Prevention of gastrointestinal infections in India

Aishah

The link posted in this thread is brilliant - I have added it to Favourites - thanks for the post,Patheya. Drinking water from dubious sources, taps etc. will make you sick but how many hours after I am not sure. Rule no. 1 - never drink water unless previously filtered or mineral water. Even brush your teeth in this 'purified' water. Most good hotels and restaurants have good water filtering equipment and water is o.k. to drink there.
Ask first..

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Laanisa

great advice! whate exactly are the swedish Yukko bitters...anyone?

vistet

I live here ... and have no idea what that means.

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Laanisa

Aha...didn't read the whole tread...its "beska droppar" this is something absolutely new to me, have had them before but for totally different reasons...

Trini

What is the best probiotic to use in India that is available in Chennai? I have had a 'bad' belly (a lot of cramping and runs) for the last 2 days but it is a lot better today. I want to start taking a probiotic as a prevention and also for stomach health. A local gave me a drink made of water, jeera, sombu, whole black peppers, sweet jaecarry, sugar and ginger which has really helped. I have never heard of some of these ingredients - does anyone know what this drink is called?

drzog

hey everyone I am back around the forum..i have been busy setting up my new practice in nutritional and functional immunology here in melbourne, Australia.

Its been super busy, so many gut bugs, often 'hitchhikers' turning up months or even years later. As the recent MDTravelHealth link attests there are many many bugs out there waiting to assault us! SO HERES TO PREVENTION.

At my clinic we are now doing DNA probe testing for these bugs and are able to identify almost 100% of up to 50 problematic species that cause gut problems.

Here is a link for other practitioners who may read this thread.
http://www.metametrix.com/content/Di...GIEffectsStool
The teleconferences area is also highly recommended for those interested in 21 century nutritional medicine. I have no association with this lab, other than i use it for my testing. There are others who offer similar services.

Nick H: thanks for all the supportive comments re prevention

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drzog

Hey this thread is one year old this week, great work guys!

Trini

The best probiotic is one with billions of bug units (the unit is cfu/gram). Usually a good mix of bugs would be Saccaromyces bourdalii, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacter species. I am sure someone more local could recommend a brand.

and CONGRATULATIONS for trying simple effective local herbal medicine. Ayurveda is of course one of the great herbal traditons, many of whose herbs i use daily. I dont know the traditional name but it sounds delicious?!

Jeera = cumin: The oil from black seed (cumin) is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and has been found to be liver protective, and it has also been shown to help to protect against chromosomal damage induced as a result of infection. In addition, oil from cumin might also afford protection in schistosomiasis by modulating the immune response and reducing inflammationation.

Sombu = Fennel:
Clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of fennel in the treatment of the following disorders:
• Conditions of the upper digestive tract including pain, nausea, belching, heartburn (in combination with other herbs).
• Chronic non-specific colitis with diarrhea or constipation (in combination with other herbs).
• Infantile colic (in combination with other herbs).

Black Peppers: Know to improve the bioactivity of other herbs.Contains the alkaloid Piperine, active against Fungi,Lactobacillus, Micrococcus, E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis.
Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is native to India and other southeastern Asian countries. Black pepper, white pepper, green pepper, pink pepper, and red pepper are all differently preserved berries or seeds of the Piper nigrum plant. Although black pepper has been used as a spice for millennia, it has also traditionally been used in India to treat diarrhea. In the Ayurvedic tradition, a preparation called Trikatu (black pepper, long pepper, and ginger) is prescribed routinely for a variety of diseases.

Jaecarry (or Jequirity i think): The root is antiemetic and kills bugs, worms and parasites.

Ginger: antiinflammatory and antiemetic. ginger provides benefit to many body systems, including the digestive, hepatobiliary, and cardiovascular systems.
Historically, the majority of complaints for which ginger was used concerned the gastrointestinal system. A clue to ginger's efficacy in alleviating gastrointestinal distress is offered in several double-blind studies in motion sickness, hyperemesis gravidum, and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Human studies have also shown a positive effect in arthritis and migraine headaches.

SO yeah for herbs.

For a wonderful true historical account of these spices (and more), mid-millenium commerce (East India Company) and the central importance of them to our present civilisation i highly recommend:
Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner (an aussie too).
http://www.amazon.com/Spice-History-.../dp/0375407219
when pepper was more valuable than gold..i went on my first trip to india several years on the strength of this book, and the desire to experience the malabar coast.

Trini

WOW! A million thanks! Sounds like 'the drink' would be good for acid reflux too??

Still want to know the name of 'the drink' and if the spices can be purchased already made up. Anyone know?

Also, does anyone know the brand name of a probiotic containing Saccaromyces bourdalii, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacter species that is available in Chennai?

kristinm

OK - after reading this great thread and others here's what I think... what do you guys & Drs think.'

We are taking probiotics now and will get the non-refrigerated kind to take with.

I am going to take the medi-honey, the more I read the better it looks, it is now one of the only things left that kills golden staph, it is great for burns and cuts - fast healing, and has been shown to help cure gastroenteritis in children. So for cuts/infections/burns/sore throat or gums etc and gastro.

I will not take antibiotics with us but get them there if needed - we are staying mid-range all the way and there should be a Dr available through our hotel/haveli whatever...

I will take immodium/panadol/ibuprofen/insect bite cream/antihistamines (husband swells up after anything bites him, son has been known to get hay fever).

I will take hand-wash and savlon spray

I will be open to Ayurvedic + western + herbal remedies...

I WILL NEVER DRINK THE WATER OR ALLOW MY FAMILY TO DRINK THE WATER

We will eat whatever the hell we fancy as long as it is freshly cooked, not sitting around, or unpeeled in the case of fruit.

