Diarrhea is a terrible situation that you may get caught up in at least once in your life. It has resulted from the malfunction of the digestive system. When you are trapped in diarrhea, your body will experience an increase in the wateriness, volume, or frequency of bowel movements. That’s why foods and fluid pass too quickly –or in too large an amount through your colon – leading to a lack of fluid in the whole body.
Although diarrhea makes those who suffer from it feel really bad, it is not very serious and won’t stay with you for more than a week. Despite the fact that it typically lasts about two or three days, it might affect your life in a way you completely don’t expect. No one can focus on their daily tasks if there is an annoyance in their stomach that bothers them sometimes. You then may be busy thinking of ways to escape from the need of going to the bathroom. It is even more terrible if you have to work outside or on a business trip.
Why Do You Have Diarrhea?
Before getting to know what can save you from diarrhea, it is better to learn about what causes it. There are dozens of reasons to explain why you may be endangered by diarrhea. However, the root which lies behind this disease is due to viruses, parasites or bacteria that land on your stomach through food or water and infects the gut.
To be more detailed, the three following reasons can somehow show you the three main reasons for such stomach flu:
- Food Allergy: It doesn’t sound strange to you, right? One may experience one or more diarrhea every year due to this popular cause. You have to keep in mind that not all the foods you consume are all suitable for your stomach. Sometimes, it may be not accepted and accompanied with a fast reaction like diarrhea.
- Contaminated Water: It often takes place when you move into a different place as a traveler. It is not possible to bring bottled water with you everywhere you go. Remember that it is always contaminated water that leads you to diarrhea. Water from another source which is not familiar to your stomach is likely to trigger the problem as well.
- Intestinal Disease: This is when a diarrhea is accompanied by some problems in your stomach that have existed before and you have to accept that as long as you still have that kind of disorder in your intestine. One of the most well-known ones is IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Due to the causes inside the body, it is hard to cure diarrhea in this case.
Signs and Symptoms
As diarrhea is depicted as an abnormal increase in the frequency, volume or liquidity of stools, it is basically associated with the following signs and symptoms:
- Frequent and loose stools
- Lightheadedness or dizziness from dehydration
- Abdominal pain, cramping
- Fever, chills, general sick feeling
- Thirst
- Weight loss
Of all the above-mentioned symptoms, you have to be very careful with dehydration as it may cause really bad consequences in your body if you don’t fill yourself with enough water to compensate for the amount you lose. Dehydration alone may bring about tons of problems such as tiredness and a lack of energy, nausea, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, muscle cramps and loss of appetite.
15 Effective Ways to Treat Your Symptoms
Diarrhea for children often last about five or seven days and for adults, that period may be shorter within two or four days. Although it is suggested you should come to see you doctor after your diarrhea won’t get better after such period of time, you definitely don’t have to wait until that time. Why don’t you think of dealing with it with some home remedies on your own?
It is really essential to learn some home treatments for diarrhea to remove the discomfort you have to terribly suffer during a diarrhea and most importantly, to shorten the time it stays with you and discard the risk of visiting the doctor. Here are the 15 natural home remedies to get rid of diarrhea that you can give it a try at your leisure at home. If you believe that homemade stuff has a great potential to combat diarrhea, then read on.
1. Yogurt
Yogurt is a great home remedy that you should try first. Don’t ever worry about his sour flavor as it contains probiotics to help balance your stomach and maintain the digestive tract. Good bacteria inside a bowl of yogurt has the power to recover you from a detrimental diarrhea. This is absolutely not new to those who are conscious of such healthy foods. So “How to stop diarrhea fast”, think of yogurt first.
Direction: Two bowls of yogurt is the suggested amount you should consume to fight against normal diarrhea. It is better to eat the one with no flavor and to increase your appetite, you should associate it with a banana.
Note: Yogurt with flavor is also acceptable but don’t use excessively. Twice a day is almost the ideal intake. Remember to buy the yogurt inside the store.
2. Ginger
Ginger is known to be an effective treatment for food poisoning and can also help you stay away from cramps and abdominal pain which are the main symptoms of typical diarrhea. Why does ginger have the fabulous power? Ginger is accompanied with anti-inflammatory properties that can ease irritated bowels and promote digestive activities.
