Cure Diarrhea

Diarrhea is not a condition: it is a symptom of another health issue, such as an infection or a virus. It can also be a reaction to food allergies, medications, protozoans (10%-15% of cases), viruses (50%-70% of cases), or bacteria (15%-20% of cases) in food or water.[1] In most cases diarrhea will go away on its own within a few days, but certain types of diarrhea can cause serious problems. Acute diarrhea can be accounted for as the cause of more than 150,000 admissions to the hospital every year.[1] Additionally, it is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide, affecting 11 percent of the general population.[1] Even so, diarrhea is your body's way of flushing toxins from your system. It is often best to let it run its course while treating the underlying cause and minimizing the associated dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Steps

Treating Diarrhea with Non-medicines

  1. Drink water and other fluids to restore vitamins and minerals. When you have diarrhea, your body sheds fluids that contain needed vitamins and minerals. It is important to get those minerals back in fluids, especially water and sports drinks.[1]
    • Combatting dehydration is your primary medical concern with diarrhea. If you are vomiting in addition to having diarrhea, be sure to take frequent, small sips of liquid instead of drinking lots of liquid at a time.
    • Other liquids that you can consume to combat dehydration include chicken or beef broth, flavored mineral waters, or rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte.[2]
    • Caffeine-free liquids are best. Caffeine is a mild diuretic, meaning that it can have a dehydrating effect.[3] If suffering from diarrhea, stick to liquids that don't have the possibility of dehydrating you even more.
  2. Get extra sleep. Not so much a remedy as a common sense treatment supplement, sleep is very necessary when it comes to treating diarrhea. Since diarrhea is a symptom, it is a good indicator that your body is trying to fight off a problem such as a virus. Sleep and rest are among the best ways to help your immune system.
  3. Switch to the BRAT diet. If you’re no longer vomiting (or your symptoms never included vomiting), then your can start taking advantage of the BRAT diet—bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These are all low-fiber foods that will help to increase the firmness of your stools.[2] They’re also fairly bland in a way that won’t risk further upsetting your stomach.
    • The bananas in this diet also help replace potassium your body has lost through the diarrhea.[2]
  4. Complement the BRAT diet with other options. Though effective as a base to help treat diarrhea, the BRAT diet is not a well-balanced diet.[1] Saltine crackers, boiled potatoes, clear soups, skinless baked chicken, cooked carrots, and other somewhat bland food choices can also help while you’re still experiencing an upset stomach.[2][4]
    • Some people may also try yogurt. However, the lactose in yogurt can be hard on your stomach while you have diarrhea. If you turn to yogurt, choose a probiotic variety (with live bacterial cultures) to help return helpful bacteria to your stomach and assist with your recovery.[4]
  5. Avoid foods that can worsen symptoms. Knowing what not to eat can be just as important as knowing what to eat. In general, you should avoid greasy, spicy, or sweet foods, as well as those high in fiber.[4] Milk and other dairy products can also be difficult for some people to digest while experiencing diarrhea.[4] Also avoid:
    • Gum with sorbitol. Sorbitol is a laxative.
    • Spicy foods, fruits, and alcohol until at least forty-eight hours after diarrhea has subsided.[5]
    • Foods with caffeine such as chocolate since caffeine has a dehydrating effect.[3]
  6. Take a zinc supplement. Studies have shown that zinc supplements can improve the outcome when treating diarrhea.[6] Zinc is a micronutrient that aids in the synthesis of protein and the transport of both water and electrolytes in the intestines.[7]
    • The World Health Organization recommends taking zinc supplements by mouth—10 mg daily for children under six months, 20 mg daily for children over six months of age.[7] Adults should take according to the manufacturer’s suggested dosing.
  7. Resume your normal diet. Roughly twenty-four to forty-eight hours after your symptoms have subsided, you can return to your normal diet.[2] Reintroduce foods slowly to see the best result.
    • Use common sense. Start with mild fish or chicken instead of a spicy plate of seasoned pulled pork.

Treating Diarrhea with Medicine

  1. Take an over-the-counter, anti-diarrheal absorbent. Absorbents are medicines that bind to the walls of the intestine and colon and absorb water so that your stools are less watery.[8] Follow package directions for dosage.
    • If using an absorbent, it is important not to take any medication within several hours of taking the absorbent. Absorbents can cause the medication to bind to the intestine and colon, diminishing their medicinal power. For best results, take absorbents and medications separately.
  2. Take an OTC medication containing bismuth compounds. Bismuth compounds, found in common products such as Pepto-Bismol, are reputed to have antibiotic-like properties that counteract the bacteria that produce diarrhea.[8] It's not exactly known how bismuth compounds combat diarrhea. They may only be beneficial for patients suffering from traveler's diarrhea or those battling the H. pylori bacterium.
  3. Try taking an anti-motility medication. Anti-motility medications cause a slowdown in the movement of the intestine and colon. This slowdown relaxes the bowel organs, which gives the organs more time to absorb water, resulting in less watery stool. Two common anti-motility medications include loperamide and diphenoxylate. Loperamide is available without prescription in various forms (such as Imodium A-D).[9][10]
    • Individuals with infectious diarrhea (such as from E. coli) should avoid anti-motility medications.[1]
  4. See a doctor for antibiotics. If the medications you're taking, in conjunction with bland food and plenty of water, don't seem to improve your case of diarrhea after seventy-two hours, see your doctor. They may prescribe an antibiotic medication, which will help treat diarrhea caused by a bacterium or parasite. Antibiotics will not help diarrhea caused by a virus.[11]
    • It is very important to see your doctor if OTC options have proven ineffective because diarrhea from bacterial or parasitic infections can actually worsen due to these medications.[9]
    • Your doctor will determine the specific antibiotic to prescribe for your symptoms after using a stool culture to identify the bacteria causing the symptoms.

