Definition

A term applied to a number of intestinal disorders, especially of the colon, characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes. Types of dysentery: amebic, bacillary, balantidial, malignant, viral.
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Causes

Bacterial or viral infection; infestation of protozoa or parasitic worms (see Worms); chemical irritants. Inflammation of the rectum and large intestine, insufficient foods, improper diet, drinking too much liquid with meals, overeating, wrong combinations of foods, stimulating foods, liquor, tea, coffee, drinking impure water, unhygienic surroundings, eating fruits or vegetables that have begun to decompose, eating foods that have been standing in pantries that are not well ventilated, and eating improperly refrigerated, contaminated foods. Irritated bowels, habitual constipation, and taking certain types of medicine, such as laxatives, may also be the cause.
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Symptoms

Abdominal pain, tenesmus (spasmodic contractions of anal or vesical sphinctre with pain and persistent desire to empty the bowel or bladder, with involuntary ineffectual straining efforts), diarrhea with passage of mucus or blood. More or less fever, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, and restless at night. Sometimes the abdomen is distended. Severe symptoms: Increasing fever, great thirst, red tongue, the abdomen may appear sunken in some cases, straining ceases, and the bowels become relaxed and may protrude. Passage of urine is infrequent and is accompanied by a burning sensation. The pulse becomes slow, breathing is rapid, and generally the patient looks pale and emaciated. Do not let this condition continue. See a doctor for the severe symptoms.
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Treatment

Bedrest. Light diet. Use potassium broth, soybean milk, or oatmeal milk, and drink at least a pint a day of slippery elm water and barley water. Whole wheat flakes can be completely dissolved in soybean milk. Chew the food thoroughly before swallowing. See the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Herbal Medicine Formulas and Recipes
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Herbs

• Agrimony
• Alder
• Allspice
• Aloe
• Alum, root, wild
• Apple
• Arbutus
• Arnica
• Ash, prickly
• Balm
• Barberry
• Bayberry bark
• Bearberry, (Uva ursi)
• Beechdrop
• Benne leaves
• Bilberry
• Birch
• Birthroot
• Bistort root
• Bitterroot
• Bitter sweet
• Blackberry root
• Black haw
• Black Indian hemp
• Black root
• Blueberry
• Blue flag
• Boneset
• Burdock
• Butternut
• Calamus
• Capsicum
• Carrot, wild
• Cascara bark
• Castor bean
• Catnip
• Cayenne
• Celandine
• Centaury
• Chamomile
• Chapparal
• Cherry, wild, bark
• Chestnut
• Cinnamon
• Cinquefoil
• Cloves
• Cohosh, black
• Collinsonia
• Colombo
• Comfrey
• Coriander
• Cranesbill
• Crowfoot
• Cranesbill
• Crowfoot
• Cypress
• Dock, yellow
• Elder
• Elecampane
• Elm, slippery, bark
• Eryngo
• Eucalyptus
• Fenugreek
• Fireweed
• Fleabane
• Flag, sweet
• Flaxseed
• Frostwort
• Garlic
• Ginger, wild, African
• Golden rod
• Goldenseal
• Grape
• Horseradish
• Horsetail, grass
• Hound's tongue
• Jasmine, yellow
• Knotweed
• Labrador tea
• Lavender
• Life everlasting
• Life root
• Lobelia
• Lotus leaf
• Lungwort
• Marshmallow
• Matico
• Meadowblossom
• Meadowsweet
• Moss, Iceland
• Mullein
• Nettle
• Nutmeg
• Oak, white, bark
• Onion
• Patchouli
• Peach tree leaves
• Pennyroyal
• Peppermint
• Persimmon bark
• Pilewort
• Plantain, water
• Pleurisy root
• Pokeroot
• Pomegranate
• Poplar
• Poppy seeds
• Primrose, evening
• Privet
• Privet
• Psyllium
• Ragweed
• Raspberry, red, leaves
• Red root
• Rhubarb, root
• Pomegranate
• Sage
• St. John's wort
• Samson snakeroot
• Sanicle
• Sassafras
• Savory
• Sesame seeds
• Shepherd's purse
• Skullcap
• Spikenard
• Squaw vine
• Stoneroot
• Strawberry, wild, leaves
• Sumac
• Sumbul
• Sunflower
• Sweet gum
• Tamarack
• Tansy
• Thuja
• Thyme
• Tormentil
• Valerian
• Wahoo, bark
• Water Avens root
• Water Pepper
• White pond lily
• Willow, black, American
• Wintergreen
• Witch Hazel
• Yam, wild
• Yarrow
• Yerba santa

Suggestions

A tea for the relief of dysentery:
Black pepper (1 part)
Coriander (2 parts)
Sweet flag root, powdered (30 parts)
Boil 2 oz. of the mixture in 1 pint of water until 1 cup liquid remains. Strain immediately. Take 1 tsp. 3 times a day.
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Bibliography

• Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss; pgs., 238-239, 328-329, 532.
• Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., pgs., 26, 34, 64, 70, 80, 82, 92, 98, 106, 112, 114, 120, 124, 134, 142, 144, 146, 156, 166, 168, 170, 172, 178, 180, 208, 210, 212, 216, 218, 222, 224, 230, 234, 238, 244, 248, 250, 254, 260, 264, 272, 278, 280, 284, 288, 294, 298, 300, 304, 312.
• Healing Plants, by Mannfried Pahlow, pgs, 57, 60-62, 96, 117.
• Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., pgs., 105, 129, 142, 160, 167, 169, 202, 209, 211, 213, 222-224, 243, 245, 246, 251, 257, 259, 260, 261-263, 265, 284, 295, 296, 316, 324, 326, 333-336, 338-344,, 341, 344, 346, 380, 388, 391, 400, 402.
• The Herb Book, by John Lust, pgs., 4, 7, 9, 37, 66, 471-472, 474.
• The Nature Doctor, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; pgs., 7, 38, 42, 95, 156, 213, 217-219, 233,235, 240,249, 364, 368, 400, 441, 459, 480, 495, 502, 565.
• Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, pgs., 3-5, 9-12, 15, 17, 19, 24, 27-29, 32, 34-35, 37, 41, 43, 45, 48, 50,52, 58, 62, 64,68, 70, 71, 74, 77, 81, 85, 86, 93, 97, 103, 104, 106, 107, 120, 122, 123, 128, 131, 133, 135, 137, 143, 152, 159, 173, 180, 183, 186, 194, 204, 207, 208, 210, 219, 220,223-225, 228, 231, 236, 240, 248, 249, 257-259, 263-266, 271, 275, 278, 280, 281, 286, 294, 298, 302, 304, 305, 307, 211, 314, 316, 318.
• The Old Herb Doctor, by Joseph E. Meyer, pgs., 63-66, 102, 151.
• Earl Mindell's Herb Bible, by Earl Mindell, pgs., 43, 66, 68, 72, 119, 128, 220.
• The Rodale Herb Book, edited by William H. Hylton, pgs., 85-86.
• The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, pgs., 152-153.
• The Yoga of Herbs, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, pgs., 46, 60, 102, 113, 114, 117, 118, 122, 131, 133, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 146, 160, 162, 163, 164, 178, 183, 186.
• Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., pg., 156-157.
• The Magic of Herbs, by David Conway, pgs., 87-88, 117, 124-125, 140-141, 143-144, 151.

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