Norovirus Electrolyte Drink Recipe

The norovirus (aka the winter vomiting bug) is making its annual appearance. Here and there I’ve been hearing about it spreading around and thought it was the perfect time to share a few useful tips that will help you feel…more comfortable? I really hope so! Because once you have it it’s a bit of a bear to deal with so I've including some helpful info about the norovirus as well as an easy to drink norovirus electrolyte recipe. 

All About Norovirus

The norovirus is a severe gastrointestinal illness that comes on very suddenly and can be passed from person to person very easily especially in enclosed spaces like nursing homes, schools, cruise ships, and sometimes restaurants if the food is prepared by an infected person.

You can catch norovirus by:

• Touching objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with the norovirus, normally when someone has touched their mouth and then a surface or object afterwards.
• Consuming food or drink that has been contaminated with the virus. i.e. food that has been contaminated with aerosolized vomit or fecal particles from an infected person.
• Inhaling or swallowing aerosolized vomit or fecal particles from an infected person.
• Being in close contact with an infected person.
• Changing the diapers of an infected person.

Norovirus may have the ability to infect others before someone shows signs of illness. It has a short incubation period of just two days and is believed to be contagious during this time. The virus is very contagious once symptoms appear and can still be contracted for up to a week after symptoms have resolved. This is because a person can still shed the virus through their stool days after recovering. Sounds just lovely doesn't it?

It is not recommended to go to work, school, or out in public places until your symptoms are completely gone. In most cases you can expect to go back to normal daily life after being symptom free for three full days. Even so, you should still be washing your hands frequently (this is pretty basic right?) until you have disinfected your entire house. You’ll find out why further below.

What Are The Symptoms of Norovirus?

Although the norovirus has little to do with the flu virus itself, it has similar symptoms. It is characterized by sudden severe vomiting and diarrhea that lasts 1-3 days. It is generally not considered life threatening except in small children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. This is normally because of severe dehydration. If you are unable to keep down any fluids after 8 hours you should see a doctor.

How Long Does it Take to Recover From Norovirus?

Depending on the strength of your body’s immune system, the virus should only last 1-3 days. I have heard of some people who were able to avoid vomiting by taking activated charcoal as soon as they felt something coming on. I have also read that drinking rosemary tea at the onset of symptoms seemed to lessen the severity of symptoms. Getting in some fluids rich in electrolytes before the mostly inevitable vomiting begins is a good way to retain some hydration and strength. You’re going to need it.

What is The Treatment for Norovirus

Unfortunately, there is no medicine you can get from the doctor that treats the norovirus. They will however, help you recover some much needed hydration via IV fluids, pedialyte, gatoraid, and may suggest ginger ale to help settle your stomach.

There really isn’t a whole lot to be done about the symptoms themselves other than trying to rest, drink enough fluids, and try to keep the virus contained via good hygiene and secluding yourself from others as much as possible.

What Are The Best Natural Remedies for Norovirus?

Again, there isn’t a whole lot you can do once you have the norovirus but there are some things I recommend that will help you feel a little better.

Prevention is really your best bet, but if you do happen to catch norovirus then this is what you can do:

• Sip on ginger ale to help settle your stomach
• Sip on coconut water to help up hydration levels and electrolytes (you can also keep coconut water powder in your pantry for emergencies)
• Sip on some norovirus electrolyte drink (recipe below)
• Ginger tea with a little raw honey can help with nausea (learn how to make the BEST ginger tea here)
• Chamomile tea is a great stomach soother
• Peppermint tea is great for settling the stomach and intestinal tract
• Hibiscus tea can help lessen or alleviate diarrhea
• Blackberry leaf tea helps relieve diarrhea
• Drinking black tea can also help firm up stool
• Adding Manuka honey to teas or hot water helps with nausea and may help you get better sooner due to its antiviral properties
• Taking slippery elm tablets will help soothe the throat and intestinal tract
• Taking activated charcoal at the onset of illness can help deflect nausea
• Steeping pomegranate peels for a few minutes and drinking the tea helps relieve diarrhea
• Using a cold compress (I love these ones) on the back of the neck can help with nausea
• Diffuse essential oils in your house and especially in the bathroom (this diffuser lasts for hours)
• Eat simple foods like soup, broth, starchy foods like potatoes, bananas, apple sauce, toast, etc. when you are able

You can also include homeopathics like:

• Arsenicum album 30C- this remedy is great for when you are sickened by the thought of food. You feel exhausted and faint with mental restlessness and anxiety. Vomiting and diarrhea are frequent.
• Ipecac 30C- used for constant nausea and vomiting where the vomiting brings no relief.
• Mag phos 30C- best used for cramping, pains, and spasms in the intestinal tract.
• Nux vomica 30C- one of the best homepathics for vomiting.
• Phosphorus 30C- frequent vomiting with great thirst afterwards. Even the smallest amount of food and drink make you vomit within 15 minutes. Gushing diarrhea.
• Podophyllum 30C- frequent diarrhea followed by weakness.
• Veratrum album 30C- intense vomiting and nausea accompanied by a suffocating sensation. Your face feels hot and stomach feels weak. Worsens after drinking.

