Diarrhea is health condition where a persons stools
are watery. Often this is a way for the body to get rid of toxins and other problem substances in the body. In many cases of simple diarrhea,
it should not be suppressed too quickly. It may be healthier to allow your body to flush itself clean, as long as you can support it with adequate fluids.
There are many microorganisms that can cause diarrhea, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. You can pick up viruses, bacteria, or protozoa from other people or from contaminated food and water. Food poisoning causes diarrhea very quickly. Food
allergies and sensitivities can also cause diarrhea.
Less common causes of diarrhea include reactions to drugs, including
alcohol , cystic fibrosis , inflammatory bowel
disease , hepatitis , parasites,
and pancreatitis. An anatomical deformity. such as a fistula, or a
congenital defect, such as Hirschsprung’s disease or short bowel syndrome,
can also cause diarrhea. If the diarrhea is caused by any of these
conditions, then you may require medical attention.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Acidophilus |
10 |
friendly bacteria needed for good bowel
and colon health. Maybe combined with Lactobacillus rhanosus,
Bifidobacterium longum, and Lactobacillus plantarum in a combination
such as Botana Cleanse (see link below) |
Aloe vera |
10 |
herb that helps heal the colon and also aides in lowering stress. |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
vitamin B complex, magnesium, calcium, chromium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, and multi
enzyme, all serve to help people with diarrhea or colitis. The nutrients
contained in a daily supplement are needed for good general health and
well being. |
Golden Seal |
9 |
this herb helps control diarrhea caused by
bacterial infection and works well with the herbs echinacea and rieshi mushroom. |
Vitamin A |
9 |
vitamin A is an anti-oxidant protects the mucous membranes that become inflamed with
colitis and it also helps in healing. |
Blessed
Thistle |
8 |
herb used in Europe for almost any problem
and used for many digestion and inflammation problems as well as
diarrhea.. |
Vitamin E |
9 |
vitamin E is an anti-oxidant that provides healing |
Vitamin B |
8 |
vitamin B complex is needed for breakdown of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates as well
as proper digestion. |
Vitamin C |
7 |
vitamin C helps boost the immune system and
it promotes healing of mucous membranes. It can
be taken in a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement
form. |
Most cases of simple diarrhea are caused by viruses. Viruses invade the intestinal tract, causing irritation and inflammation of the intestinal walls. Viruses also induce the cells lining the intestines to secrete fluids. The increase in fluid volume in turn increases peristalsis, the wavelike contractions of the intestines. The result is cramping and the loose, watery, frequent stools characteristic of
diarrhea. Vomiting and stomachache often accompany diarrhea, and abdominal cramps usually come and go, often occurring right before a bowel movement. Depending on the cause of the diarrhea, you may or may not have a fever. When you are suffering from diarrhea, dehydration is always a concern, especially if your temperature is elevated.
If you are alert and are not experiencing cramping between episodes, it’s safe to assume your body has the situation under control. But if diarrhea lasts for longer than
48 hours or comes and goes over a period of 2 weeks or more, or if you feel weak, have cramping that is not relieved between episodes, experience severe or persistent abdominal pain with diarrhea, or have blood in the stool,
then you should call your doctor.
COMMON TREATMENTS
Bismuth subsalicylate - (Pepto-Bismol) is an over-the-counter drug that works by attaching to the toxin or bacteria that is causing the problem in the intestines. This deactivates the foreign substance and it loses its ability to hurt the body. This medication can turn the stools black.
Loperamide - ( Imodium AD and similar products) is the most commonly used
anti-diarrheal. It works by slowing the movement of the intestinal muscle. You should not use this drug if you have a fever over 101°F, or if you have bloody stools.
Kaolin-pectin - (Donnagel, Kaopectate, Parapectolin), an over-the-counter drug, binds with excess water, thereby solidifying and drying diarrheal stools. This makes it appear as if you are having less diarrhea and more formed stools, but you are actually still losing the same amount of water as you would be if untreated. It just looks different. Kaolin medications give a false sense of reassurance. Moreover, kaolin contains aluminum, which has been implicated as a toxic mineral in the body.
Antibiotics - can help, but only if the diarrhea is due to a parasitic or bacterial infection. They should be prescribed only after a stool analysis or culture confirms this.
Antidiarrheal medications that contain narcotics, such as paregoric
or diphenoxylate "Lomotil", are sometimes prescribed. Like
loperamide, these drugs work by slowing down intestinal action and halting bowel movements. These are powerful drugs and they can have significant side effects.
If severe diarrhea results in dehydration, rehydration may be necessary. In most cases, this can be accomplished through the diet (see below). However, in rare cases, it may be necessary to use intravenous fluids.
DIET CHANGES
The main concern when dealing with diarrhea is to prevent
dehydration of the body. During the acute phase of diarrhea, when the stools are frequent and watery, make sure you
drink enough fluids. Take frequent small sips or drinks of water. Or you can use a
Homemade Remedy Formula like this one:
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 teaspoons table sugar
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt
1 pint of fruit juice
1 pint of spring or steam distilled water
However, it is not well established that using an electrolyte formula is much more effective than sipping broth, or even good spring water, and allowing lost minerals to be replaced in foods once the appetite returns.
If you are very sick with diarrhea, you may not want to eat very much. It is better not to force yourself to eat solid foods until your body
is ready for some food. Sip clear liquids, such as spring water, broths, diluted apple juice, and
also herbal teas. Avoid filling your stomach, so that your stomach and intestines will have time to rest and heal. An upset digestive tract is like any other injury.
Remember, do not expect it to heal overnight.
If you have repeated episodes of diarrhea, rest your gastrointestinal tract as much as possible. To avoid dehydration, take repeated small sips of water,
or Japanese Miso soup, and diluted fruit juices.
If you are vomiting in addition to having diarrhea, even a small sip of water may cause another upset. If vomiting occurs after you drink water, wait one hour and then suck on small chips of ice. If the vomiting reflex is not triggered by the ice, after an hour of calm has passed, take more chips of ice or small sips of water. As an alternative, try
a teaspoon of raw honey.
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|