Diarrhea
(known medically as acute diarrhea)
is a condition whereby the large intestine is emptied of its contents in a
short period of time. The frequency and, in many cases, the consistency of the
stool are different from the norm.
Diarrhea is one of the commonest reasons for visiting health specialists and emergency room doctors. The primary reason for using home remedies for diarrhea is the ease of using them. You do not need a doctor's prescription to use these natural home remedies. They are easily available at home.
What causes diarrhea?
Diarrhea (1) causes are
basically defined as bowel movements more than three times in a day which can
result in a lot of water loss.
It can be caused by many factors such as,
- Infections
- Food poisoning
- Stress
- Changes in diet
- Use of certain medications
- Chronic diseases
- Immune system disorders
- Even parasitic infections
Diarrhea symptoms
The
most common symptom of diarrhea,
- Frequent passage of stools
- Watery stools
- Often containing mucus or blood
- A person with diarrhea after eating may suffer from,
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps or pain
- Dehydration
- Low blood pressure
Home Remedies for Diarrhea
Let’s
take a look at how to stop diarrhea fast with the help of simple remedies at
home,
1.
Rice water:
When it comes to home remedies for diarrhea, drinking fresh rice water can help in lowering the number of stools produced by your body.Â
Moreover, the good news is that rice water will not have any adverse
effect on your overall health and well-being. This solution is also great for
infants and toddlers for solving the problem of diarrhea.
Ingredient:Â
- A handful of uncooked riceÂ
- A pan of hot water.
Preparation:Â
- Put the rice into the hot water and let it cook.Â
- Once the rice has been cooked, strain the rice water into another container.Â
- Obtain ½ glass of rice water and drink it.
How often:Â
- This remedy for diarrhea in toddlers should be carried out at least 2-3 times every day.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- Ensure that you cook the rice properly and not let the rice get undercooked or overcooked.
2.
Consuming ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts):
In case you're facing instances of diarrhea, then one of the best at-home diarrhea remedies to counter the same is to consume ORS.Â
You can obtain ORS in the form of over-the-counter drugs from your nearby medical shop or you can create your own ORS solution at home.Â
The primary benefit of using
ORS is that they provide the required hydration your body needs to function
properly. Furthermore, ORS (2) can also
help in improving motor function in your brain and body.
Ingredient:Â
- If you're creating an ORS solution by buying over-the-counter drugs, then all you need to do is to mix the ORS salts with water.Â
- However, if you're making the solution at home, then you'll need 2 teaspoons of sugar, ½ teaspoon of salt, and 1 glass of water.
Preparation:Â
- Mix the salt, sugar, and water to create the perfect ORS solution.Â
- Once done, drink the solution slowly.
How often:Â
- This home diarrhea remedy should be carried out at least 2-3 times each day, till the diarrhea issue gets resolved.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- Ensure you utilize fresh, purified, distilled water for creating the ORS solution.
3.
Green tea:
When it comes to natural remedies for diarrhea, green tea serves as an antioxidant for the human body and therefore can easily treat diarrhea with ease.Â
Green tea (3) also has
plenty of other nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that help in providing that
much-needed power boost you require for the weakened body.
Ingredient:Â
- 1 teaspoon of green tea extractsÂ
- A cup of boiling water.Â
- Add sugar to taste.
Preparation:Â
- Pour the green tea extracts with sugar into the cup and let the tea brew.Â
- Cover the mouth of the cup with the lid.Â
- Once done, strain the solution and drink the tea sip by sip, slowly.
How often:Â
- This natural remedy to diarrhea should be consumed at least twice daily.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- You can also add honey into the tea solution instead of sugar.
4. Banana for
diarrhea:
Both raw and ripe bananas are very beneficial
in diarrhea. The fiber found in it helps our body absorb the liquid in the
intestines, which helps our body a lot and allows our body to collect stool
easily.
Due to the presence of potassium in bananas,
the electrolyte that our body loses during diarrhea is replenished by bananas.
It also relieves frequent diarrhea and frequent vomiting in diarrhea. Banana
consumption has been found to be very beneficial for patients suffering from
diarrhea.
How to prepare:Â
- Banana remedy is to boil a raw banana and smash it, add some lemon juice and a pinch of salt, and eat it before meals.
How often:Â
- You should eat one ripe banana every hour when you have diarrhea.Â
- Along with ripe bananas, you can also eat curd 2 to 3 times a day.
5.
Ginger water:
Ginger is one of the best natural diarrhea remedies at home because it acts as a medicine for curing any abdominal spasms, nausea, and vomiting.Â
Moreover, ginger can also relieve gas, and
bloating and thereby promote healthy digestion. It should also be realized that
ginger can help in keeping your mouth healthy and thereby lowers the blood
sugar levels in the human body.
Ingredient:Â
- Small slices of gingerÂ
- A cup of boiling water.