I will buy some of that green stuff when I get to India - what;s it called again someone so I can put it on the list.. Hara badara or something???????

This is my solemn promise - amen.....

Trini

Cramps and dirrhoea are back today, no fever, no vomiting.

Got 'Nutriflora Capsules' in Chennai and Norflox-400

Each Nutriflora capsule contains:

Lactobacillus acidophilus 0.75 billion spores
Lactobacillus rhamnosus 0.75 billion spores
Bifideobacterium longum 0.75 billion spores
Bifideobacterium bifidum 0.5 billion spores

I was told by the pharmacy to take 2 per day (1 am / 1 pm) for 2 days only.

I was also told to take 2 Norflox-400 (1 am / 1 pm) for 1 day only.
drzog - can you confirm this this dosage?

Also, can you please tell me if Nutriflora is a good thing to take regularly?

Do I really need to brush my teeth in bottled water?

Does anyone know if 'Kinley' bottled water is consistently and reliably safe drinking water?

Fionabog

Your crazy if you DON'T use only bottled water to clean your teeth. Your mouth is the first port of entry for bugs!! How much do you reckon you're going to spend on some bottled water???

Nick-H

Trini is going to live here for a while. In six months time, half of these precautions will be completely forgotten (really!).

The immune system gets tuned in. I still wouldn't drink a glass of water from my own tap, but I'm not at all bothered about the drops from washing up, or washing the toothbrush in it.

We have our own water purifier. However, before that was fitted we were buying the cheapest (Rs.20 for 20ltrs, that's about half the big-make price) canned water. You can read scare stories about all of it!

For the first few weeks, at least, though, yes --- take all these precautions like a tourist, and ease your system into the place.

I think Kinley comes from Coke or Pepsi: not sure. You should be OK to buy any bottled water you see in most shops. Many visitors go for Bisleri. Find a local shop that will deliver it for you.

Nothing can save you from one bad ice cream! Take care and don't worry too much about stuff.

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qwan

Great info Drzog. i was just searching for the dosage for derolac and found your thread. I am a member so though I would give in my two bits. My friend who has travelled extensively told me the very same thing. Infact he keeps taking it all the time as he travels a lot. You can have any amount of it. It even help relieve symptoms of diahorrea.
The best brand in India is Vi-bact But it is sadly not available. Apart from that Derolac "looks" safe. There is a reason why I quoted looks. Because I just had my first dose and I have found no relief. My stomach cramps have got worst(oh btw I am suffering from lose motions right now ).
Vi-bact would immideatly ease my gut within half an hour. Infact I used to put it in half a glass of warm water and let it sit for a few minutes before drinking. I think it works better that way. Vi-bact does not have any sweetner either I think thats why it works the best. Derolac is sweet and has a lot "base".
I would not recomend any other brand as I have seen two brands that have the colour tatrazine in them.
I just dont why the hell do they put tatrazine, why the hell does anyone need colour in a pro-biotic.
Tatrazine is a commonly used color, the HACSG (Hyperactive Children's Support Group declares that the substance may cause allergic reactions) recommends to avoid it. Known to provoke asthma attacks and urticaria (nettle rash) in children; also linked to thyroid tumors, chromozomal damage, urticaria (hives) and hyperactivity. Tatrazine sensitivity is also linked to aspirin sensiticity. Used to colour drinks, sweets, jams, cereals, snack foods, canned fish, packaged soups. Typical products are soft drinks, confectionary, cordials, pickles. Banned in Norway and Austria.
So be careful. Can you imagine I found tatrazine in Isapgol forumla by ratakos & brett. I found that it aggravated my ulcers like hell. I dont who the hell in that company decided that yellow colour to my isapgol is make me going to buy. I cannot even see whats inside.

Nutriflora is good to take everyday. If it does not contain tatrazine or any other color or sweetener. Infact many people add a packet of probiotics to yogurt and have it everyday. I will only improve your health.

Also about malaria. Remember this. If you are in a malaria prone area and get fever, especially after evening then go immediately and get a test even before seeing a doctor. Get your test done in an actual laboratory which has a pathalogist. These machines are very unreliable. Never take a paracetmol you need your fever to keep the parasite level in check.(unless you are having a high fever above 102). If you do this and take your medications in one day then you will find that malaria is nothing but a simple fever. Eat properly you dont feel like eating but stuff yourself.
And probiotics help ease the gastro discomfort caused by malarial drugs. I say this from experience. First time malaria I was admitted in hospital for 10 days(after 8 days of doctors giving me paracetmol and telling me to come after two days and making me take blood test in the morning...initial stages of malaria the test comes positive only in the night as parasite is active then). The second time I got malaria I went to the doctor with a positive lab result on the very first day of my fever. I was allright on the second day. I was totally fit on the second day. My doctor was suprised he has never seen anyone recover so soon. I completed the 15 day course though.
The best way to keep of mosquitoes is lemongrass oil. Rub it on your body very good for skin and smells good too. Oh and nothing to beat the net while sleeping. Allout helps. most hotels have it but it is so small that you can carry it around. Remember to turn on your electronic mosquito repellents like All-out and Goodnight at 5 p.m in the evening. it is more effective.

Daydream Believer

Brilliant info. Thanks very much. Going for the first time in 10 years in a week's time - reading this reminded me of my dysentry adventures last time. Have bought some good probiotics & will take heed of the rest of the advice. Much better informed (& hopefully much healthier) this time!

mikraz

Greetings all and Congrats to Drzog on his one-year old thread, my feelings are it will be making indiamikes "Hall of Fame" if there ever is one.

Q: Acidophilus? An effective probiotic?