Summary

see also diarrhea, food poisoning, stomach flu.

Dysentery is an infection and resulting inflammation in the digestive tract primarily affecting the colon. The infection is commonly from parasites but can also be bacterial, viral or toxic. Symptoms typically include abdominal pain, tenesmus (straining during stools), diarrhea containing mucous and/or blood and fever.

Dysentery generally affects the colon area whereas most disorders giving cause to diarrhea are associated with the stomach and small intestines.  Dysentery can have serious implications where most cases of typical diarrhea are uncomfortable but not serious unless the dehydration is not addressed.  A major way to distinguish between the two is that diarrhea will have a more watery voluminous stool while with dysentery the stools will be smaller, not as watery with more mucous and/or blood and will be accompanied by tenesmus, fever and cramping.

Conditions that foster dysentery are typically found in less developed countries of the world or other localities where poor sanitation and poor hygiene fosters the growth and transmission of the infectious agents. Those visiting or temporarily residing in these areas become susceptible as well.  Some of the more common infectious agents are described below:

Amoebic dysentery is a protozoan (entamoeba histolytica), a one cell parasite, that enters the digestive tract in a basic form known as cyst. They then develop into the trophozoite form, multiply, attach to the lining of the intestines and begin their damage. Some then can be excreted from the body and return to the cyst form, which allows them to survive and potentially infect again. Some that attach to the intestine lining can penetrate the lining and can be carried to other organs of the body.

Amoebic dysentery develops slowly with the diarrhea like mucous/blood stools and usually no fever. A risk is dehydration and serious inflammation of the colon leading to severe abdominal pain and possible rupture of the colon.

 

Balantidiasis, giardiasis, and cryptosporidiosis (Balantidium coli, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium parvum) are each protozoa that infect the digestive tract and develop a mild form of dysentery commonly referred to as traveler’s diarrhea (Montezuma’s revenge).

Symptoms of giardiasis infection are delayed about 1 to 3 weeks after exposure.  When symptoms appear they include bloating with foul smelling gas, headaches, low-grade fever, nausea and vomiting.  Cryptosporidiosis infection is typically milder but may include heavy diarrhea starting 7 to 10 days after exposure, nausea and vomiting.  Usually no fever.

 

Bacillary dysentery (shigellosis), is caused by various forms of Shigella. This is a group of bacteria that can cause an acute bacterial infection of the lining of the intestines.  These bacteria can be released in the stools of an infected person and passed to others. Areas at risk are areas of poor sanitation or those that may travel to such areas and be exposed to poor sanitation practices.

Symptoms develop in 1 to 7 days after being in contact with the bacterium. Symptoms include acute and sudden abdominal pain and fever plus stools that may range from those with blood, mucus or pus to watery diarrhea.  Additionally nausea, rectal pain (tenesmus) and vomiting may occur.

 

Viral dysentery or also referred to as viral gastroenteritis or stomach flu is a viral infection and can come from a variety of viruses including adenovirus, astrovirus, caliciviruses, norovirus and rotavirus. The latter two being common among children while caliciviruses is a more common infectious agent among adults. None of these virus strains are related to those responsible for the common cold or flu (influenza) that affect the respiratory system.

Symptoms appear rapidly after contacting the infection, usually with 4 to 48 hours.  Symptoms usually will include some abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting then followed with diarrhea. A low-grade fever and headache may also occur but symptoms will usually differ from respiratory influenza (the flu) which typically will include high fever, muscle aches, fatigue and respiratory congestion.

 

Parasitic worms also result in dysentery. Both whipworm (trichuriasis) and flatworm or fluke (schistosomiasis) infestations may produce the violent diarrhea and abdominal cramps associated with dysentery.  see also Parasite Infections for more varieties.

Symptoms typically develop gradually and will include fatigue, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

 

A quick note on the terms associated with digestive tract infections.

