So, I didn’t get a chance to post yesterday, or to do much else for that matter. In fact, I spent most of the day getting a very close view of just how badly the inside of the toilet needed to be cleaned.
After a lovely date with my husband on Wednesday night, I started to have a weird feeling in my stomach. I drank some Apple Cider Vinegar, which is my normal remedy for any kind of tummy troubles and the feeling went away… until 3 a.m.
At 3 a.m., I was awoken by that feeling of needing to vomit but not being able to. I spent the next few hours with horribly cramping stomach aches and awful nausea. Then the vomiting hit… and did it ever!
I’ll spare you the rest of the details, but basically, I couldn’t keep anything down, including water, for the next 8 hours and I had really bad stomach cramps, dizziness, chills, etc. In fact, I had every symptom under the definition of “Food Poisoning” on WebMD.
At some point Thursday afternoon when I was debating going to the hospital to get an IV so I would have some fluids to be able to nurse the baby, I remembered the vinegar and how it had helped for a few hours. I also remembered something I learned in a class long ago about activated charcoal being a fast remedy for food poisoning.
Figuring I had nothing to lose because I’d be heading to the hospital anyway if I couldn’t stop vomiting, I started slowly sipping a mixture of equal parts Apple Cider Vinegar and Water and chasing with 1/2 tsp activated charcoal mixed into applesauce.
Yes, it tasted awful. Vinegar was pretty much the last thing I wanted at that point and the charcoal in the applesauce looked like tar, but within a few minutes, I actually started to feel a lot better. (Apparently, this is a common remedy that works really well, according to this forum thread).
I took a few more doses of each, probably about 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar total and a few teaspoons of activated charcoal. I was still really tired that night and sore from the vomiting, but was back to normal the next day. From what I’ve read of food poisoning, it can last days or weeks, so I’m very grateful that the Vinegar and Charcoal worked.
I share this so that hopefully any of you who ever get food poisoning can do without the 8 hours of vomiting and just take these two right away. I will definitely be keeping both on hand at all times!
What I did:
– At first signs of symptoms, took equal parts water (or juice) and apple cider vinegar (organic, with the mother!)
-In water or some kind of soft food, took 1/2 tsp or more of activated charcoal (or capsules if you can swallow them)
-Repeat until my symptoms stop.
Ever had food poisoning? How did you recover?
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Omg I had to write you back and say… The cider vinegar worked! Last night I felt like death. Today I feel amazing! I didn’t have the charcoal here in Ecuador, but I did also take liquid chlorophyll. So big thanks & lots of love.
O my gosh, thanks for this article Katie. I appreciate the humour right now, as I have had a similar day to your story. Vomiting for hours, extreme, stomach pain, acid reflux since last night, dry heaving, and confusion whether I should sit on the toilet or have my face in it.
We are in Ecuador, and have been travelling the past two years. Not once has food made me vomit. Years ago I had food poisoning for 2 weeks. It was exactly like this.
I appreciate your natural remedies. Tomorrow I will search for charcoal. Hopefully they have some in this city. I just put some cider vinegar with the mother in warm water with ginger. Fingers crossed. Big love & gratitude.
Thanks for this. It worked for me and stopped a trip to the hospital as well :).
Hi Katie,
Thank you for sharing this with us. I wonder if you know any remedy for minor food poisoning for toddlers and older kids?