A water-borne disease cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It affects the absorption of water in the small intestine causing loss of fluid through diarrhea and vomiting.
The severe dehydration caused by cholera due to fluid loss in diarrhea and vomiting can be fatal if not treated in time. Sometimes, death can occur in a very short span of time as little as just 4 hours. Death rates are high as 30-50% in some cases.
It is a completely preventable disease by taking precautions of what you eat and drink. Home remedies can help to treat the symptoms but medical attention is necessary due to the severity and high mortality associated with the condition.
Following home remedies will help to save life from cholera infection:
1. Re-hydrate
Since a lot of fluid loss happens in cholera , the first line of attack is getting the lost fluid back as soon as possible. If you are re-hydrated fast then the condition can come into control and life can be saved.
So keep drinking water. The water must be pure drinking water. Bottled mineral water will be your best bet. If you do not have access to bottled mineral water then boil the drinking water and drink.
Other nutritious fluids are coconut water and orange juice. Keep drinking fluids throughout the day.
Since you lose minerals along with the fluid in diarrhea and vomiting, you must also restore the lost minerals along with rehydration. Add half a teaspoon of salt and 5 teaspoons of sugar in a liter of clean drinking water and drink it instead of drinking the water. This homemade oral rehydration solution (ORS) is the difference between life and death. YOu can also purchase any ORS from the nearest drug store.
2. Ginger
Ginger is antibiotic and helps stop diarrhea. On one side we are trying to continuously re-hydrate and on the other side we have to stop diarrhea and vomiting which dehydrates you. Ginger is one of the most powerful home remedies for diarrhea. You can consume ginger in many different ways
- Make a ginger tea by making thin slices of about half an inch of ginger root in a cup of boiling water. Steep it for 5 minutes. Strain and cool it to warm temperatures. Add a teaspoon of honey and drink it.
- Grate a half an inch of ginger root. add an equal amount of honey and eat the mixture. It will help digestion and stop diarrhea.
3. Yogurt
Yogurt is another powerful remedy to stop diarrhea. Probiotic yogurt contains good bacteria that kills the bad bacteria in the stomach and maintains a balance. It is very useful in cholera.
- eat a cup of plain probiotic yogurt 2-3 times a day until your cholera is completely in control
- add water and salt to make a drink (buttermilk) and consume 2-3 times a day. Each time you can have a glass of buttermilk
4. Lemon
Vitamin C i lemon boosts immunity and with its antibacterial capabilities lemon kill the bacteria in the digestive system that is causing cholera.
Mix a juice of one fresh lemon in a glass of clean drinking water. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of sugar or honey. Stir it well. It will re-hydrate as well as kill bacteria.
You should completely avoid solid food during cholera. Get all your nutrition through liquids. If you are not even able to drink anything then the doctors will put you on intravenous glucose to keep you hydrated.
Cholera is a serious disease and you must take all the home remedies and other medications under doctors supervision.