Diarrhea

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Diarrhea

Diarrhea is an increase in the wateriness, volume, or frequency of bowel movements. Although uncomfortable, most diarrhea is not serious and will go away in a few days without treatment. See a health care provider, however, if the feces contains blood, if the diarrhea is particularly severe, or if the diarrhea lasts more than a few days.

Signs and Symptoms

Diarrhea is a symptom of another ailment. Symptoms you might experience with diarrhea include the following.

	Frequent need to defecate
	Fever, chills, general sick feeling
	Abdominal pain, cramping
	Weight loss

What Causes It?

Most diarrhea is caused by an infection (viral, bacterial, or parasitic) or intestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Other common causes include viruses and food poisoning. Eating local food and drinking local water during foreign travel can result in "traveler's diarrhea." Exposure to people who have diarrhea can also result in diarrhea.

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Your health care provider will question you about your symptoms. Your provider will also check if you are dehydrated and may feel your abdomen to see if it is tender, listen to your abdomen with a stethoscope, and give you a rectal exam.

Treatment Options

Treatment Plan

Because some medications can make the diarrhea last longer, it is important to know what is causing your diarrhea before treating it. There are various drugs to treat the symptoms. Many times diarrhea will go away by itself. Severe diarrhea can be life threatening. You may need to be hospitalized if you become too dehydrated.

Drug Therapies

Prescription

Opioid derivatives—such as Lomotil and Imodium

Over the Counter

	Adsorbents—bismuth salts (Pepto-Bismol) for traveler's diarrhea; pectin (Kaopectate)
	Bulk-forming medications—psyllium (Metamucil, Konsyl)
	Opioid derivatives—such as Lomotil and Imodium; also available over the counter

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Work with your provider to find remedies that are right for you.

Nutrition

	Avoid coffee, chocolate, dairy products, strong spices, and solid foods. Introduce clear soup, crackers, white bread, rice, potatoes, applesauce, and bananas as diarrhea gets better.
	Rice or barley water, fresh vegetable juices (especially carrot and celery), miso broth, or other clear broths help restore proper fluid and electrolyte balance. Make rice and barley water using 1 cup of raw grain to 1 quart of boiling water. Let steep for 20 minutes. Strain and drink throughout the day.
	Lactobacillus taken as powder or in capsules helps normalize bowel flora and may help cure your diarrhea. Take as directed.
	Vitamin C (1,000 mg three to four times per day) and vitamin A (10,000 to 20,000 IU per day) help your immune system function well. However, high doses of vitamin C may cause diarrhea. High doses of vitamin A should not be taken for a long time without health care provider supervision.
	Glutamine (3,000 mg three times per day) is helpful in treating diarrhea that is caused by irritation of the intestinal lining rather than infection.

Herbs

Do not use herbs to treat diarrhea without talking to your health care provider first. If your diarrhea is caused by certain types of infections, herbal treatments could make it worse. The most common herbal remedies for diarrhea are described below. They are best used as teas unless otherwise noted. Teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day.

Swelling reducers:

	Quercetin (250 to 500 mg two to four times per day)
	Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
	Marshmallow root (Althea officinalis) as cold-water tea. Soak 2 tbsp. root in 1 quart of water overnight. Strain; drink throughout the day.

Infection fighters:

	Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) 250 to 500 mg three times per day
	Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) 250 to 500 mg three times per day
	Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Do not take if you have high blood pressure.

Antidiarrheal herbs:

	Blackberry leaf (Rubus fruticosus) or raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) 1 heaping tsp. per cup. Drink 1/2 cup per hour.
	Carob powder; use 4 tsp. per 4 oz. of water or mix in applesauce. Take 1/2 to 1 tsp. every 30 to 60 minutes.
	Slippery elm powder (Ulmus rubra) or marshmallow root powder (Althea officinalis); use 1 oz. powder to 1 quart of water. Make a paste with the powder and a small amount of water. Gradually add in the rest of the water and then simmer down to 1 pint. Take 1 tsp. every 30 to 60 minutes.

Homeopathy

Some of the most common remedies used for diarrhea are listed below. Usually, the dose is 12X to 30C every one to four hours.

	Arsenicum album: weak, chilly, anxious, and restless with diarrhea.
	Podophyllum: yellow, explosive, painless diarrhea
	Chamomilla: greenish, frothy stool with severe colicky pains
	Mercurius vivus: strong urging with offensive, bloody diarrhea.
	Aloe: colicky, cramping pains before and during stool
	Veratrum album: diarrhea and vomiting; collapsed states

Following Up

If your diarrhea does not stop in three to five days, contact your health care provider.

Special Considerations

If you are pregnant, tell your doctor. Dehydration can cause you to go into labor early. Also, the spasms that diarrhea causes may cause you to have contractions. Do not take goldenseal (Hydrastic canadensis), barberry (Berberis vulgaris), or high doses of vitamin A if you are pregnant.

Diarrhea can be serious, even fatal, for infants and elderly people because of dehydration and the loss of electrolytes.

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The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.