Treating Diarrhea with Herbal Remedies

  1. See your doctor. For diarrhea caused by certain types of infections, herbal remedies can actually worsen instead of improve your symptoms.[12] Consult your doctor before turning to an herbal remedy.
  2. Eat probiotics. The living bacteria in probiotics boost the number of healthy bacteria in your gut, which are often lost due to diarrhea. By reintroducing these healthy bacteria, your digestive tract can get back to normal functioning more quickly.[9]
    • Probiotics are available as supplements, and they’re also found in probiotic brands of yogurt.
  3. Drink chamomile tea. Chamomile tea is has traditionally been used to treat inflammation, including in the GI tract.[12] Drink up to three cups a day, sipping in small quantities to help your body absorb the liquid.
    • Note that chamomile can lead to reactions in those allergic to ragweed, and it can also interfere with some medications, including hormonal medications.[12]
  4. Try psyllium. Psyllium is a soluble fiber (meaning that it absorbs water). It can lead to firmer stool while experiencing diarrhea.[12] Always drink psyllium with a large glass of water.
    • Speak to your doctor before taking psyllium if you have inflammatory bowel disease.[12]
  5. Try a marshmallow root supplement. Marshmallow has also traditionally been used as an inflammation-reducing herb.[12] Follow the manufacturer’s directions for a supplement.
    • You can also cold brew this herb as a tea by putting two tablespoons in one quart of water overnight. Strain before drinking.[12]
    • This herb can interfere with some medications—such as lithium—so consult your doctor before taking.[12]
  6. Drink a mix with slippery elm powder. Slippery elm powder has also been used traditionally to soothe inflamed GI tracts.[12] Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
    • Steep four grams of the powder in two cups of boiling water, and allow it to steep for three to five minutes. You can drink this up to three times each day while you have diarrhea.[13]
    • Some herbalists believe that slipper elm can lead to miscarriage.[13] Consult with your doctor before taking slippery elm if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.[13]
  7. Try apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is believed to have antimicrobial properties.[14] If used to combat diarrhea, try stirring two teaspoons into one warm cup of water. You can drink this mix several times a day.[14]
    • If taking vinegar with other probiotics, wait several hours in between drinking the ACV and eating the probiotics. Yogurt, for example, contains good bacteria and is generally considered beneficial for diarrhea. Wait one or two hours after you've had ACV until you go for the yogurt.
  8. Try using an astringent herb. Astringent herbs are believed to help dry out the mucous membranes located in the intestines, helping to reduce the amount of loose stool.[12] Most of these options are available as supplements or teas, and they include:[12]
    • Blackberry leaf
    • Raspberry leaf
    • Carob powder
    • Extract of bilberry
    • Agrimony

Tips

  • If your symptoms worsen, see your doctor.
  • If diarrhea occurs with a fever over 101.4°F in kids or 102°F in adults, go to the doctor.
  • Keep hydrated!
  • Stay home from work or school until your symptoms have resolved and practice good hand washing.

Warnings

  • Signs of dehydration include feeling tired, feeling thirsty, dry mouth, muscle cramps, dizziness, confusion, and decrease in urine volume.
  • See your doctor if there is blood in your diarrhea, your body becomes dehydrated, if you have just completed a round of antibiotics, or if the diarrhea lasts for more than seventy-two hours.
  • Call the doctor if an infant or young child has diarrhea for more than twenty-four hours or is showing signs of dehydration.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Domino, F. (n.d.). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/food-nutrition/weight-loss/brat-diet-recovering-from-an-upset-stomach.html
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/caffeinated-drinks/faq-20057965
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/diarrhea/Pages/facts.aspx#eating
  5. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/understanding-diarrhea-treatment
  6. ↑ Walker CL, Black RE. Zinc for the treatment of diarrhoea: Effect on diarrhoea morbidity, mortality and incidence of future episodes. Int J Epidemiol. 2010;39(Suppl 1):i63–i69.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.who.int/elena/titles/bbc/zinc_diarrhoea/en/
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.medicinenet.com/diarrhea/page13.htm
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diarrhea/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20014025
  10. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1601396/
  11. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diarrhea/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20232969
  12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/diarrhea
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/slippery-elm
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/food-poisoning
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