Preparation:Â
- Pour the ginger slices into the hot water and let the solution brew for the next ten minutes.Â
- Close the mouth of the cup with a lid.Â
- After some time, drink the solution.
How often:Â
- This ginger tea should be utilized as a diarrhea home remedy at least 2-3 times per day.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- You can add sugar or honey to the ginger tea as well.
6.
Peppermint tea:
It should be noted that peppermint oil contains methanol. Methanol can easily help in lowering any abdominal pain and thereby relieve you from any diarrhea symptoms.Â
Peppermint tea
also refreshes your mind and body which is a good thing especially when your
body is going through difficult times such as an upset stomach and diarrhea.
Ingredient:Â
- One drop of peppermint oil that is certified food-grade along with a glass of warm water.
Preparation:Â
- Pour the drop of peppermint oil into the glass and stir it well.Â
- Once done, drink the solution slowly, sip by sip.
How often:Â
- For solving problems of watery diarrhea, you can drink this solution 1-2 times every day, till the diarrhea issue gets resolved.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- Proceed to use some ginger and honey to enhance the taste.
7.
Coconut water:
Talking about anti-diarrhea home remedies, coconut water is one of the most popular solutions that you can use for the same.Â
Coconut water not only helps in hydrating your body but also provides much-needed potassium ions into the bloodstream.Â
Furthermore, coconut water also helps in
preventing kidney stones and offers healthy skin.
Ingredient:Â
- A freshly bought coconut.
Preparation:Â
- Cut the coconut and extract water from the same.Â
- Pour the water into a glass and drink it slowly.
How often:Â
- This diarrhea treatment should be carried out at least two times every day.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- You can also consume coconut pulp if you want.Â
- Coconut pulp improves digestion and heart health and enhances the weight loss procedure in your body.
8. Turmeric:
Turmeric (4) is an
effective medicine among household spices. Its antibiotic properties are
capable of fighting harmful bacteria and turmeric also helps your body function
properly.
Turmeric for stomach also has the potential to
develop irritable bowel syndrome.
How to prepare:Â
- Add half a teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of hot water, mix well and drink immediately.
How often:Â
- Since this turmeric settles immediately, try to drink it 2 to 3 times a day.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- You can also consume 1 spoon of turmeric mixed with 1 spoon of apple sauce or curd.
- Two or Three times you can consume this mixture.
9.
Consume Almond milk:
Almond milk is one of the most popular ingredients for treating diarrhea because it’s lactose-free. Hence, if you're facing diarrhea and are lactose intolerant as well, then you can consume almond milk as a way to treat the same.Â
It should be known that almond milk tends to
have a sweet and nutty flavor. Moreover, this milk is also high in terms of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant content.
Ingredient:Â
- One pack of store-bought almond milk.
Preparation:Â
- Simply pour the almond milk into a glass and drink the solution right away.
How often:Â
- This home remedy for diarrhea should be carried out at least two times per day.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- You can add sugar to your almond milk if you like.
10. Cinnamon:
Cinnamon
acts as an effective remedy for diarrhea.
It
contains powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties that destroy harmful
organisms and strengthen your digestive system.
Cinnamon and ginger:Â
- Mix 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder and half a teaspoon of fresh ginger in a cup of hot water, then cover and keep it for 30 minutes.Â
- Drink three times in 24 hours.
Cinnamon and honey:Â
- Mix half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass of hot water.Â
- After mixing it well, consume it at least 3 times a day.
Cinnamon and banana:Â
- You can also sprinkle cinnamon powder on the banana and eat it.Â
- You can get relief from diarrhea with the help of these cinnamon home remedies.
Suggestions (if any): Â
- Diarrhea usually lasts for 2 to 3 days, but if it persists for more than a week, you should definitely contact your doctor.
11. Apple Vinegar
Apple
vinegar is very useful to get rid of diarrhea, it is a natural antibiotic and
also helps to prevent diarrhea.
The
substances present in it destroy the bacteria that cause diarrhea in our
bodies. Along with this, it is also able to regulate the pH level in the
stomach.
Ingredients:Â
- Apple cider vinegar
- A glass of hot waterÂ
- Honey
Preparation:Â
- Add one to two teaspoons of unfiltered apple cider vinegar to a glass of hot water.Â
- Now add some honey and stir.
How often:Â
- Consume this 2 to 3 times a day until you feel better.
Read: Foods to avoid with acid reflux
What are the 4 types of diarrhea?
There
are four types of diarrhea, which are based on their cause,
1. Infectious:
This
form of diarrhea is caused by infection and is usually accompanied by other
signs or symptoms of infection. Antibiotics or other treatments for the cause
of the infection will help relieve diarrhea.
2. Food-borne:Â
Gastroenteritis (food poisoning) is caused by a variety
of bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The most common are bacteria such as
campylobacter, salmonella, and E. coli. Symptoms include fever, abdominal
cramping, and diarrhea. Treatment with antibiotics and taking an
over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen usually help relieve symptoms.
