Diarrhea often makes the body lose a lot of fluids. In more severe conditions, diarrhea can make the sufferer dehydrated. But don't worry, because there are some natural diarrhea remedies that you can use at home as first aid.
There are many factors that can cause diarrhea, ranging from viral or bacterial infections, food poisoning, lactose intolerance, suffering from diseases of the digestive tract, side effects of drugs, to surgery compilation.
Based on the duration, diarrhea can be divided into two types, namely acute diarrhea and chronic diarrhea. Acute diarrhea is often harmless because it only lasts for 1-2 days due to infection or food poisoning. While chronic diarrhea is considered more dangerous because it lasts more than 14 days and can indicate a serious digestive disorder.
The longer diarrhea lasts, especially if it is accompanied by difficulty eating and drinking, it can lead to dangerous dehydration.
Various Natural Diarrhea Medicines
Handling diarrhea is recommended to be done as soon as possible so as not to get worse and interfere with daily activities. To relieve diarrhea, you can use some of the following natural diarrhea remedies:
- Fluid oral rehydrationOral rehydration fluid that contains electrolytes, such as ORS, is the recommended type of fluid, giving this fluid 1 cup every time you have diarrhea or vomiting, and drinking at least 1.5 liters of water per day. However, for people with diarrhea who have a history of kidney disease, fluid intake should be limited. Therefore, first consult a doctor before consuming additional fluids.
- YogurtProbiotics are live bacteria found in certain foods, such as yogurt. Probiotics function to maintain the health of the digestive tract and protect these organs from bacterial or viral infections. Some examples of probiotics include: Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Saccharomyces boulardii.
- GingerGinger is also believed to be a natural diarrhea remedy. This is because ginger has antibacterial properties that are useful in preventing the growth of bacteria that cause diarrhea, such as: E. coli and Salmonella. In addition, ginger is also able to reduce nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. To get the benefits of ginger, you can use it as a mixture to make tea.
- Tea chamomileA study revealed, chamomile tea is believed to be a natural diarrhea remedy because it can reduce inflammation and repair intestinal damage. This is because tea chamomile has antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory properties that are useful for keeping the intestines healthy, and can soothe intestinal cramps.
It's just that this assumption is still not supported by adequate clinical research results, therefore further studies are still needed to ensure the efficacy and safety of chamomile tea as a natural diarrhea medicine.
- BRATBRAT stands for Bananas (banana), Rice (rice), Apple Sauce (apple sauce), and Toast (bread). BRAT is the recommended diet to reduce diarrhea symptoms. With BRAT, the stool will become denser. This is because BRAT has a low fiber content. However, this diet is not recommended to be done continuously, because the BRAT diet is low in fiber, protein, and fat. Therefore, after recovering from diarrhea you are recommended to immediately eat foods that are high in nutrients, such as fruit, vegetables, and meat.
Because it is generally caused by a viral infection or food intolerance, antibiotics for diarrhea are not recommended. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can actually make diarrhea worse because it also kills good bacteria in the intestines, and has the potential to create bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
In addition to using natural remedies for diarrhea, you are also advised to avoid consuming alcohol and caffeine, gassy vegetables (such as cabbage or broccoli), fatty and spicy foods. If diarrhea does not go away after doing self-care, you should immediately consult a doctor for further treatment.
