If you’ve been rushing to the washroom multiple times a day, you’ll agree that dealing with Diarrhea is not fun. It is both physically and emotionally draining, especially because it hinders our daily routine. This might come as a shock for you, but it is actually a common disease, and an average adult experiences about 4 episodes of Diarrhea every single year. Don’t worry because Ayurvedic remedy for Diarrhea is here to help treat this at home.
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What is Diarrhea?
Diarrhea in basically a condition where you experience loose or watery stools. This happens when our intestine pushes the stool through the bowel to be excreted before letting the excess water reabsorbed in the body. It can be result of various things like a reaction to contaminated food or toxin, infections, food intolerances, etc.
If you’re having symptoms like loose stools, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc then start implementing these home remedies today so it doesn’t turn into a more chronic problem. These remedies are backed by Ayurveda and works on the root cause of the problem, not just treating the symptoms.
Symptoms of Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Frequent bowel movements
- Vomiting
- Loose stools
- Cramps in the abdomen
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Stool mixed with mucus or blood
- Uneasy feeling
- Loss of appetite
Causes of Diarrhea
- Viral or bacterial infection
- Consuming contaminated food or water
- Lactose intolerance
- Emotional distress
- Food allergy
- Parasites or worms in the body
- Intestinal infection
- Adverse effect of certain medications
Ayurvedic View on Diarrhea
Diarrhea is referred to as Atisara in Ayurveda. It is the result of an imbalance of the digestive fire due to excess Pitta dosha. Atisara is an uncomfortable condition where watery stools are passed out of your body multiple times a day. It is essential to treat the underlying cause of the problem, and Ayurvedic remedy for Diarrhea does exactly that.
You should not be taking Diarrhea lightly as it can develop into more serious problems like dehydration or bleeding in stools. Start implementing these simple home remedies as soon as you start noticing the initial symptoms to avoid any complications.
Types of Diarrhea
Diarrhea can be classified into three types depending upon its duration and characteristics:
Acute watery Diarrhea
If your symptoms last for several hours or days, then it is acute watery-type Diarrhea. It also includes cholera. The main reasons for this type are bacterial and viral infections or food poisoning.
Dysentery
This is also known as Acute Bloody Diarrhea or Persistent Diarrhea because the main symptom of this type is blood in stools. It can be a result of infections, inflammatory bowel disease, or other such conditions that last for anywhere between 2-4 weeks.
Chronic Diarrhea
If your symptoms last for more than 4 weeks, then it is classified as Chronic Diarrhea or Malabsorption. The main causes of this type are infections, malabsorption disorders, or inflammatory bowel disease. You’ll notice undigested fat coming out in the stools.
Ayurvedic remedy for Diarrhea
Stop Loose motions instantly
Pomegranate is an effective fruit in stopping loose motions. You can eat the raw fruit or drink one glass of Pomegranate juice prepared by boiling the fruit in water and then straining it once a day to see immediate results.
You can also boil 50 grams of Pomegranate rind (the outer skin) in 250 ml of Milk and let it heat until it reduces to one-third of the original mixture. You can drink this three times a day for maximum results. Not only this, but even Pomegranate leaves are very useful when it comes to Diarrhea.
Pomegranate has astringent tannins, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help reduce the frequency of loose motions and also firm up the stool.
Lemon and Mint to help with loose stools
Take one teaspoon of Mint juice and one teaspoon of lemon juice and mix it with honey to help relieve loose motions and stomach pain or cramps associated with it. Take this mixture once a day for a few days to see results. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and soothing properties, which help in restoring the pH balance of the stomach, soothe the lining of the stomach, and ease any digestive discomfort.
Ginger – the miracle spice
Take fresh ginger and grate approx. 3 grams of it in boiled water. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes on low flame. You can take this mixture 2-3 times a day. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and digestive-enhancing properties that calm the stomach while improving gut mobility.
How does coriander help with Diarrhea?
You can drink Coriander water prepared by grinding and straining a handful of Coriander leaves. Boil two glasses of water and let it cool down. Now add the Coriander juice in this and let it sit overnight. Drink this mixture 2-3 times a day for effective results. You can also add a teaspoon of honey to the water for a better taste.
It has digestive-aid properties and contains essential oils like Borneol and Linalool that soothes the stomach and help improve digestion.
Indian Home Remedy for Diarrhea
Buttermilk is an Indian home remedy that helps in not only treating symptoms of Diarrhea like loss of appetite and anemia but also avoids dehydration. It has protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and essential enzymes that aid in the treatment of Diarrhea. It has 90% water, so it also helps in maintaining the body’s water balance.
Raw banana for Diarrhea
Raw banana (unripe) is very useful, especially if you have infected Diarrhea. It is rich in fibre and has high pectin and resistant starch content, which helps absorb the excess water in the intestine and firm up the stool. You can cook this as other vegetables and have it in lunch.
Also Read Ayurvedic Remedy for Cold: Natural Treatments and Tips for Relief
What to eat in Diarrhea
- Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to avoid dehydration. You can add flavours to your water like a pinch of salt, natural sugar, lime juice, mint leaves, etc.
- Try eating bland, easy-to-digest foods like mashed potatoes, cooked eggs, oatmeal, probiotic yogurt, and cooked vegetables.
- Avoid eating oily and spicy food for a while as it can worsen Diarrhea.
- Stay away from drinks or foods that are high in sugar or artificial sweeteners.
- Alcohol and caffeine can lead to dehydration, so these should be avoided.
When to seek medical help?
If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, then you should consult with a doctor:
- 10 or more watery stools within 24 hours
- Blood or mucus in the stool
- Signs of dehydration like extreme thirst, dark and scanty urine, or loss of elasticity
- Fever
- Black, tarry stools
- Worsening existing symptoms
