There is usually stomach pain in diarrhea, and continuous passage of watery stools which can be very uncomfortable, and embarrassing, more so if you are off to an important meeting or engagement when it happens.

It is essential that you treat diarrhea before it worsens to prevent dehydration and loss of electrolytes which can lead to very serious complications.

Loperamide is always the drug of choice in treating diarrhea. Then again, there are natural and healthier ways of getting rid of it. Here are a dozen of the most common home remedies for diarrhea:

1. Drink a cup of chamomile tea. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory effects and has been found to work wonders in reducing the pain associated with diarrhea.

2. Blueberries and bilberries (minus the seeds) can stop diarrhea naturally.

3. The root bark of blackberry is said to be very powerful in treating diarrhea. Mix one teaspoon of the blackberry tincture with water every two to four hours to relieve yourself of the manifestations of diarrhea.

4. Vinegar is another miracle cure for diarrhea. Take one tablespoon of vinegar every hour until the diarrhea stops.

5. Ginger tea or juice can reduce stomach cramps associated with diarrhea.

6. Mint juice is also effective in treating diarrhea. Mix a teaspoon of mint juice with a teaspoon of lime juice and another teaspoon of honey.

7. Green bananas are also effective in treating diarrhea. Try eating a piece of green banana every two to four hours until you feel an improvement in your condition.

8. Cooked carrots can help a lot in providing the much needed bulk and in replenishing your body of the lost nutrients.

9. Some have sworn to have been relieved of diarrhea by drinking a cup of black coffee.

10. Others recommend drinking cooled water with a teaspoon of cinnamon and sugar to taste.

11. Hydration is very important when you have diarrhea. Drink water mixed with one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of sugar to restore the lost electrolytes.

12. Rest your stomach. Avoid taking in milk and milk products (with the exception of yogurt), beans, cabbage, bread and pasta.

Symptoms
The person with diarrhea has watery or loose stool more than three times a day. Cramping and pain is felt in the abdominal area when feeling the urge to defecate. The skin around the perianal area is irritated. There is also the inability to control defecation (fecal incontinence).

Causes
Diarrhea is classified into an acute, or chronic condition. It can be due to bacterial or viral infections, dietary changes, digestion disorders, hormone imbalances or skin inflammations.

Certain intestinal infections, such as cholera, dysentery, food poisoning, parasitic infestations, and typhoid fever; chemical irritations and vitamin deficiency also causes diarrhea.

Home Remedies
Buttermilk: Buttermilk is the residue from curd after the fat has removed by churning. It may be taken with a pinch of salt 3 or 4 times a day. Its acidity helps fight bacterial infection.

Carrot Soup: Cook ½ kg of carrots in 150 ml of water until they become soft. Strain the pulp and add ¾ tablespoon of salt in the 1 liter of boiled water. Give small doses of carrot soup to the patient every 30 minutes. It prevents the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestine and is good to avoid vomiting.

Fenugreek: Boil 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds and then fry it in butter afterwards. Take it twice daily with a cup of buttermilk.

Ginger: For diarrhea caused by indigestion, ground a piece of ginger then mix it with common table salt. Take ¼ teaspoon with a small piece of jaggery.

Mint juice: Mix 1 teaspoon of mint juice with 1 teaspoon each of lime juice and honey. Take it thrice daily.

Bottle gourd: Drink a glass of plain bottle gourd with a pinch of salt everyday to treat excessive thirst due to severe diarrhea.

Drumstick leaves: Mix 1 teaspoon of drumstick leaf juice with 1 teaspoon of honey and a glass of fresh coconut juice. Take it 2-3 times as a herbal treatment.

Pomegranate: Drink 50 ml of pomegranate juice for patients are experience continuous defecation.

Mango: Powder dried mango seeds. Take ½ – 2 gm in powdered form twice daily or mix it with honey according to your preference.

Sesame seeds: Roast 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds and then ground it into fine powder. Mix 1 tablespoon of cow’s ghee. Divide the mixture into 3 equal parts. Drink 1 part with ½ cup of boiled goat’s milk 3 times everyday for 6 days.

Turmeric: Take 1 teaspoon of fresh turmeric rhizome juice or 1 teaspoon of dry rhizome powder with 1 cup of buttermilk or plain water. It acts a gastric stimulant and tonic, and it’s also a very useful intestinal antiseptic.

Rice: Mix 1 teaspoon of rice powder with a glass of buttermilk. Take 30 gm for every 30 minutes.

Apples: Eat some cooked or baked apples. It is effective in loose bowel movement.

Tomato: Mix a glass of fresh tomato juice with a pinch of salt and pepper. Take it every morning to relieve the patient of diarrhea.

Other liquids: Arrowroot water, barley water, and coconut water replace the fluid lost in the body during defecation.

Bananas and garlic: The pectin substance found in bananas encourages the growth of good bacteria. Garlic is an effective and powerful germ killer that aids in digestion and removes intestinal worms.

Diets
Drink only hot water for 2 days to relax the intestine. Hot water will compensate for the fluid loss.

Take fresh fruit juices after the acute symptoms subsided. If the condition improves, gradually include cooked vegetables, rice and soured milk to your meals. Raw foods can only be eaten after complete recovery.

Other Treatments
Cold Compress. Apply cold compress on the abdomen with a temperature of 15.6°C. To do it, first fold a clean cloth and soak it in cold water. Gently give it a squeeze before applying it in the abdomen area to prevent the water from dripping from the cloth. Repeat procedure every 15-20 minutes.

Cold Hip Batch: Using a special type of tub, fill the tub with cold water at 4.5ºC – 10ºC, until it reached the hip area where the patient’s navel is covered when in a sitting position. Using a semi-wet cloth, rub the abdomen from the navel downwards in brisk counter-clockwise motion. The upper extremities as well as the feet and legs should remain completely dry during and after the bath. Do it for 10-15 minutes.