3. Non-infectious:Â
Two types of
non-infectious diarrhea are lactose intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome.
Both are usually treated with diet changes.
4. Parasitic:Â
Amebic dysentery (5) is rare in the United
States but occurs in the tropics and subtropics. Symptoms include fever,
stomach cramping, and diarrhea, sometimes with blood or mucus. It is treated
with prescription medicines.
Diarrhea for a week
Diarrhea
and vomiting usually last for three days to a week. If diarrhea lasts more than
two weeks, it could be a sign of a serious illness, such as chronic bowel disease, a digestive disorder,
celiac disease, intestinal blockage, a parasite infection, food poisoning, or
other bacterial infection.
This
is a pretty common symptom, but it's not normal. If you have had diarrhea for a
week, then you should see a doctor and get a stool test done to rule out food
poisoning, lactose intolerance, or a gut infection.
If
you haven't had diarrhea for a week, then you can try natural remedies like black tea and honey, ginger tea, or peppermint
tea which will help to settle the stomach.
Vitamin
C supplements and a diet rich in fiber
can also benefit. Dried fruits, whole meal bread, broccoli, and citrus fruits
are high in fiber. You should also avoid spicy, fried, and greasy foods.
FAQ
1. What is diarrhea?
Ans: Diarrhea is a
bacterial infection that causes the stomach to produce excess watery and loose
stool. It is a common condition seen in people of all ages.
Diarrhea
definition results in the loss of water and electrolytes from the body, which
leads to dehydration, weakness, fatigue,
and abdominal pain.
The
amount of stool depends greatly on its water content. If the stool (6) is watery,
then the risk of dehydration is high.
2. Why do I have
diarrhea every day?
Ans: Diarrhea is a symptom
of a disease, not an illness in itself. So it’s not surprising that you get it
every day.
What
you should do is take immediate action, so you don't wait until you get
diarrhea every day or diarrhea for a month.
The
earlier you treat diarrhea the better because it'll save you from going through
a lot of painful and uncomfortable days.
You
need to visit a doctor to get the right diagnosis. You may have a parasitic
infection, or it may be caused by a medication or food you are taking.
If
diarrhea with blood then it's important to have a medical practitioner rules
out any serious medical causes.
3. Is it okay to eat ketchup when you have diarrhea?
Ans: Yes, it is, but
everything is in moderation. Ketchup is a condiment and contains a lot of salt.
Too much of anything is unhealthy.
It
is a myth that diarrhea is a result of an infection. So it's okay to have the
ketchup.
But,
you should always consult a doctor before doing anything or even diarrhea from
water-related to your health.
4. How long does protein powder diarrhea last?
Ans: Protein powder
diarrhea is not dangerous. It may cause cramps and watery diarrhea for a few
hours. The symptoms will last for about 24 hours.
The
diarrhea is caused because you take more protein than your body needs
at a time. When your body is not used to taking in so much protein, then it
reacts to it. This is called a body reaction.
5. What is constant diarrhea a sign of?
Ans: Diarrhea is an abnormal
increase in the frequency of stools, characterized by frequent loose or watery
stools. It may cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Sometimes acute or
chronic, everything depends on the cause.
Abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and other
symptoms may be present. The causes of diarrhea include any infection or a
change in diet.
In
this case, the patient will be associated with high fever, vomiting, tummy
ache, pain in the abdomen, and constipation.
If
the patient is having a high fever then, the doctor suggests giving him
antibiotics. If he is not associated with fever then many tests like stool
culture and x-ray of the abdomen are done.
If
the patient is negative for all these tests then he is having a food allergy.
In this case, he must avoid his allergic food (7).
6. What
foods help stop diarrhea?
Ans: Diarrhea is a common
disease where the food does not pass through the system properly. Foods for
diarrhea can be very beneficial.
The
main foods that help with diarrhea are squash,
rice, and bananas. The squash,
rice, and bananas are rich in fiber and other nutrients that can help stop
diarrhea.
However,
the food should be taken on an empty stomach. It is good to not eat any solid
foods while suffering from diarrhea. Follow the above foods to stop your
diarrhea.
7. How long does diarrhea last after the Covid
vaccine?
Ans: The normal duration
of diarrhea after taking the Covid
vaccine is normally between 1 to 4 weeks. However, there are cases when
diarrhea might last even after 2 months. This is one of the major side effects
of the vaccine.
If
diarrhea lasts for more than 2 months, you should consult a doctor immediately
to get the best medicine for diarrhea.
Final Note
Our
diarrhea remedies have been very popular and have helped many readers, who have
found it to be very informative.
Diarrhea
is a very common problem, in which there are many different home remedies for
diarrhea that can help to relieve it.
The
most important thing is to know what types of diarrhea you have as it will
change how you treat it.
We hope the information we have provided can help you feel better quickly so that you can get back to your daily routine.
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