| Severe, often bloody diarrhea,
vomitting, fever; life-threatening if untreated. Dysentery is inflammation
of the bowel resulting from infection. There are two kinds –
dysentery caused by a bacterial germ (bacillary dysentery or shigellosis),
and amoebic dysentery, caused by an amoeba called Entamoeba histolytica.
Dysentery is a more serious form of diarrhea,
where the stools are tinged with blood and mucus. The diarrhea can
be quite severe, characterized by colicky pains and frequent urging.
Stools can be passed as often as fifteen to thirty times per day.
The onset is typically sudden, accompanied by a high fever and thirst.
The illness causes great fatigue and depletion of strength. Dehydration
is a serious side-effect, especially if the person becomes too weak
to drink enough liquids. In cases of amebic dysentery, the symptoms
are quite mild, with constipation and diarrhea alternating, combined
with some intestinal cramping and gas. The danger of an amebic dysentery
is involvement of the liver, and can lead to hepatitis, cysts and
abscesses. These liver problems can remain dormant for many years.
Dysentry - Treatment & Homeopathic Medicines
#Mercurius corrosivus. [Merc-c]
All the preparations of mercury act on the intestines, producing
bloody stools with tenesmus, and, of course, all may be indicated
in dysentery. Mercurius corrosivus is the one usually thought of
in this affection, as its symptoms corresponds to many severe cases.
In the first place we have severe and extreme tenesmus; this is
the great characteristic of the remedy; it is something more than
the never-get-done feeling of Mercurius solubilis, it is an intense,
painful tenesmus,and at the same time there is much tenesmus of
the bladder,the stools are scanty, of mucous shreds and blood and
there is great burning at the anus. Mercurius
solubilis corresponds more to sporadic cases, and is seldom
indicated in malignant types, and in mild cases Mercurius dulcis
is an excellent remedy where tenesmus and pain are slight. Capsicum
has frequent small stools attended with tenesmus and burning in
the rectum, but to have Capsicum well indicated the symptoms of
shivering when the patient drinks should be present.
#Arsenicum. [Ars]
Arsenicum is a valuable remedy in dysentery. There are scanty stools,
burning in the rectum, thirst, and after the stool there is great
prostration, but there is not the tympanitic distention of the abdomen
found under Lycopodium and Carbo vegetabilis; though the patient
is restless and thirsty, water is borne badly. Stools which are
undigested, slimy and bloody, indicate Arsenicum. Blackish brown,
horribly offensive stools also indicate well the remedy. The tenesmus
and burning of the anus and rectum continue after stool. If Arsenicum
be well indicated its characteristic thirst and restlessness must
be present.
#Cantharis. [Canth]
This remedy, which produces such an intense vesical tenesmus, also
produces a like condition in the rectum. Its characteristics are
bloody and slimy discharges which look like the scrapings of the
intestines, which are nothing but the fibrous exudations from the
disease. Tenesmus is marked, and always with Cantharis there is
a painful urination, and there is present a colic-like pain doubling
the patient up, being here similar to Colocynth, which has a number
of the same symptoms. Thus both have the above symptom of being
doubled up by pain, both have slimy and bloody stools, worse from
eating or drinking; but under Colocynth the pains cease after stool
and the patient is relieved by bending double. Cantharis has more
inflammation, Colocynth more nervous symptoms. Colchicum is also
similar, the tenesmus and constriction of anus following stool is
more tormenting than the urging during stool; tympany also strongly
indicates Colchicum. Kali bichromicum follows Cantharis when the
scrapings become jelly-like. The thirst with Cantharis is unquenchable.
#Aconite. [Acon]
In the first stages of dysentery Aconite has proved a useful remedy,
and it comes in especially well when the days are warm and the nights
are cold. ,The stools are frequent and scanty with tenesmus, the
skin is hot and dry and general Aconite symptoms are present. Ferrum
phosphoricum comes in cases less acute than Aconite; there is more
blood with the stool, but tenesmus contra-indicates the remedy.
Mercurius follows both well. Belladonna is especially suitable to
the dysentery of children and plethoric young persons. Cowperthwaite
recommends the 3X.
#Sulphur. [Sulph]
For persistent or chronic cases of dysentery Sulphur is the remedy;
the tenesmus continues, in fact there is a sort of tenesums all
the time, the stools are slimy and there is frequent sudden urging
to stool. Sometimes this condition is present without the tenesums.
In Nux the tenesums ceases after stool and the pains are relieved
for a short time; it is similar to Sulphur in its frequent urging,
the stools are bloody, slimy, scanty and watery,and the patient
is worse in the morning. Tearing pains down the thighs as an accompaniment
of dysentery would indicate Rhus toxicodendron. Great offensiveness
of stools and constriction of the anus would suggest Lachesis. Baptisia
is useful where there is tenesums but no pain which indicates vital
depression, offensive discharges are also present. It is especially
useful in dysentery of old people with fevers. Aloes
is also a useful remedy in dysentery. The stools are of a jelly-like
mucus, and covered with blood and accompanied by griping in the
epigastric region, the amount of mucus expelled is large, and, like
Sulphur,it is useful in chronic cases. It is also a splendid remedy
in purely inflammatory dysentery and follows Aconite well. Ipecac
may be useful in cases where large quantities of mucus are expelled.
In haemorrhoidal dysentery, which is really a phlebitis of the haemorrhoidal
veins, Aloes and Hamamelis are the remedies.
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