What to take for diarrhea?
Written by Bryan on Monday, January 25th, 2010 in Health, Health Advisory, Medicine.
Here are some pointers for in case you have diarrhea
- At least 75% of all diarrhea are caused by viruses and are “self-regulating”, meaning that your body will take care of the infection. This can take 3 to 9 days and the only thing to do is to take enough fluids to avoid dehydration. Be aware of the signs of dehydration (dry mouth, sunken eyes, and in small babies; a sunken fontanelle at the top of the head where the skull bones have not yet joined). If dehydration does occur, take Oral Rehydration Salt preparation. If fever occurs or there is blood in the stool, consult a doctor immediately.
- Pepto-Bismol and Immodium can be dangerous for children (and adults) when taken for diarrhea that is caused by viral infections (such as Rotavirus or the flu). By stopping the diarrhea, you may actually be trapping the virus inside your body and causing prolonged illness. Consult your doctor before taking over the counter medicines!
Causes
- Bacteria in food or protozoa in water are often the cause, but other causes can also include viruses and parasites.
- Gasteroenteritis is commonly caused by a virus that has entered the digestive tract through contaminated water or food and can cause inflammation, cramping, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Diarrhea can cause dehydration so make sure to hydrate yourself by taking Pedialyte for children and sport drinks for adults.
- Eating an excessive amounts of fatty foods or fruit can also cause diarrhea, as well as extreme fatigue, stress, or anxiety.
- One may also have underlying causes such as IBS (irritable bowl syndrome), or lactose intolerance.
What to do
- Avoid caffeinated drinks, carbonated drinks, alcohol, cold drinks, and dairy products. Diarrhea can sometime produce temporary lactose intolerance.
- There are various homeopathic cures available, however, consult a physician prior to trying them out!
- Some tips from health911.com
Apple cider vinegar Try 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water with each meal and at mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and at bedtime. Another variation is to give children 2 teaspoons every two hours. This remedy can be used for children as young as three years of age. The vinegar acts as a natural antiseptic and helps cleanse the intestines and entire digestive tract. It also contains pectin which will add bulk to the stools. The pectin also is effective against certain types of bacteria that cause diarrhea.
Apples For some people apples cause stomach problems. For others they can be a cure. Grate an apple and let it stand at room temperature for several hours until well darkened. The oxidized pectin will help stop the diarrhea. Give children, especially babies, finely grated apples, followed by oatmeal porridge. Older children and adults can take oat flakes (or rolled oats) raw, chewing thoroughly, with nothing else to eat for a few hours.
Bee pollen Take bee pollen several times a day. It contains nearly all the minerals and trace elements needed in the diet.
Blackberry Put 1 teaspoon of allspice in a cheesecloth bag and simmer it in unsweetened blackberry juice for a few minutes. For children give them a teaspoonful every four hours. Larger doses for adults. Several tablespoons of fresh or frozen blackberries work well, too, as does blackberry juice or wine.
Black pepper and kelp This is a good remedy for diarrhea caused by unpurified water. Boil water and cool. Add 3 teaspoons of black pepper and 11/2 teaspoon of kelp to 2 cups of water. Repeat as often as necessary.
Blueberries A compound found in blueberries effectively fights the bacteria that causes most cases of diarrhea. Eating one cup of fresh blueberries should do the trick.
Bran Add one tablespoon of unprocessed bran daily to your diet. Don’t use the kind sold as breakfast cereal, as it has been processed. It can be taken with liquids or mixed with a variety of foods, depending on taste. It works because it absorbs eight times its own weight and will soak up the excess fluids in the intestines. Your stools should soon return to normal.
Carob flour/powder Carob flour is very rich in pectin, a binding substance, and tannins, which have an anti-viral effect, and is very helpful in normalizing bowels. Carob flour/powder is very beneficial for babies’ diarrhea. Mix with formula or food.
Carrots Boil carrots, then puree. Take 1 teaspoon every 15 minutes.
Carrot juice The essential oils in carrot juice have an effect on the mucous membranes in the stomach. Take juice several times daily to help regain proper digestion. The juice is good for children, too, and should stop diarrhea attacks quickly.
I’m not a big fan of medicine. Especially when I have to take it. I imagine that nobody really likes to take medicine. I mean would you want to take medicine if you were healthy? no right? But when it comes to herbal medicine, it seems much more safer to use. So here are some natural herbal medicine aimed for alleviating back pain.
Alright~ there are good deals on fitness clubs nowadays. With the heavy duty recession burning a nice hole into our pockets these days it’s pretty easy to go and buy tacos for a buck a piece on tuesdays or splurge pocket changes on macdee’s dollar menus. Oh yea, and for those of you that still roll pretty high, there’s a lot of great deal on healthclub membership too. (I saw a $300.00 for two year deal with no contract at this fitness club the other day)..
