Home remedy for diarrhea: simple solutions to end the problem

Diarrhea is a common type of gastrointestinal discomfort or infection. When you go through this, the biggest wish is for the diarrhea to stop quickly, after all, the annoyance is usually great and disturbs even everyday tasks.

Acute diarrhea usually lasts for a week or two. Chronic diarrhea can persist for several weeks. And while the symptoms are unpleasant to deal with, they act as a defense mechanism, helping to quickly flush harmful substances out of the gastrointestinal tract before they have a chance to cause even more problems or complications.

The good news is that there are several ways to naturally treat both types of diarrhea. Here’s what you can do to rehydrate yourself and overcome the symptoms that bother you so much:

1. Soothing, easy-to-digest foods

The more food you consume, the more difficult it is for the digestive organs to function. You probably won’t have much of an appetite while you have diarrhea, so try to eat small amounts spread throughout the day, favoring foods that are easy to digest.

Simple whole grains, apples, bananas and rice are good for the first few days to provide some fiber and help add bulk to the stool. Flaxseed oil helps reduce the duration of diarrhea, raw honey and ginger soothe the stomach and reduce irritation. Fruits and vegetables provide water, fiber and electrolytes.

On the other hand, you should avoid conventional dairy products, potential allergens (gluten, nuts, shellfish and dairy), processed fats and oils (fast foods, cheesy foods, processed meats or fried foods), sugar and artificial sweeteners, caffeine, sugary drinks and alcohol.

2. Water

Drinking plenty of water is essential and helps prevent dehydration symptoms from getting worse. Herbal teas, including ginger, peppermint, oat husk, licorice/fennel, or pomegranate tea (without caffeine) can also help settle your stomach. Also, while not a good solution for everyone, drinking coconut water (a natural source of electrolytes), fresh vegetable juice, or homemade fruit popsicles can also be a good way to get more water and nutrients.

3. rest

Avoid doing too much physical activity, as you will feel weak. Give your body a chance to recover by getting enough sleep (8 hours a night or more), relaxing, and trying to keep stress levels down.

4. Supplements

Certain supplements can help improve digestive health as they allow you to more easily process the foods and nutrients you consume and soothe an upset stomach. Some suggestions: probiotics, which help fight infection and can help re-colonize the gut with healthy bacteria; digestive enzymes, which help with nutrient absorption; powdered glutamine, to repair the digestive tract, especially for people with chronic diarrhea; Aloe Vera juice, which is the cure for the lining of the digestive system; and soluble fiber from chia, which can help to thicken stools and reduce the frequency of diarrhea.

5. Essential oils

Studies have found that peppermint essential oil can reduce intestinal inflammation and soothe the digestive tract. In addition, it has active ingredients, including menthol or monoterpine, that help stop cramps, frequent elimination and pain.

The severity of diarrhea, as well as its symptoms, will also depend on each person’s lifestyle, the state of the immune system and the level of stress. If the problem persists for more than a week or two, especially if you’re not sure why it’s happening and it doesn’t seem to improve with these treatments, see a doctor.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.