Direction: Prepare a small piece of ginger. If you desire to make the best of it for your diarrhea, you should slice it into small pieces and mix it with a teaspoon of honey. It tastes not so good for those who don’t familiar with its flavor before.
Note: If you are sensitive to spicy foods, you can turn to ginger supplements instead of using fresh ginger. Don’t drink much water then to let ginger perform its role smoothly.
3. Fenugreek Seeds
With a great amount of mucilage content, fenugreek seeds is a good supplement to fight against diarrhea. It is surprising that these seeds are really quick to remove the diarrhea effects that your body are encountering.
Direction: Chew one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds along with one tablespoon of yogurt. To make it taste better, combine the mixture with cumin seeds. Unless there is anything available then, fenugreek seeds also work out alone.
Note: Consume this mixture three times a day for quick relief from diarrhea.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar acts as an affective agent against bacteria that cause diarrhea. This is known to have a lot of good features that remove all the bad experience along with diarrhea. To be precise, it directly combats the bacteria that possibly trigger the disease.
Direction: Consume a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar followed by a glass of water to remove its tough flavor. There is another alternative. Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and then drink the mixture.
Note: You are supposed to do this twice a day until you feel much better.
5. Bananas
Ripe bananas are rich in pectin which is a water-soluble fiber to ease the tiring symptoms of diarrhea. Besides, the content of potassium – an electrolyte – is likely to enhance the vital functions in the body. Diarrhea would be much relieved with a lot of supplements.
Direction: You can eat banana alone as a snack or along with yogurt. It is quite comfortable to take advantage of this natural treatment without sophisticated directions.
Note: Don’t forget to choose ripe bananas or else you will experience some side effects then.
6. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is really outstanding for its soothing effect on aggravated parts of the digestive system so that diarrhea can be stopped at the soonest possible time. Aside from that, it may be great in providing relief from abdominal pains along with stomach disorders, which are all the problems related to diarrhea.
Direction: Brew chamomile tea with hot water and wait for a few minutes. Drink it alone or if you need something more, add a small amount of fresh lemon juice.
Note: You can drink the tea a few times a day. You can also make chamomile tea by steeping one teaspoon of chamomile flowers and one teaspoon of peppermint leaves in boiling water.
7. White Rice
Plain white rice is one of the should-have foods during diarrhea. As your digestive system has been weakened, it is suggested to eat something beneficial to it like white rice. In addition, white rice also plays a role in adding bulk to the stools.
Direction: Eat small amounts of white rice and slowly improve the amount. Don’t try to eat so much at a time as it even worsens your system. It is not a wise decision to add sauces or spices as it may be somehow overloaded for your stomach.
Note: As the situation becomes much better, you can increase the amount of white rice you intend to eat.
8. Black Seed Oil
Black Seed Oi has been found to be an effective home remedy for a lot of health problems including gas, colic, asthma, constipation, and diarrhea.
Direction: Mix a teaspoon of black seed oil in a cup of plain yogurt and eat the mixture twice a day until the diarrhea symptoms are completely gone.
Note: Do remember that you should mix the black seed oil and yogurt thoroughly and twice a day is acceptable to your body. Don’t take in too much of it.
9. Carrot Soup
Carrot soup enables your digestive system to work better with the ability to add much bulk to the stools. Carrot soup is particularly good for children recuperating from diarrhea because it provides essential nutrients lost during diarrhea.
Direction: Carrots should be cooked in a half cup of water for a couple of minutes or so. Remember to place a bit of salt to make the soup taste better while cooking the carrots.
Note: You should combine carrot soup to your daily meals for a few days even when you are not trapped in diarrhea anymore to make sure that your stomach completely recovers.
10. Clear Fluids
The most dangerous symptom of diarrhea is that it leaves your body dehydrated. An adequate amount of water without any other substances such as caffeine is necessary to make up for what your body has lost. For those who are suffering from diarrhea, they would keep their body balanced with an intake of 10 glasses of water a day.
Direction: Instead of drinking an entire glass of water or fluid all at once, take small sips every few minutes. Water, clear broth and sports drinks are your best options.
Note: This remedy somehow helps you away from being dehydrated. You are supposed to add healthy ingredients to help relieve other symptoms.
