(Native American) Of the downriver people; from the state of Arkansas
Symptoms. Attack may be sudden, with acute low right abdominal pain. Lost appetite. Vomiting occurs usually only once. Nausea. Temperature slightly raised (102°). Muscles rigid and boardlike. The sufferer tries to find relief by lying on his back with right leg drawn up. Rapid heartbeat.
May lapse into abscess, perforation or peritonitis. If neglected, gangrene is a possibility, therefore a modern hospital is the safest place. In any case surgical excision may be necessary to prevent a burst when pus would discharge into the surrounding cavity causing peritonitis.
Differential diagnosis. Inflammation of the right ovary, gall bladder or kidney, ileitis, diverticulitis, perforated peptic ulcer.
Skin temperature aids diagnosis. Application of Feverscan thermometer detects local skin temperature over the right iliac fossa and records at least 1°C warmer than that on the left.
An added aid to diagnosis is the facial expression which predominantly conveys an aura of malaise with an obvious upward curving of the upper lip. This is not a wince or grimace but a slower reaction, and occurs on gentle pressure over the appendix. Rectal tenderness may indicate peritonitis.
A practitioner’s prescription would be raised according to the individual requirements of each case; some calling for support of nervous system (Skullcap, Lady’s Slipper) or for the heart (Hawthorn, Motherwort), etc.
To be treated by or in liaison with a qualified medical practitioner.
Treatment. Acute stage – immediate hospitalisation.
Tea. Formula. For non-acute stage: equal parts – German Chamomile, Yarrow, Black Horehound. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 5-15 minutes. 1 cup thrice daily.
Tea: children. Agrimony.
Tablets/capsules. (non-acute stage), Goldenseal, Blue Flag root, Calamus, Cranesbill, Wild Yam. Juice: Aloe Vera.
Chinese medicine. Fenugreek seeds: 2 teaspoons to each cup water simmer 5 minutes. 1 cup thrice daily, consuming the seeds.
Powders. Formula. Echinacea 2; Myrrh half; Wild Yam half; trace of Cayenne. Dose: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon) thrice daily. Every 2 hours for acute cases.
Tinctures. Formula. Echinacea 2; Wild Yam half; Elderflowers 1; few drops Tincture Capsicum (cayenne). Dose: 1-2 teaspoons in water or herb tea thrice daily or every 2 hours for acute cases.
Finlay Ellingwood MD. Equal parts, Liquid Extract Bryonia and Echinacea. Dose: 20 drops in water, hourly. For prevention of sepsis and pus formation.
Eric F.W. Powell, MNIMH. 1 teaspoon Tincture Echinacea; 10 drops Tincture Myrrh; 2 drops Tincture
Capsicum; in wineglassful hot water. Each wineglass taken in sips; dose repeated hourly until pain eases; then less frequently.
Frank Roberts, MNIMH. Liquid extracts: Equal parts, Wild Yam, Echinacea, Lobelia. Mix. 30-60 drops in wineglassful water, sipped 4 times daily.
John Cooper MD, Waldron, Arkansas, USA. 20 grains Epsom’s salts in hot water every 2 hours until pain ceases, then continue half that quantity. To control pain: Tincture Belladonna, 8 drops in water, when necessary.
Enema. Large enemas are not indicated. Warm strong infusion of German Chamomile proves helpful (50 flowers to 1 pint boiling water). Inject with 1 tablespoon warm olive oil.
Topical. Castor oil packs. Chamomile, Catnep, or Linseed poultices. In France, cases of acute appendicitis are treated with Tea Tree oil by abdominal massage as an alternative to surgery; good results reported.
Diet. No solid food taken as long as raised temperature persists. Herb tea and fruit-juice fast.
Remission of fever or after surgery: Slippery Elm gruel. Convalescent stage requires extra protein to make good muscle wastage and loss of weight. Low fibre.
Supplements. Daily. Beta-carotene 300,000iu. Vitamin C 2-3g. Vitamin E 400-800iu. Child: quarter of adult dose.
Acute stage: until the doctor comes. Do not eat or drink, take laxatives or painkillers. Go to bed. Hot water bottle to ease pain. ... appendicitis
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