Before we go into what’s causing it and how you can treat it naturally, let’s first focus on what actually is diarrhea. We’ve all had it at least once or twice in our lives but not many people are familiar with the details of what type of condition it is.
What is Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is a gastrointestinal infection that manifests through frequent and watery stool discharges which are usually quite massive. There are two types of diarrheas, acute and chronic. The first is the most common one, lasting anywhere from 1-2 days to 1-2 weeks. Chronic diarrhea, on the other hand, can go on for much longer than just a week or two.
Acute diarrhea is our body’s response to an infection or a virus. It’s unpleasant and uncomfortable for sure but it’s inevitable in some cases. Acute diarrhea is actually good for our system because it helps our body remove the bad bacteria and viruses from our GI tract so that they don’t lead to more serious health issues.
Chronic diarrhea is the more serious of the two and it has to do with stress levels and immune system health. If you experience diarrhea for more than 2 weeks, you’re dealing with the chronic type and you should do something about it before it leads to dehydration and nutritional deficiencies.
What Causes Diarrhea And What Are The Symptoms?
Diarrhea is usually caused by an infection, as we already mentioned before. But it can also be caused by toxin accumulation, dehydration and so on. Sometimes it can even be caused by something we ate and our body responds with diarrhea to help us expel it out of our system before it does any damage.
In addition to the watery discharge of stool, diarrhea can have the following symptoms:
- Watery and frequent stool
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Fever
- Thirst
Best Natural Treatments for Diarrhea
When it comes to treatment of diarrhea, we all know the usual treatments all doctors recommend. Over the counter meds, lots of fluids, light foods and so on. However, there are also some pretty effective natural remedies that can help you put an end to it faster than usually.
Here are some of the most effective ones:
Flaxseed Oil
Consuming flaxseed oil can be very beneficial in stopping diarrhea before it leads to dehydration.
Veggies and Fruits
Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber and water and they will help you in the treatment of diarrhea. They will also replenish your electrolyte levels and make sure you don’t dehydrate. Try fruit smoothies or steamed vegetables for best results. Just be careful not to overdo it with fruits, as too much fruit can have the opposite effect due to the high level of sugar it contains.
Light Foods and Simple Meals
Try eating more rice, grains, apples and bananas, cut back on the spices and heavy foods and your diarrhea should go away faster than you expect.
Ginger and Honey
Add a spoonful of honey and some grated ginger to your tea to soothe the stomach and ease the irritation caused by diarrhea.