11. BRAT diet
For those who don’t have any knowledge of BRAT diet, it is the shortened form of Banana, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. As such, they are less likely to contribute to further digestive upset and more likely to soothe your intestines. The four things above may give the best treatment to all the affected parts involving in your terrible disease.
Direction: All you need to do is to include the four elements in your main diet. Mix up small portions of each product for each meal that you are going to take in. Don’t ever try to put butter on the toast as it will worsen your stomach.
Note: You are supposed to use a small amount of those ingredients to mix with each other in order not to upset the stomach further. Overloading may lead to adverse effects.
12. Peppermint
When it comes to peppermint, a lot of people may think of something that is used for different candies. There are times when peppermint can also be used to flavor different drinks. Peppermint is a great substance which is able to ease stomach problems.
Direction: Prepare some sprigs of mint and make sure that what you have got in your hand is absolutely clean. You can then steep a few sprigs of mint with hot water for a few minutes. You can drink it when you feel that the water is not hot enough to burn the tongue.
13. Liquid Food Products
Does it sound a little bit strange? Some people may feel it confusing because the stools that are coming out of the body are already in liquid form so what does it help your body with the consumption of liquid food products? There is something you should keep in mind that the liquid food products can be consumed by the body better so that it has the power to recover from such a bad situation.
Direction: Use the food processor to break down those items that are too solid. If the food processor is not enough, the blender should be in place.
Note: For those who don’t want to do much, making soups can be a good idea as long as the soup contains all the essential nutrients to keep people hydrated all day long.
14. Rest
For any illness or medical condition, one remedy you should turn to is to let your hair down. Resting grants your body the opportunity to fight off any virus responsible for your diarrhea. Additionally, if anxiety is the trigger or an additional agitator of your diarrhea, rest can reduce anxiety and its physical symptoms, thereby eliminating or reducing it.
Direction: Find a place where you feel comfortable and pleasant to enjoy a sleep. A deep sleep without caring about much stuff outside may give you vitality and strength.
Note: When people rest, the body has a chance to rejuvenate and cure its own. Resting together with all of the other home remedies mentioned above will help cure people from their diarrhea.
15. Avoid Dairy Products
Although dairy products taste good and increase your appetite in these circumstances, they may have to be avoided during the onset of diarrhea. Popular dairy products here include milk, butter, and cheese. It won’t give great help to your stomach but even make it get worse. For those who have lactose intolerance, an advice for them is to keep any kind of dairy products above and beyond their reach.
Note: You can take in dairy products again after the stomach has settled down and problems with diarrhea have already disappeared.
How to Prevent Diarrhea
After discovering the main causes of diarrhea, it is not very difficult to find some ways to prevent it from happening to you. The key is to maintain good hygiene and make sure that all the foods and water you intend to take in your body is free from any detrimental sources to your stomach.
By keeping your hands clean and stay away from people who are sick, you are probably creating a wall against an infecting leading to diarrhea. Don’t expose yourself to undercooked or unhygienic foods which contain bacteria. Kitchen care is a must-take step in preventing food-related bacterial infections that result in diarrhea.
When to See a Doctor for Diarrhea
What one important thing for those who are caught up in diarrhea should keep in mind is that typical diarrhea usually lasts for a few days. If it takes longer than a week, it is necessary to come and visit your doctor. Sometimes, a diarrhea is just a symptom of a bigger disease and asking for advice from your doctor would be the best and safest choice.
You should also call your doctor immediately if you have such severe symptoms as blood in your diarrhea or black, tarry stools, nausea or vomiting that prevents you from drinking liquids to replace lost fluids, severe pain in your belly or rectum or any of these signs of dehydration like dark urine, fast heart rate, dry skin or headaches.
Conclusion
All the above are the effective ways on how to stop diarrhea fast. They are surely the reliable treatment you can turn to when dealing with annoying diarrhea. Trying any of these remedies is recommended if you consider carefully all symptoms, history and other characteristics of a person to diagnose. Although they may not generate immediate effects to remove diarrhea at once, you will feel better and more comfortable after some time. It is not always essential to meet the doctor as you possibly fight against diarrhea by yourself with a few simple ,natural and home remedies.