Definition

An acute infectious disease caused by a bacillus (Salmonella typhi) and acquired by ingesting food or water contaminated by excreta. May also be transmitted by an asymptomatic carrier.
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Causes

Approximately 500 cases of Typhoid are reported every year, most are overseas travelers, of which a small percentage become asymptomatic carriers. Food poisoning is often caused by Salmonella contamination of food, not to be confused with S. typhi.
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Symptoms

Gradual onset of fever, going higher to 103 degrees to 105 degrees. Fatigue, loss of appetite, chills, headache, muscle pain, and tenderness in the abdomen. After about a week, severe diarrhea starts, which may be bloody. Red spots form on the skin over the chest and abdomen, and the spleen may become enlarged. Symptoms become worse for 3-4 weeks and then recovery begins. If no treatment is given, the patient may continue to grow weaker, with severe loss of fluid, an enlarging abdomen, and a rapid pulse. Some 10% to 15% of untreated patients die. The usual cause of death is severe intestinal hemorrhage or perforation. Treatment by a medical doctor is essential.
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Treatment

Pure air and good ventilation is essential. The high fever should be lowered. A sponge bath at room temperature, with fever reducing herbs will help. Never give aspirin to children with a fever. Give a high herb enema every day, using white oak bark, red raspberry leaves, or wild alum root. After the enema, inject 2 oz. of the enema tea into the rectum with a small syringe and retain. This helps heal the ulcers in the rectum. Cold cloths placed over the right groin will often stop intestinal bleeding. Injections of witch hazel tea are will also help. Steep a heaping tsp. of golden seal and one tsp. of wild alum in a pint of boiling water and take a swallow every hour to relieve and heal ulceration in stomach. The patient should drink great quantities of water. Orange juice and oatmeal water taken at separate intervals taken for nourishment. A vegetable broth made from several vegetables, such as carrot, celery, onion, spinach, etc., is also nourishing; strain it and give as a broth. Antibiotics are used successfully in typhoid.
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Herbs

• Balsam fir
• Bayberry
• Bitterroot
• Bittersweet
• Bloodroot
• Boneset
• Chamomile
• Cinchona bark
• Coral root
• Cucumber
• Dandelion
• Echinacea
• Eucalyptus
• Fever weed
• Golden seal
• Horehound
• Indigo, wild
• Isatis
• Jack in the pulpit
• Magnolia
• Myrrh
• Sage, red
• Wafer ash
• Yarrow

Cautions

It is important for those traveling in areas of the world where typhoid fever is common to avoid drinking unboiled water or eating raw vegetables or unpeeled fruit.
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Bibliography

• Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss; pgs., 5-6, 252, 442-444.
• Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke, pgs., 116, 144, 252, 282.
• Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., pgs., 197, 203, 380.
• The Old Herb Doctor, by Joseph E. Meyer, pg., 156.
• Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, pgs., 23, 28, 44, 61, 80, 105, 110, 112, 113, 114, 122, 132, 150, 193, 291.

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