Going back and forth to the bathroom? Find out here about home remedies and herbal remedies for diarrhea that you can try.
We’ve probably all experienced diarrhea. It’s one of those diseases that can be really irritating and bothersome, especially when you’re out and about. It’s usually a sign that your body is trying to get rid of toxins. Aside from over-the-counter medications, there are natural home remedies and herbal remedies for diarrhea that can be used as a cure, including home remedies for diarrhea that are easy to find around. There are many effective home remedies for diarrhea that you can try to quickly relieve the symptoms.
Types of diarrhea: common symptoms and causes
Diarrhea is usually described as frequent bowel movements, and the stools are soft or watery. Often, it only lasts a few days and goes away on its own. This is called acute diarrhea .
It is usually caused by viral or bacterial infections, or it can also be food poisoning. In children, the most common cause of diarrhea is rotavirus. It can also be caused by bacteria such as salmonella or E.coli. For quick relief, there are many effective diarrhea home remedies that can be tried to relieve the symptoms.
There is also a condition called traveler’s diarrhea , where people experience diarrhea after being exposed to bacteria or parasites while vacationing in another place.
Chronic diarrhea is when diarrhea lasts for more than 4 weeks. It is usually caused by a more serious condition or intestinal disorder such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease .
Aside from frequent bowel movements, here are some other symptoms of diarrhea:
- vomiting or nausea
- stomach ache
- feeling bloated or full
- dehydration
- fever
- copious and watery stools
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13 natural home remedies and herbs for diarrhea
1. Homemade electrolyte solution
The first thing to watch out for in someone with diarrhea is dehydration. A lot of water and electrolytes are lost from the body when diarrhea occurs. Dehydration is also one of the possible causes of stomach upset.
You can make your own version of Gatorade to help with hydration. Mix 6 teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt in a liter of water and drink. This is a great home remedy for diarrhea.
2. Clear broth or juice
Drinking apple juice and clear broths can help replace the salts and minerals lost in the body due to diarrhea. Start by sipping the broth or juice in small sips until you can drink one cup every half hour.
But citrus, pineapple, tomato and other juices that are not clear in color should be avoided because the acid they contain can further irritate the stomach. Clear broths are an effective home remedy for diarrhea.
3. White rice
Even though it’s hard to eat while you have a stomach ache, eating white rice can help you feel better.
According to nutritionist Lisa Richards of The Candida Diet , white rice is easy to digest but doesn’t irritate the stomach. It’s low in fiber, which helps stop diarrhea. White rice is also a good home remedy for diarrhea.
4. Herbal medicine for diarrhea: Ginger
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Aside from helping those who are dizzy and have a sore throat, ginger is also an effective herbal remedy for diarrhea.
It warms the stomach and relaxes the digestive system. It also has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibacterial properties that help heal stomach pain.
5. Eat bananas: Herbal medicine for diarrhea
According to Dr. Nikola Djordjevic of MedAlertHelp.org, eating bananas helps regulate fluids, muscle tension, and nerve signals. Bananas help by providing potassium. It is a natural medicine for diarrhea home remedies .
6. Probiotics
One of the fastest ways to fight bad bacteria in the gut is to eat probiotics that contain good bacteria. Studies have shown that this helps relieve diarrhea and is completely safe. Probiotics can be obtained from supplements or yogurt.
7. BRAT diet
When we have stomach pain and diarrhea, we often don’t feel like eating for fear of making the pain worse. But the experts have the answer – BRAT diet or Bread, rice, apple sauce and toast. These foods are made of starch and low in fiber so they help form stool. The stomach also doesn’t have a hard time digesting them so they help ease the feeling. The BRAT diet is a great medicine for diarrhea home remedies .
8. Herbal remedy for diarrhea: Try psyllium
Mixing the soluble fiber psyllium into your drink can help with bowel health. The main ingredient in Metamucil is plantago ovata, an effective anti-diarrheal herb from India.
According to Dr. Carolyn Dean, it helps absorb intestinal fluids and helps form stool. You can dissolve a teaspoon of psyllium in a glass of water or take two capsules twice a day with a little water to help push through.
9. Hot chocolate
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Another recommendation from Dr. Dean is to mix two teaspoons of carob powder (a substitute for cocoa powder) with six ounces of water for a unique hot chocolate. Carob powder has a chocolatey flavor and helps reduce diarrhea by hardening the stool.
10. Add zinc
Eating sources of zinc, such as nuts, seeds, and eggs, is especially important for children. When you have diarrhea, your body loses vitamins and zinc. Zinc is important in treating and preventing severe diarrhea, especially in children.
11. Herbal remedy for diarrhea: Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is a type of tea that is easy on the stomach. It is often used to relax digestive muscles and treat a number of digestive problems.
Drinking a cup of chamomile tea can help with diarrhea because it also serves as an anti-inflammatory agent.
12. Rice water
Besides eating white rice, rice water can also help with diarrhea. Simply boil 1 cup of rice and 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes until it thickens, then strain the rice and set aside the water to drink.
