Cholera is a serious infection, involving the lower part of the small bowel. It is one of the most severe diseases of the intestines. It is a waterborne disease and is common during monsoon. The disease is predominant in children in endemic areas like India and other countries of South East and Mid East Asia. Its incidence is much higher in the age group between one and three years than in other age groups of children.
Cholera strikes suddenly and tills the intestinal canal with bacilli which die rapidly and leave the person alive or dead. It comes as an epidemic and creates havoc but subsides quickly in the locality. Those who are susceptible to it are carried away and those who are left alive become immune to it. Thus after an epidemic in a non-endemic area, there is no revrsitation by cholera in the locality for two or three-years. Cholera is a life threatening disease and fluid loss is so rapid that no chances can or should be taken. It is best to take the patient to a hospital for intravenous fluids and antibiotics. However, when that is not possible, here are the best remedies could help for the treatment of cholera disease.
Cholera Symptoms
Cholera appears in three stages. In the first stage, the patient suffers from mild diarrhea and vomiting, which worsens rapidly. The motions become watery, containing no fecal matter. The patient gets severe cramps in the muscles of the abdomen and limbs, resulting from lack of salts. The temperature rises but the skin is generally cold. Taking water to quench the thirst makes the cramps worse by diluting the body salts still further.
In the second stage, known as the stage of collapse, the body becomes colder, the skin dry, wrinkled and purple. Voice becomes weak and husky and the urine becomes dark and scanty or altogether absent. It is in this ‘algid’ stage that the patient may die, as early as 24 hours after the onset of symptoms.
In the third stage, recovery follows in favorable cases. All the changes seem to reverse themselves. The fluid loss decreases and there is a slight improvement in general condition. Even at this stage, the relapse may occur or the patient may sink into a condition resembling typhoid fever. The condition may deteriorate over a period of two or three weeks. During this stage of reaction, the temperature may rise, and the patient may be in danger from pneumonia. Some common symptoms of cholera are.
- a profuse secretory-type watery diarrhea, with flecks of mucous material (rice water).
- leg cramps
- vomiting (often).
- abdominal pains.
- a rapid onset of dehydration.
Causes of Cholera
Cholera is caused by a short curved, rod-shaped germ known as vibrio chlorate. This germ produces a powerful poison or endotoxin. It is spread by flies and water contaminated by the germs. The real cause of the disease, however, is the toxic and devita1ised condition of the system brought about by incorrect feeding habits and faulty style of living. This condition facilitates invasion of cholera germs.
Cholera Treatment – Natural home remedies for cholera disease
1. Onion Juice
Onion juice is considered especially useful in folk medicine. A teaspoon of onion juice added to a teaspoon of neem fruit pulp (neem fruit grows during the cholera-prone months) should be licked from the spoon every 30 minutes or so. Two spoonful last about two hours. The combination is very bitter, but it is not possible to mix it with water as that will cause the patient to vomit. However, just taking a lick and sipping water makes the patient feel better and changes the taste in the mouth. Besides, both these have antiseptic and anti-microbial properties that annihilate the cholera bacteria and also neutralize the toxin it liberates. Best treatment for cholera.
2. Neem Leaves
Grind 2-4 neem leaves with 3-4 black peppercorns and give the patient this mixture in a cupful of water, to sip slowly. Both these have anti-microbial properties.
3. Celery-leaf Infusion
Take a handful of celery leaves and grind them to a paste. Boil them in one-and-a half litres of water till only half remains. Give a spoonful of this cooled decoction every 15-20 minutes, till the patient’s stool begins to thicken. Once that happens, stop this treatment. The natural restorative process would have begun. However, continue to give oral re hydration fluids.
4. Clove-water Decoction
Grind half a tablespoon of cloves. Boil it in two liters of water till it is reduced to a liter. Filter, cool and have this many times a day.
5. Nutmeg
One-eight of a teaspoon of nutmeg powder, infused in a glass of water, cooled, mixed with the same amount of coconut water, and half a cupful of this drink taken every half an hour, will reduce the severity of the symptoms.
6. Coconut Water
Tender coconut water is an ideal re hydrating and nourishing drink with a teaspoon of fresh drumstick-leaf juice and a spoonful of honey added to it.
7. Cloves
Grind 4-5 cloves and mix with a pinch of asafoetida and jaggery. Have it 2-3 times with water. Helps in treating cholera.
8. Holy basil and Neem Leaves
Grind 6-8 holy basil and 6-8 neem leaves with a pinch of asafoetida powder. Roll it into a small pill with jaggery. This should be given 3-4 times a day.