Diarrhoea

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Root Cause of Disease

A wide range of problems can cause chronic diarrhea; some of the most common causes include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),inflammatory bowel disease(Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis), malabsorption syndromes, like celiac disease, in which food cannot be digested and absorbed, and chronic infections.

Symptoms

There are different types of symptoms for different age group people. But the common symptoms are

• Passing loose, watery stools (3 or more times a day).
• An urgent need to use the bathroom.
• Cramping.
• Loss of control of bowel movements(Stool passed out of your body through the rectum and anus).
• Nausea (A feeling that you need to vomit).
• Pain in the abdomen(The area between your chest and hips).
• Bloody tools.
• Fever and chills
• Light – headedness and dizziness.
• Diarrhea may cause dehydration (A condition that results from not taking in enough liquids to replace fluids that may cause frequently urinated, sweating, vomiting) and malabsorption (A condition in which your small intestine cannot absorb nutrients from foods).

Causes

Diarrhea can be caused by a number of factors which includes:

• Infections.
• Traveler’s diarrhea.
• Side effects of medication.
• Food allergies and intolerances.
• Digestive disorders.

Infections:

Three types of infections cause diarrhea.

• Viral infections (caused by viruses).
• Bacterial infections (which can come from contaminated food and water). Some bacteria are Campylobacter, Escherichiacoli.
• Parasitic infections (in which parasites enter the body through food and water).

Traveler’s diarrhea:

This type of infectious diarrhea is caused by eating food and water contaminated with bacteria, viruses and parasites while traveling abroad, usually in a developing country. It is usually acute (short – lasting), but by neglecting can lead to longer.

Side effect of medication:

Some medications may cause diarrhea, including antibiotics, antacids, oral diabetes medication, and cancer drugs. If you believe your medication may be the cause of your diarrhea, talk to your healthcare provider, who may alter the dose or switch you to another medication.

Food allergies and intolerances:

Sometimes diarrhea is caused by an allergy to certain foods, such as dairy, soy, eggs, or seafood. In these cases, diarrhea is often chronic.

Lactose intolerance is a common condition that can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms after you eat foods or drink beverages containing lactose, the sugar found in milk or milk products like ice cream.

Digestive disorders:

Diarrhea may be a sign of a more serious health problem, such as a disorder of the digestive system. While the most common reason is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), other causes can include in-flammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease.

Home Remedies to treat Diarrhea

Remedy – 1: Stewed Apples

Materials: Apples

Apples are made up of soluble and insoluble fibre. They have 64 per cent insoluble fibre and 32 per cent soluble fibre. Soluble fibre is what forms a gel-like consistency in your stool and slows down the digestion, and is thus good for people who have loose motions.

Procedure:

• Peel and slice or chop 1–2 apples.
• Place in a small saucepan with enough water to cover the apples
• Add 1 teaspoon, and a pinch each of: cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and natural mineral salt.
• Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer.
• Cook covered until the apples are mushy (10-20 minutes). This dish is delicious and easy to digest. The apples are gently astringent and help to bind the stools.

Product Link: Stewed Apples

Remedy- 2: Spiced Bananas

Materials: Bananas

Banana is a rich source of potassium. This mineral helps to replace electrolytes lost due to frequent loose. If you consume bananas, you do not have to take oral rehydration solutions. This yellow fruit is also rich in fiber, which helps to bulk up the stool and improve the bowel movement.

Procedure:

• Chop 1–2 ripe bananas into bite-sized pieces.
• Garnish with 1 teaspoon warm ghee and a pinch each of: cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.
• This dish is delicious and nourishing. The potassium in the bananas helps to bind the stool.

Product Link: Bananas, Ghee, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Nutmeg

Remedy- 3: Curd Rice

Materials used: Rice, Curd

Consuming curd rice helps to restore healthy microbial balance which, in turn, helps in better digestion. Rice helps bulk up stools and relive diarrhoea as well.” Curd is a good source of protein. It is also a good antioxidant and has high contents of calcium.

Procedure:

• Start with one cup of cooked basmati rice.
• Add 1 tablespoon of ghee and 1/4 cup plain, fresh (ideally homemade) yogurt.
• Mix together and enjoy. This dish is soothing, grounding, and nutritive, and the probiotics in the yogurt help to restore the strength of agni.

Product Link: Yogurt

Other Remedies

Apple cider vinegar

This is also a very effective diarrhea home remedy. Apple cider Vinegar can help you to rid of the bacteria which in most cases are a reason for diarrhea. In a glass of water, you should add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. You should drink this diarrhea home remedy mixture two times per day until you have noticed that diarrhea has gone.

Ginger

This natural remedy can help you to get rid of the abdominal pain and cramps. Also if you have food poisoning, then you can use ginger as your natural diarrhea home remedy. You should grate a small piece of ginger and then you should add one teaspoon of honey. Then, you should eat this mixture. In this way, you will improve digestion and also you will promote the release of the gastric juices. After you have eaten this mixture you should not drink water at the same moment.

Also if you do not want to eat this mixture, then you can drink ginger tea which is also the best tea for diarrhea. You should drink ginger tea 2 – 3 times per day if you want to cure digestion. In one cup of water, you should put a small slice of ginger. Then, you should boil this mixture for a period of a few minutes. Then, you should strain this tea. Also, you can add a small amount of honey in this kind of tea. If you do not have fresh ginger in your local markets, then you should add powdered ginger in the water to make the best tea for diarrhea.

Preventions

Key measures to prevent diarrhea include:

• Access to safe drinking-water.
• Use of improved sanitation.
• Hand washing with soap.
• Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
• Good personal and food hygiene.
• Health education about how infections spread.
• Rotavirus vaccination.

Basic things to do frequently and regularly:

• Rehydration: with oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution. ORS is a mixture of clean water, salt and sugar. It costs a few cents per treatment. ORS is absorbed in the small intestine and replaces the water and electrolytes lost in the faeces.
• Zinc supplements: zinc supplements reduce the duration of a diarrhea episode by 25% and are associated with a 30% reduction in stool volume.
• Rehydration: with intravenous fluids in case of severe dehydration or shock.
• Nutrient-rich foods: the vicious circle of malnutrition and diarrhea can be broken by continuing to give nutrient-rich foods – including breast milk – during an episode, and by giving a nutritious die including exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life – to children when they are well.
• Consulting a health professional, in particular for management of persistent diarrhea or when there is blood in stool or if there are signs of dehydration.

When to consult a doctor?

In most cases, it is possible to treat diarrhea at home without consulting a doctor. However, if diarrhea lasts for more than 2 days. Seek medical advice to avoid complications.

Other reasons to see a doctor for diarrhea include:

• Blood or pus in bowel movements
• Signs of dehydration, such as extreme thirst and dry mouth
• Chronic diarrhea
• Diarrhea during sleep
• Significant weight loss
• Severe abdominal pain
• Fever
• People at risk of complications, such as young children and older adults, should also see a doctor for treatment if diarrhea does not improve with time and home remedies.