13. Herbal remedy for diarrhea: Honey
Many people say that boiled water mixed with a few tablespoons of organic honey is helpful for diarrhea.
Based on this, it is said that it can relieve pain caused by diarrhea, although more thorough studies are needed to determine if this is true.
However, drinking honey mixed with water can still help hydrate the body due to frequent trips to the bathroom.
Remember to consult a doctor first before giving children home remedies or any medicine for diarrhea.
What foods should and should not be eaten?
Eating small portions of food but more often is a better thing to do than eating three times but large portions.
Some of the examples below are helpful not only in stopping diarrhea from getting worse but also in helping to form your stool. Foods that are good for someone with diarrhea are:
- Foods high in pectin, such as fruits
- Foods high in potassium such as potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Soft cooked vegetables
- Protein-rich foods
- Eating plain crackers
- Low-fiber foods like cereal or oatmeal
Avoiding certain types of foods can help prevent possible irritation or added pressure to your gastrointestinal tract. Foods to avoid include the following.
- Avoid oily and greasy foods because they can irritate the stomach.
- Avoid foods that contain artificial sweeteners, such as cake or cookies.
- Any spicy food should be avoided.
- Types of dairy products or foods that contain it such as cheese, milk, and ice cream.
- All types of alcohol are harmful because they can worsen irritation of your digestive tract.
- Beverages containing caffeine such as carbonated drinks (soda) and coffee should also be avoided.
Certain types of vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, corn, beans, peas, and leafy greens should be avoided because they can increase gas in your intestines. Also, apple juice acts as a laxative.
Medicine for vomiting and diarrhea home remedy
Sometimes, diarrhea can be accompanied by vomiting, which can be very worrying, especially if it causes dehydration. In such a situation, it is important to know home remedies that can help reduce the symptoms.
Diarrhea with vomiting is often the result of gastrointestinal infections, such as viral or bacterial infections, which cause inflammation in the digestive tract. The body reacts by flushing out toxins and pathogens, causing both symptoms as a protective mechanism.
An effective home remedy is to drink clear fluids like water, broth, or electrolyte solutions to maintain proper hydration levels. Mild herbal teas like ginger tea can also help soothe the stomach and regulate the digestive system. In addition, eating bland foods like bananas, rice, and toast can help replenish nutrients lost from the body.
If vomiting and diarrhea persist, it is still important to consult a doctor for more appropriate treatment. These vomiting and diarrhea home remedies can help relieve symptoms, but proper care and attention to your health is always necessary.
Things to remember
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Drinking water or other fluids is very important to prevent dehydration. Excessive dehydration from diarrhea is dangerous for adults, especially children. Drink about 8 to 12 glasses of water, especially now that you have diarrhea, and you can drink it little by little and slowly.
Avoid drinking drinks that are too cold or too hot. It is best to drink in moderation because it can cause nausea if it is too cold or too hot.
Eat only bland foods first to replace the lost nutrients in your body and harden the stool. The foods mentioned above are good examples of this.
Exercise should be postponed for now, especially now that you won’t want to be far from the bathroom. Rest your body while experiencing diarrhea because it increases the risk of dehydration. Avoid it and only resume when you feel better.
Diarrhea can be spread to other people through direct contact. It is a good idea to wash your hands often after using the bathroom and before eating.
When should you go to the doctor?
Experts say that diarrhea can be treated at home. However, for children, it is necessary to monitor and ensure that they drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. This is especially dangerous for children because their immune systems are still weak.
Don’t hesitate to take your child to the hospital if he or she shows the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea that doesn’t stop within 24 hours
- Little urination (in babies, no wet diapers for more than 3 hours)
- Fever of 39 degrees Celsius or higher
- Black or bloody stools
- Dry mouth and no tears when crying
- Lethargic and irritable
- Sunken eyes and cheeks
If you yourself have diarrhea, here are the signs that you should consult a doctor:
- You are not feeling better and diarrhea continues after 2 days
- Symptoms of dehydration are experienced – extreme thirst, dry mouth and skin, infrequent urination, weakness and dizziness, dark urine.
- Severe stomach and butt pain
- Black or bloody stools
- Fever of 39 degrees Celsius or higher
How to avoid getting diarrhea?
According to the World Health Organization, diarrhea is the second leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. So, you should not just ignore it if your child has diarrhea.
The WHO added that children who are malnourished or have a weakened immune system, such as people with HIV, are at high risk of life-threatening diarrhea.
This is a common symptom of an intestinal tract infection that can be caused by various bacteria, viruses, or parasitic organisms.
The infection is usually spread through contaminated food or water. It can also be passed from person to person, so it is important to practice good hygiene.
To prevent diarrhea, it is important to have safe drinking water and improved sanitation. It is important to wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
For babies, exclusive breastfeeding is best. This means that babies under six months of age should only consume breast milk.
It is important to maintain a clean body and a clean environment to prevent diarrhea.
Finally, you can also get vaccinated against rotavirus at your health center.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Philippines
