home treatment for diarrhea - #15775
I am really worried about this stomach issue I've been having lately. It started a few days ago after I ate some questionable street food, ugh, and now I’ve been running to the bathroom more than I can count. I've had this watery diarrhea, like constantly, and it's really exhausting. I tried drinking more water, but I feel like I'm just losing everything I put in. A friend suggested I look into home treatment for diarrhea, and I tried drinking ginger tea because I heard it might help. Has anyone had success with home treatment for diarrhea? Also, I’ve started eating plain rice and bananas, thinking it could help settle my stomach, but it’s just so frustrating. I looked online and found a bunch of tips, but I’m not sure what’s actually safe or effective. I mean, should I be worried about dehydration? And, maybe I should avoid certain foods or something? I just really want to feel better, and the thought of using medication feels overwhelming right now. Any advice or home treatment for diarrhea you could share would be amazing! Thank u in advance!!
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Doctors’ responses
Dealing with diarrhea can be tough, especially with concerns about dehydration, which can occur if the fluid loss isn’t balanced by adequate intake. You’re on the right track by increasing your fluid intake. Aim to sip on oral rehydration solutions (ORS) if you can, which contain a mix of salts and sugars that help with absorption and hydration. If ORS isn’t available, a homemade solution can work: mix 6 teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in one liter of clean water. Continue sipping these fluids frequently throughout the day. As for food, the BRAT diet—bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—can ease digestion as these are bland and low in fiber, which helps firm up stools. Keeping meals simple is key here, so consider adding boiled potatoes, plain pasta, or crackers as tolerable. Y’our intuition about avoiding fatty, sugary, and dairy foods is smart; they can exacerbate symptoms or be harder to digest during this time. Ginger tea, while soothing, hasn’t shown strong evidence for stopping diarrhea but it’s not harmful either, so if it feels good, carry on. Pay attention to signs of serious dehydration like dark urine, feeling dizzy, or an increased heart rate. In case of severe symptoms—blood in stools, high fever, or persistent vomiting—consult a healthcare professional promptly. While medications like loperamide might help with symptoms, it could be a good idea to hold off if considering bacterial infections, as they may prolong the illness by keeping the bacteria in. However, if symptoms don’t improve or worsen, see medical attention to rule out any underlying causes that might require specific treatment.
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