting quite worried, the Imodium wouldn't work no matter how much I upped the dose and I was about to try to make it to the local doctor when a Nepali guy I'd met a few days earlier came to me and gave me a medium sized pot of ginger tea. Just hot water and ginger roots in a fancy tea pot (they love the british tea pots over there) and insisted that I drink the whole pot.
I hate ginger and so wasn't keen but feeling so bad I was willing to try anything. Anyway I drank it all and managed not to bring it back up. He shot off and got another full pot and made me drink that too.... this was about lunchtime, I swear to god by dinnertime I was right as rain and actually went out to dinner taking the Nepali guy out too as a thank you.

I've used it since when I've been abroad and given it to friends that have been just as sick.... it works 100% effective 100% of the time....and so simple!

So, to answer your question shortly: Yes, Ginger tea works very well.

Hope that helps,

Bam.

 

[FeralSheryl]

Nice one, Bam. Your experience is coroberated here (scroll down to 'USES' and read on) it's interesting stuff.

I've always used it for nausea and simply because - lucky for me - I love the stuff. Didn't realise it could be used for full blown food poisoning too. That makes perfect sense actually. I had a pretty unpleasant stomach problem just a few weeks ago, (though far from the fireworks you describe! ) Good old Kaolin and Morphine didn't help this time so I gave up on it. It was only when I started drinking the Ginger tea (just some thinly sliced Ginger root in hot water) that I started to feel much better. I expect the Kaolin played it's part, but it's interesting that my fever came down too after the Ginger tea.

You may not be able to find it growing wild easily in the UK Mikey, but a little bit of root is easy to carry in your pocket.
Reckon it's going to become an essential bit of my kit from now on.

 

[Toddy]

......I was about to try to make it to the local doctor when a Nepali guy I'd met a few days earlier came to me and gave me a medium sized pot of ginger tea. Just hot water and ginger roots in a fancy tea pot (they love the british tea pots over there) and insisted that I drink the whole pot.
I hate ginger and so wasn't keen but feeling so bad I was willing to try anything. Anyway I drank it all and managed not to bring it back up. He shot off and got another full pot and made me drink that too.... this was about lunchtime, I swear to god by dinnertime I was right as rain and actually went out to dinner taking the Nepali guy out too as a thank you.

I've used it since when I've been abroad and given it to friends that have been just as sick.... it works 100% effective 100% of the time....and so simple!
So, to answer your question shortly: Yes, Ginger tea works very well.
Hope that helps,
Bam.

Now that is good to know; my uncle was an MO with the Gurkhas and he told me of this cure over thirty years ago when I'd been really ill after a Scout camp. But ginger root was damn near impossible to get then, we could only manage the dried stuff or the syrup that surrounds stem ginger. My dad mixed up the syrup in hot water and I drank that. Certainly the need for my permanent attachment to a loo and a sink settled down very quickly but I always wondered if it were the ginger or mother nature just taking her usual course that gave me relief.
The Chinese supermarkets sell boxes of ginger tea sachets, wonder if these'd do?

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[AJB]

To make the tea do you just grate/slice some ginger (how much) into hot water?

 

[bambodoggy]

To make the tea do you just grate/slice some ginger (how much) into hot water?

Grate, slice, crush or just cut it up if you have too...and then add boiling water....allow to stew for a few mins and then just keep drinking it until you feel better.... at first you'll sip it but after a while you can drink it normally...
I was, as i said, particularly ill so I drank two tea pots full but I've had a mild dose of the rumbly bum before and a mug full has done the trick.
As for how much ginger... I don't think you can OD on it so just keep adding it till it tastes nice and strong (don't know why I said "nice" and strong as I still don't like the taste of it..lol).

Toddy...I guess the procesed sachets should work... if you try them and they do then would you let me know please Matey? thanks

 

[AJB]

Thanks,

I hope I don't have to use it!

AJB

 

[FeralSheryl]

To make the tea do you just grate/slice some ginger (how much) into hot water?

Gosh, never used an exact measure. Very rough guide - a 3/4 inch cube sliced/grated in a cup.

Like Bam says "I don't think you can OD on it so just keep adding it till it tastes nice and strong"

Being rather fond of Ginger I tend to nibble the slices afterwards until I've eaten most of them too.

 

[Spacemonkey]

Wow, learn a new thing every day! I love pickled ginger the best. Yumm....

 

[FeralSheryl]

May I recommend Stem Ginger in Dark Chocolate... as a purely preventative measure, of course

 

[george]

Like Bam says - ginger is great for stopping various nasties - absolutely great for travel sickness too.

Howver if you're in the field with no ginger and you've got something unpleasant, charcoal can also work wonders.

Around a quarter teaspoon of ground charcoal will slow the runs down to a manageable level unless you've got something really awful.

george

 

[nomadbushcraft]

To treat the sqits in the field here is a useful remedy shown to me in Africa:

Take a handful of cold charcoal lumps from your fire in the morning (not ash) and dunk them into a cup of cold water.

Pour the cold water off and with the end of a recently fire hardened stick mash the charcoal into a smooth black paste. now add fresh clean cold or luke warm water up to about pint or roughly 568ml.

This should look about the colour of guiness yet sadly it doesn't taste like it:

Now (appologies to the squeamish) there are two tribal ways of administering this tonic, one with a rubber hose clenched teeth and a funnel (no pictures or diagrams thankfully) or the second more friendly way which is to drink the entire potion down in small mouth fulls over say about an hour: The theory is that the charcoal acts like an activated charcoal filter and will absorb any toxins or pathogens in your gut. (similar to giving a dog charcoal biscuits).

I cannot accurately describe the biochemistry of the suspended carbon but I can tell you that the orally administered technique does work exceedingly well. I have ot been brave enough (or sick enough) to try the "other-end" technique!

a simple and effective digestive remedy.

Andrew