Common medical terms
	Gastroenteritis is the general term for infection (bacterial, viral, parasitical or toxins) that leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
	Dysentery, a subset of gastroenteritis, primarily affecting the colon. Infection is commonly from parasites but can also be bacterial, viral or toxic. Most common are amoebic, giardia and cryptosporidium that all come from protozoans (single cell parasites).
	Gastritis, a subset of gastroenteritis, is specifically inflammation of tissue in the stomach.
	Diarrhea is a common symptom of various forms of gastroenteritis. Some use this term interchangeably with dysentery.
Common lay terms
	Food poisoning can lead to gastroenteritis and primarily describes what and how the infectious agents come into the body.
	Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis) is a subset of gastroenteritis caused by a viral infection from a number of viruses (but unrelated to those that cause the common cold and flu).
	Traveler’s diarrhea (Montezuma’s revenge) is the lay term used for gastroenteritis (bacterial or viral) common to folks traveling to new areas and exposed to new infectious agents.

 

[search helps: flux, bloody flux, intestinal amoebiasis, amoebic colitis, amebic]

Oils, blends & products recommended:

Oils & Blends:  cinnamon, DigestZen, lemon, melaleuca, mountain savory, OnGuard, oregano, Roman chamomile, thyme

Essential oils based products: GX Assist

Also consider: clove, eucalyptus, lemongrass, myrrh, peppermint, rosemary

Suggested protocols:

Add 3 -5  drops each DigestZen and OnGuard (or oregano) to a capsule and take 3 times per day.  2 - 4 weeks may be required.

For more difficult situations consider using the same capsule protocol but with a rectal application 2 times per day.  Virgin Coconut Oil will be helpful for insertion and a rectal plug might be necessary (pharmacy).

Some also suggest the GX Assist protocol to cleanse the intestinal tract.

Bacterial, Viral or Parasite?

If the type of infection is known consider augmenting with an oil effective for that infection if it is not included in the protocol above.

ANTIBACTERIAL: basil, cassia, cinnamon, clove, cypress, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, lime, marjoram, melaleuca, myrrh, OnGuard, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, thyme, wild orange

 

ANTIVIRAL: basil, cassia, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, frankincense, helichrysum, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, melaleuca, melissa, myrrh, OnGuard, oregano, thyme

 

PARASITES: cinnamon, DigestZen, lemon, melaleuca, mountain savory, OnGuard, oregano, Roman chamomile, thyme

 

Editorial comment - While we were compiling information for the book Essential Oils Overview and Reference Guide  we studied the works of six authors, some foundational and others more contemporary.  For each subject of interest we looked for a consensus among these essential oils experts.  To include an oil as "recommended” for a condition we looked for at least three of the six experts being in agreement about its efficacy. 

Anti-parasitic was one of the property classifications we studied.  Five oils were cited by at least three of the experts and another seven were mentioned at least by one.  There was not sufficient information given to cite the dosage or the frequency of use for the variety of conditions that might fit this category.

Oils cited by at least three:

·  Cinnamon bark

·  Mountain savory

·  Lemon

·  Roman Chamomile

·  Oregano

Other oils cited by at least one:

·  Clove bud

·  eucalyptus

·  lemongrass

·  melaleuca

·  myrrh

·  peppermint

·  rosemary

 

Experiences and Testimonials of others

Leah - Any recommendations for parasite/amoeba elimination? Many of us who have lived the joys of indigenous and foreign travels have returned home with that familiar but unfriendly feeling that such advice would benefit. Skin conditions and other symptoms surface in addition to the digestive issues. Please comment on both/either.

Rob - If you reference the “experts” cite in the summary (see summary tab) it is interesting to me, that you can find nearly the exact same ingredients as On Guard in this list. Further, I have heard of someone inhaling an On Guard type blend for five or more minutes using an inhaler, then coughing up a parasite (this is a second hand, unconfirmed, story for what it is worth).

Certainly, if it were me, I would consider Digest Zen in a capsule if I were suspicious of parasites.  I would further augment it with 2-3 drops of Oregano and would take the caplets 3 times daily and possibly use an enema application with the same oils.

JJ - I would use 5 drops DigestZen and 5 drops On Guard in a 00 or 000 capsule and insert the caps rectally (you can use VCO for added lubrication so its not uncomfortable). Do at least one at night or even one in the morning and one night if it is not too uncomfortable.  Continue till symptoms are gone and then for an additional ten days.  I seen this used with great success for some that have suffered from parasites. Especially if there has been rectal itching or burning.

