by Dr. Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Dr. Robert Ullman
The Runs Are a Pain in the Butt!
You do not want to be stopped short in your tracks on your long-awaited vacation by Montezuma’s Revenge or Delhi Belly! But, sooner or later, if you venture off to exotic destinations, are fortunate enough to dine in the homes of the locals, or succumb to that pristine waterfall without stopping to purify, you are likely to get diarrhea! This is one of the most common travel complaints. Homeopathic Podophyllum will get you well remarkably quickly much of the time. But read on for other possible remedies and check out our book, The Savvy Traveler’s Guide to Homeopathy and Natural Medicine: Tips to Stay Healthy Wherever You Go! It’s available in print, Kindle or iBook form as well as the app Natural Travel Doc.
Podophyllum: The First Remedy to Try
Podophyllum (May apple) is your best bet for sudden, explosive stools with cramping, rumbling, and exhaustion. The uncontrollable force with which the stool shoots out can explain why, in developing countries with public toilets that are poorly maintained, the toilets can appear so gross. It is also interesting that it is mentioned in the literature under a “sinking sensation after stool” because this is just the way we have felt, in India or other faraway lands, upon going to the bathroom and finding ourselves in such a state. It’s that, “Oh, shit” kind of feeling (excuse the pun). The one that makes you start thinking about what you have planned for the next day or two; where and what you will be eating; and how close you may be to a decent bathroom, toilet paper, etc. Though these may not be as significant a consideration in North America, Europe, and Down Under, they certainly can be in less-developed countries, as well as in the backcountry where toilet paper, or even water, may be in short supply.
Although the symptoms of Montezuma’s Revenge or Delhi Belly can surprise you anytime, it is not uncommon to awaken from a sound sleep, rushing to the bathroom around 4AM. The suddenness of this state is memorable, as are the abdominal cramping and resulting exhaustion. Also typical is the gurgling and rumbling sound of the gas in the abdomen. The diarrhea is watery and profuse and may be foul smelling. The consistency of the stool may be pasty and the color yellowish, which is not surprising for a liver medicine. We have most often found the stools to be brown or brownish-yellow. The diarrhea may be painless, however cramping is more frequent.
A Few Podophyllum Cases From Our Practice
Jeff
A seasoned world traveler and patient of ours for over ten years, Juan was very excited about his off-the-beaten-track overland trip through the Himalayas. Already an Indiaphile, he had been invited by a merchant friend to visit mountain villages little known to Westerners. Jeff’s two main concerns were acute diarrhea and altitude sickness. We stocked his natural medicine chest with Podophyllum, Coca (Erythroxylon) for altitude sickness, and our favorite echinacea-goldenseal formula to use at the first sign of a sore throat or flu. Jeff did, as feared, contract a whopper case of the runs while in Nepal, and Podophyllum was a godsend. He also found the Coca to be invaluable for high-altitude trekking.
Sami
Jenny and Paul were a bit hesitant to take their four-month-old pride and joy on their vacation to Puerto Vallarta. They had read about the severe danger, and even fatalities, resulting from acute diarrhea and dehydration in babies. They took along our Homeopathic Self-Care book and kit just in case. It was a good thing that they did because within days of their arrival Sami, who was still breastfeeding, did come down with a case of copious liquid stool, along with loud rumbling and growling of her abdomen. Jenny, too, developed an explosive, frequent, watery stool, which left her feeling wiped out. Both mother and daughter took Podophyllum promptly with complete success.
Judyth
Five years ago, during our first trip to New Zealand, we spent five days hiking the Milford Track. Curiously, the area, which is well known for its copious rainfall, had just enjoyed a rare thirty solid days of glorious sunshine. That was until our guided group of forty arrived, complete with six or so Seattleites. And, so, once again, we all brought the rain with us. It poured throughout our hiking adventure, ending with a squall upon our arrival the last night at Te Anau. The plentiful water from the skies made for overflowing waterfalls in all directions. Tempted to drink directly from a flowing cascade, the guide assured Judyth that the falls and streams were positively Giardia-free.
Nevertheless, within a week, Judyth experienced the classic watery stools, rumbling, and gurgling of you know what. The stool color was markedly lighter brown. These GI symptoms persisted until she took a dose of Podophyllum 200C. Within a day all of the stool symptoms normalized. Three weeks later, upon returning to the U.S., the symptoms returned, and again resolved completely after another dose of 200C.
Truffle
We noticed that our eight-year-old golden retriever, Truffle’s, stools were yellowish and tinged with blood. We wondered whether to attribute the change to some sharp-edged bone find on the beach, yet they persisted for several days. A veterinary stool analysis confirmed the diagnosis of Giardia and the recommendation was Flagyl. A dose of Podophyllum 30C did the trick. The stools normalized within a day.
If Podophyllum Doesn’t Work
Although there are many other homeopathic medicines for acute diarrhea, a few common alternatives are:
- Croton tiglium: Yellowish diarrhea that comes on immediately after eating or drinking.
- Aloe socotrina: The main keynote of Aloe is acute diarrhea with mucus lumps in the stool and a strong feeling of being unable to hold back the stool.
- Arsenicum album: For diarrhea, often from food poisoning or after fruit, accompanied with extreme restlessness and anxiety, chilliness, and a craving for sips of water.
- Veratrum album: Watery diarrhea, excessive vomiting and sweating, coldness, and a desire for iced drinks and juicy fruit.
- Cuprum metallic: Diarrhea with a tight, band-like cramping, constriction, and spasms. The colic can be quite violent.
Don’t Leave Home Without Your Homeopathic Book and Kit!
Now that you know what to take when diarrhea strikes during your long-planned hike in Nepal or adventure journey down the Amazon. But remember to take the remedies along with you! No worries about passing them around airport security. We suggest a compact, lightweight travel kit such as our Homeopathic Self Care Home Medicine Kit or something comparable. We like ours because it contains 50 remedies, more than most alternatives. The pound or so additional weight of the kit and The Savvy Traveler can be a trip saver and even a lifesaver!
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