Diarrhea

Diarrhea

Diarrhea refers to the frequent passage of loose or watery unformed stools. As a rough guide it

can be said that three or four loose or watery stools a day can be considered as diarrhea. The

disease may be acute or chronic. Commonly known as “loose motion”, it is perhaps the most

common disease in India.

The intestine normally gets more than 10 liters of liquid per day which comes from the diet and

from secretion of the stomach, liver, pancreas and intestines. In the case of diarrhea, water is

either not absorbed or is secreted in excess by the organs of the body. It is then sent to the

colon where water- holding capacity is limited. Thus the urge to defecate comes quite often.

Causes

There are many and varied causes of diarrhea. The chief causes are overeating or eating of

wrong foods, putrefaction in intestinal tract, fermentation caused by incomplete carbohydrate

digestion, nervous irritability, use of antibiotic drugs and excessive intake of laxatives. Other

causes include parasites , germs, virus, bacteria or a poison which has entered into the body

through food, water or air ; allergies to certain substances or even common foods such as milk,

wheat, eggs and sea foods and emotional strain or stress in adults and fright in children.

Diarrhoea may be a prominent feature of organic disease affecting the small or large intestine

such as the sprue syndrome, malignant disease and ulcerative colitis. It may also result from

operations on the gastro-intestinal tract. Diarrhoea may alternate with constipation. This may

result from the irritation of the mucous membrane by impacted hard faeces.

Diarrhoea for prolonged periods can lead to certain complications. These may include

weakening, due to loss of vitamins like A, D, E and K and other nutrients as food is

rushed through the body without giving the nutrients a chance of being absorbed.

i.

dehydration, due to loss of body fluids and washing out of minerals from the body and

nervous conditions.

Treatment

In severe cases of diarrhoea, it is advisable to observe a complete fast for two days to provide

rest for the gastro-intestinal tract. Hot water only may be taken during the period to compensate

for the loss of fluids. Juices of fruits may be taken after the acute symptoms are over. After the

condition improves, meals can be enlarged gradually to include cooked vegetables, whole rice,

spoured milks. Raw foods should be taken only after the patient completely recovers.

An effective remedy for diarrhoea is the use of buttermilk. It is the residual milk left after the fat

has been removed from yogurt by churning. It helps overcome harmful intestinal flora and

re-establish the benign or friendly flora. The acid in the buttermilk also fights germs and bacteria.

It may be taken and mixed with a pinch of salt three or four times a day controlling diarrhoea.

Carrot soup is another effective home remedy for diarrhoea. It supplies water to combat

dehydration, replenishes sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur and magnesium,

supplies pectin and coats the intestine to allay inflammation. It checks the growth of harmful

intestinal bacteria and prevents vomiting. One pound of carrot may be cooked in five ounces of

water until it is soft. The pulp should be strained and boiled water added to make a quart.

Three-quarter tablespoon of salt may be mixed. This soup should be given in small amounts to

the patient every half an hour.

The pomegranate has proved beneficial in the treatment of diarrhoea on account of its astringent

properties. If the patient develops weakness due to profuse and continuous purging, he should

be given repeatedly about 50 ml. of pomegranate juice to drink. This will control the diarrhoea.

Mango seeds are also valuable in diarrhoea. The seeds should be collected during the mango

season, dried in the shade and powdered and kept stored for use as medicine when required. It

should be given in doses of about one and a half gram to two grams with or without honey.

Diarrhoea

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Turmeric has proved another effective home remedy for diarrhoea. It is a very useful intestinal

antiseptic. It is also a gastric stimulant and a tonic. Turmeric rhizome, its juice or dry powder are

all very helpful in curing chronic diarrhea. In the form of dry powder, it may be taken in buttermilk

or plain water.

In case of diarrhoea caused by indigestion, dry or fresh ginger is very useful. A piece of dry

ginger is powdered along with a crystal or rock salt. A quarter teaspoonful of this powder should

be taken with a small piece of jugglery. It will bring quick relief as ginger, being carminative, aids

digestion by stimulating the gastrointestinal tract.

Starchy liquids such as arrowroot water , barley water, rice gruel and coconut water are highly

beneficial in the treatment of diarrhoea. They not only replace the fluid lost but also bind the

stools. Other home remedies include bananas and garlic. Bananas contain pectin and

encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria. Garlic is a powerful, effective and harmless

antibiotic. It aids digestion and routs parasites.

The best water treatment for diarrhoea are the abdominal compress ( at 60 o F) renewed every

15 to 20 minutes and cold hip bath ( 40 o - 50 o F). If the patient is in pain, abdominal

Fomentations for 15 minutes should be administered every two hours.

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