Food poisoning from "edible" plants
March 22, 2011
7 Comments
Hey Preppers,
If the you-know-what hits the fan one day, everyone that doesn’t have an extensive survival garden up and running will be looking to their environment for edible wild plants. It’s likely we’ll be less than perfect in our choice of safe, tasty greens. What if we find ourselves getting sick soon after trying a new plant?
The DOOM and BLOOM Show #21 went over survival edibility tests and tips on what to avoid when you’re foraging for food. It’s there to download at your convenience. Let’s talk about when you have been poisoned by plant toxins.
Most food poisoning is actually due to eggs, dairy products and meat that have been contaminated by some type of bacteria. Most animal meat is not toxic by itself (pufferfish and barracuda are exceptions that come to mind), but there are plenty of plants, even ones we eat commonly, that have toxins that could seriously harm you. Eating the seeds of an apple, in quantity, will make you sick due to cyanide-like compounds within it.
Symptoms to expect if you have food poisoning would include nausea and vomiting, dizziness, vision disturbances, confusion and palpitations.
When you suspect that you have been poisoned, wash your mouth out immediately to make sure that you don’t have any plant material still to be ingested. Then purge yourself, whether it be by pressing down on the back of your tongue with 2 fingers or using a preparation like syrup of Ipecac. Most poison control centers will advise against using this substance, because it may be difficult to figure out exactly how much will work. The answer is to use the smallest amount of the stuff that will make you vomit. Drink clear fluids like water to dilute the toxin and help flush it out of your system.
Activated charcoal is another product that is used to treat poisoning. Activated charcoal in your stomach and intestines causes toxins to bind to it, therefore keeping them from entering your system. Some poison control centers don’t want you to use this either, due to dosing issues and the fact that it could give you constipation. Take an Ex-lax when you take the charcoal to help move things along. In terms of dosing, there are various online charcoal products pre-measured that you can use in liquid or capsule form. Some brand names are SuperChar, Actidote, Liqui-char, InstaChar, and Charcodote.
Prevent food poisoning by being sure what you’re eating; get a good edible plant guide for your area, one with plenty of photos. Foragerpress.com has an assortment of books that might fit the bill. Remember, if there is still modern medical care available to you and you feel sick, get to an emergency room ASAP!
Dr. Bones
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Dr Bones, I’ve read (Little Herb Encyclopedia) that burdock can be used to make an antidote to most poisons and also apple cider vinegar (with “mother”) works to help with food poinsoning. Any further information you can provide or resources for finding recipes and doses would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
hey doc i know im a little slow, but i just found you site….plenty of useful stuff….thanks.
hey reg….hit me with that burdock link.
I have built a pretty good Stomp Bag over the last few years, and am making mine better seeing what is in yours. Can you give me a good idea of things that I should check or replace regularly – for instance, I did not know, until I saw recently that my Celox had expired a year ago. I replaced it with new, but did keep the old around just in case.
Hi Mark,
The alcohol and betadine prep wipes will dry out eventually. You will need bottles of alcohol or betadine and cotton gauze to have a long term solution.
Your creams and ointments will also lose potency over time as well.
Dr. Bones
Herbs for Botulisms:
There are a few steps to create a solution/supplemental aid for Botulism. When working with aiding any form of food poisoning the “PURITY of the ingredients you are working with is VITAL this means everything you use as a supplement or aid MUST be at a minimal “CERTIFIED ORGANIC ” Detoxification:
First the need to Detox the blood from neurotoxins; Some herbs that can be used are:
Plantain, Dandelion Root, Burdock Root these; all are natural blood purifiers. Also there is a need to use activated charcoal tablets. Be very careful using activated or charcoal for if you are taking any medication for anything this will strip your system clean of it. This process must be done slowly and carefully and under a doctors care.
Nutritional Supplementation:
The need to increase vitamins and nutrition levels to maintain a healthy immune system. Some herbs for this are:
Enchinacea Root
Bee Pollen
Juniper berry( very powerful if new season and young berries are used)
Pine needle tea and fresh pine bark.
Increasing of Oxogen levels in blood:
The need to increase Oxogen levels of blood:
This can be carefully achieved with Vitamin E ( but be careful not to overdose on this step)
Balance of Electrolytes:
Now the Electrolytes need to be replaced and rebalanced PURE COCONUT WATER is IDEAL for this task will replenish electrolytes safely and slowly and rehydrate you as well. Also a good Recovery Tonic/ Juice can be used but must be fresh and CERTIFIED ORGANIC. e.g.. Apple Celery with Ginger juice.
2 Red Delicious apples
4 stalks of fresh Celery with leave
1/2 inch piece of fresh peeled ginger root.
option you can add 1/2 teaspoon of Fresh bee pollen to this for added B vitamin benefits.
For Stomach Cramps Ginger root or tea is good
During this process’ for 3-5 days Go on a strict Diet of no Sugar foods, and or Fried or processed foods.
Follow Up with a Slippery Elm Gruel drink This will ultimately replenish lacking nutritional values of ALL organs.
anyone know a natural remedy for gout? Looking for natural as most of the meds made seem to want to destroy your kidneys and liver. right now i sit around with my swollen foot in a bucket of ice water drinking cherry juice. Anyone have any other helpful hints?