I recently came home from
an amazing overseas trip only to find myself riding the “porcelain express” for
days with a bad case of traveler's diarrhea (TD), so I decided
to research some healthy, easy remedies for the annoying symptoms of diarrhea.
If you're like most Americans, you'll suffer about once or twice this year:
frequent, watery bowel movements that may be accompanied by cramps or nausea. To
help you cope with this uncomfortable and unpleasant distraction, try these ten
easy home cures:
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| Drink Teas For Diarrhea Relief |
1: Stay Hydrated
You can lose a lot of liquid in diarrhea, but you also lose
electrolytes, minerals such as sodium and potassium that are important for your
body. Over-the-counter electrolyte replacement formulas like Rehydralyte are
available without a prescription, or simply sports drinks like Gatorade can be
used. Some juices are good, but stay away from prune, apple and pear juices
because they can make your condition worse. Make sure to consume at least 8
cups of fluids, including water, to replace fluids you lose. Avoid coffee or
alcohol! Caffeine jump-starts your intestines, and that’s a definite no when
you have diarrhea.
2: Take OTC
Medicine
Stopping the runs with an over-the-counter (OTC) medication
isn’t the best thing for your body, since the diarrhea usually is body is
trying to rid itself of a nasty bug. If you do feel it's necessary,
Pepto-Bismol is probably the safest OTC antidiarrheal medicine and it seems to
have a mild antibacterial effect. Another OTC medicine that works faster and
longer is Imodium A-D (Loperamide),
which slows down the gut. It provides quick, temporary relief by reducing
muscle spasms in your gastrointestinal tract, slowing the transit time through
your digestive system. Absorbents like Loperamide can bind medications and
interfere with their absorption into the body so take several hours before
taking your vitamins or meds. You shouldn’t take these more than 48 hours.
After that, call your doctor, since antidiarrheal medication will stop your
body from performing its own natural defense mechanism and will often lead to a
prolonged illness and a weakening of your body’s defenses.
3: Eat Yogurt
Millions of friendly bacteria (probiotics) reside in our
intestines to assist digestion. A bout of diarrhea upsets the normal balance of
these valuable organisms. Many yogurts with live cultures provide you with
protection—make sure to check the labeling. If you've already got diarrhea,
yogurt assists in the production of lactic acid in your intestines, which can
kill off the nasty bacteria and get you feeling healthier, faster. You can also
find these in dairy drinks supplemented with probiotic organisms, as
well as capsules, powders, and liquids like kefir.
4: Avoid Certain
Foods
Avoid dairy products (except yogurt) while you have diarrhea
as well as for a week after it stops. The small intestine, where milk is
digested, is put in overdrive by diarrhea and simply won't function as well for
a while. Also avoid sweets, both with sugar and artificial sweeteners. Stay
away from fried foods or high-fiber foods. These are nearly impossible for your
tummy to handle right now. It's probably a good idea to avoid oatmeal, since
it's high in fiber, and your intestines can't tolerate more bulk during a bout
with diarrhea.
5: Eat Starchy
Foods
Starchy foods, such as white rice or tapioca cereals, can
help ease your gut. The thicker the better. Just avoid adding too much sugar,
syrup or salt, as these can aggravate diarrhea. Potatoes are another starchy
food that will restore nutrients and comfort your stomach. That doesn’t include
French fries since fried foods tend to aggravate an aching tummy. Other root
vegetables like carrots (cooked) are also easy on the tummy, and loaded with
nutrients. A yummy alternative is to eat boiled sweet potatoes.
6: Drink Tea
Chamomile
tea, used to help you sleep, is great for treating intestinal inflammation
because of its antispasmodic properties. A 2009 study, chamomile was found to
inhibit the growth of a species of bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni (one of
the most common causes of enteric infections resulting in severe diarrhea).
Brew yourself a cup of chamomile tea from packaged tea bags and steep some
peppermint leaves in a cup of boiling water for fifteen minutes. Drink 3 cups a
day. Orange peel tea is another folk remedy that is believed to aid in
digestion. Place a chopped orange peel (preferably from an organic orange, as
peels otherwise may contain nasty pesticides) into a pot and cover with 1 pint
boiling water. Let it steep until the water is cooled. You can lightly sweeten
it with sugar or honey. Ginger tea can stop cramps and pain. Or take ginger in
capsules. If you don’t feel like leaving the house to buy these teas, just grab
some regular black tea. The tannins in ordinary black tea have an
anti-diarrheal effect.
7: Get Rest
Try resting in bed and just veg out in front of the TV or
with a good book. Your body should rid itself of the diarrhea in three days or
less and the added rest will help boost your immune system and get you up back
and running. A heating pad on your tummy may also help relieve abdominal
cramps.
8: Try Blueberries
or Carrots
Dried blueberries have been used as a folk remedy for
diarrhea for ages. Blueberries contain anthocyanosides, which has antioxidant
as well as antibacterial properties as well as tannins, which combat diarrhea.
In Sweden, doctors prescribe a soup made with dried blueberries for stomach
ailments. Carrots naturally contain beneficial electrolytes and minerals that
are lost during diarrhea. Nibbling on fresh carrots may lessen the symptoms and
speed up the recovery time.
9: Squeeze some
lemons
Said to soothe irritation in the intestines, lemon juice is
an easy home remedy. Drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice n a large glass of
water three to five times a day will kill off the pathogens causing the
diarrhea. For prevention in case there is a stomach virus going around, take
1-2 tablespoons of juice before meals.
10: Take Fenugreek
Seeds
Because of the high mucilage content found in the fenugreek
seeds, it is considered a useful natural cure for diarrhea. The seeds husks
absorb water resulting in bulkier stool. Mix 1/2-teaspoon fenugreek seeds with
water and drink up.
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| Avoid Certain Foods When You Have Diarrhea |
With these safe home remedies, you should be able to
significantly reduce the severity and discomfort of diarrhea. If you have
chronic, or long-term, diarrhea that comes on suddenly and stays for weeks, you
may have a more serious condition, so be sure to see a doctor.
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