Dysentery is an intestinal infection, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Diarrhea and stomach cramps are among the most common symptoms. In some cases, dysentery may self-resolve within several days of onset. Herbal medicines have long been used to help treat this condition, although you should check with your doctor before using herbs for this purpose.
About Dysentery
The World Health Organization reports that dysentery is a bout of bloody diarrhea that is most commonly caused by Shigella species bacteria or Entamoeba histolytica parasites. If you are diagnosed with dysentery, your physician may have to report your illness to the local health authority. Dysentery may be passed between people through poor hygiene or the consumption of contaminated food. Amoebic dysentery, one of two principle types of dysentery, may be fatal if it is left untreated.
Useful Herbs
There are several potentially useful herbs for treating dysentery. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that goldenseal, pau d'arco, saw palmetto and wild yam may effectively treat the symptoms or the underlying cause of dysentery. A non-herbal dietary supplement that may also be beneficial is quercetin -- a bioflavonoid available in numerous nutritional supplements. Consult your doctor before using any of these remedies to treat dysentery.
An Effective Remedy
Saw palmetto may be one of the most effective remedies. In his book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," expert herbalist Ed Smith notes that saw palmetto is used to treat numerous health problems, including prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia, various urinary maladies, inflammation of genitourinary organs and many other conditions, including dysentery. Saw palmetto is a fan palm that thrives in warm climates and possesses saw-toothed leaves and thorny stems.
Considerations
Dysentery can lead to several serious health complications. Infants and young children are especially susceptible to dysentery-induced dehydration. Dehydration, if serious enough, can be fatal. Another possible health complication associated with dysentery includes liver abscesses. If you have the symptoms of dysentery, it is wise to meet with your doctor so that you can be properly diagnosed and treated. Ask your doctor about herbs and what they might be able to do to treat your condition.