Homeopathics can be taken every 15 minutes under the tongue for a few hours at a time. They are probably the only things that help for some people.

Important things to do while sick:

• Wash your hands often especially after using the toilet or after vomiting
• Keep the windows open in the bathroom and in your room (cracked at least to let in fresh air)
• Use a disinfectant spray (natural or otherwise) to kill the virus after each visit to the toilet. I highly recommend using hydrogen peroxide to spray down surfaces as it kills 99.9% of germs.
• Wipe down surfaces like door knobs and handles, counters, etc. to help keep the virus from spreading to others
• Do not share linens, towels, or other objects while sick

• Soak your tooth brush in food grade hydrogen peroxide. Have your family members do the same in seperate glasses.
• Keep yourself secluded from others as best you can

How Long Does Norovirus Live Outside The Body?

The norovirus can survive for weeks on hard surfaces and up to 12 days on fabrics like bed sheets and towels depending on temperature conditions. The virus can live for months in still water which is why it is very important to disinfect your toilet, kitchen sink, and bathroom sink after symptoms resolve. Contaminated food can house norovirus for weeks when refrigerated and almost indefinitely when frozen so be sure to throw out food that was handled by an infected person.

The best course of action is to keep visitors out of your home for a few weeks until you have thoroughly cleaned your house. This includes washing clothing, bed sheets, towels and other fabrics, wiping down counters, floors, knobs, handles, keyboards, controls, furniture, and other surfaces, cleaning toilets, sinks, and trash cans (especially if used for diaper disposal), and throwing out or disinfecting oral hygiene products like toothbrushes, picks, and tongue scrapers. It’s a good idea to wash dishes that were used and also wipe down kitchen appliances. Basically clean anything that was in contact with an infected person.

Open the windows to get some fresh air in the house while cleaning. Afterwards diffuse some essential oils to freshen up the house and boost immunity. I really like thieves and purification for this purpose.

Norovirus Electrolyte Drink Recipe

Being sick makes it very difficult to whip up a remedy because let’s face it, when you’re down with a stomach bug you need a remedy and you need it NOW. Hopefully you can get a batch made for you if you’re too sick to get off the floor.

The severe vomiting and diarrhea caused by the norovirus really takes a toll on the body’s electrolyte balance. Electrolytes are important because they are used to maintain electric impulses between cells, the PH of our blood, rebuilding damaged tissue, and regulating blood pressure. Without enough of them we get muscle cramps and impaired nerve function among a number of other unpleasant things. They keep us balanced and hydrated and the best way to get them in quickly is through electrolyte rich hydration.

The main electrolytes our body needs include calcium bicarbonate, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, sodium, and sulfate. The good news is you can easily get all of these from simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

Here’s what you’re going to need:

• 2 cups coconut water (sub spring water if needed)
• 2 cups herbal tea like hibiscus, chamomile, ginger, or peppermint (sub fresh juice - orange and lemon taste great)
• 2-3 TB Manuka honey (sub raw honey)
• ¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt
• A few drops of trace minerals (optional but wonderful)

Loving Preparation - Norovirus Electrolyte Drink

1. Brew the tea and let cool. You can add ice to speed up the process. If you’re using juice skip to step 2.
2. Next, mix all of the ingredients in a pitcher and keep it in the fridge for up to three days
3. Sip slowly as needed

This norovirus electrolyte drink is great for keeping up your hydration and gives you a tiny boost to help you feel more comfortable. This remedy can be used by the whole family but if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding I recommend using coconut water and juice mixed with the salt and minerals only. You can also make a charcoal lemonade to help with nausea.

Can't make your own? have someone pick up some Ultima Electrolyte powder so you can just mix it in water and drink up as best you can. 

[yumprint-recipe id='106']Best of luck and I hope you feel better soon!

Have you had the norovirus? What was your best remedy?

For more great electrolyte drinks check out the articles below:

Homemade Electrolyte Sports Drink
Homemade Electrolyte Drink
Natural Electrolyte Sports Drink Recipe
Homemade Electrolyte Drink – A Healthy Gatorade Alternative with Four Tasty Flavors