 

Ceri - My friend was told that she is dealing with parasites. I have looked up oils that are useful. I think DigestZen is appropriate. Does anybody have experience with this or know of an actual protocol?

Carol - GX Assist and oregano in water-couple of drops.  Also food grade hydrogen peroxide 35%.  A few drops in water.

Pat - The GX Assist and DigestZen will do the trick, at least I know it worked for a couple of girls when they got parasites in Peru.

 

Nina - I'll be going to Panama for 3 months this winter. I have been reading on which oils to take. What oils do others recommend and how do you best use them?

Monica – I'd never leave the country without lemon oil to put in my water and to clean with - also On Guard, oregano, peppermint, and rosemary.  Then again, I'd be taking ALL of my oils with me, because I can't leave home without them.

Jan - I would take daily capsules of 4 drops of OnGuard or 4 drops of Purify.  Either one will both protect and eliminate parasites from  your body. Don't leave without lemon or peppermint. Have a sprayer and spray living and sleeping areas with lemon/water or OnGuard/water.  Look up "Travel Protection” in R James book "Essentials of the Earth".  It has great advice for traveling.

Protocols folks recommend for children

 

 

Diet and Nutritional complements to essential oils

 

What Science & Research are saying

 From PubMed.com

Effects of essential oils on the growth of Giardia lamblia trophozoites.

Machado M, Sousa Mdo C, Salgueiro L, Cavaleiro C., January 2010

Centro de Estudos Farmacêuticos/Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.

Abstract

Giardia lamblia is one of the most important worldwide causes of intestinal infections produced by protozoa. Current therapy for giardiasis is unsatisfactory due to high incidence of undesirable side effects and significant failure in clearing parasites from the gastrointestinal tract. In the search for new therapeutic agents, we report on the effect of several essential oils on G. lamblia growth. Among eighteen tested essential oils, those with phenolic compositions were the most active, particularly if containing high contents of carvacrol, such as Thymbra capitata and Origanum virens (IC50 values of 71 and 85 microg x mL(-1), respectively). The oils from Syzygium aromaticum and Thymus zygis subsp. sylvestris (IC50 values from 100 to 200 microg x mL(-1)), as well as, those from Mentha x piperita and Lippia graveolens (IC50 values over 200 microg x mL(-1)) were less active. Results support the concept that several essential oils or some of their constituents may be useful in the clinical management of Giardia infections.

Editor's note:  The oils mentioned above are commonly known as thyme, oregano, clove, peppermint, and  Mexican oregano.

Essential oils in the treatment of intestinal dysbiosis: A preliminary in vitro study.

Hawrelak JA, Cattley T, Myers SP. 

School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Dysbiosis is associated with a number of gastrointestinal and systemic disorders. There is a need for selectively acting antimicrobial agents capable of inhibiting the growth of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, or those found to be out of balance, while not negatively impacting the bulk gastrointestinal tract microflora.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this in vitro study is to examine the potential of a selection of essential oils as agents to treat dysbiosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight essential oils were examined using the agar dilution method, including Carum carvi, Citrus aurantium var. amara, Foeniculum vulgare dulce, Illicium verum, Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha arvensis, Mentha x piperita, and Trachyspermum copticum. Doubling dilutions of the essential oils were tested against 12 species of intestinal bacteria, which represent the major genera found in the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

RESULTS: Carum carvi, Lavandula angustifolia, Trachyspermum copticum, and Citrus aurantium var. amara essential oils displayed the greatest degree of selectivity, inhibiting the growth of potential pathogens at concentrations that had no effect on the beneficial bacteria examined.

CONCLUSION: The most promising essential oils for the treatment of intestinal dysbiosis are Carum carvi, Lavandula angustifolia, Trachyspermum copticum, and Citrus aurantium var. amara. The herbs from which these oils are derived have long been used in the treatment of gastrointestinal symptoms and the in vitro results of this study suggest that their ingestion will have little detrimental impact on beneficial members of the GIT microflora. More research is needed, however, to investigate tolerability and safety concerns, and verify the selective action of these agents.

Editor's note: the oils mentioned in the Materials and Methods section are commonly known as caraway, petitgrain, sweet fennel, star anise, lavender, Japanese peppermint, peppermint, ajowan caraway.