Home Remedy for Diarrhea.

Believe it or not, a sudden bout of diarrhea is probably good for you. That's because you've probably ingested something that's bad for you, such as a harmful strain of bacteria or a parasite, and your body is trying to get rid of it. For that reason, you probably shouldn't take an over-the-counter or prescription anti diarrheal drug, which will stop the cleansing process, says Mark Stengler, N.D., a naturopathic physician in San Diego. Instead, he says, you may want to use an alternative home remedy, one that won't stop the diarrhea but will soothe your digestive tract and make the experience a little easier to bear.

Home remedy for diarrhea.

SLIPPERY ELM: Soothing Relief
The herb slippery elm is believed to help soothe the inflamed, irritated lining of the colon, which may help calm a case of diarrhea, says Rita Elkins, a master herbalist in Orem, Utah. You'll need fairly large quantities of the herb to do the job, but that's not a problem, because slippery elm is very safe, says Elkins.

The best way to take slippery elm for diarrhea is to open two or three 370-milligram capsules and mix the powder with water to form a gel like paste. You'll want to take about a tablespoon of the paste, she says. You can also mix the powder with mashed banana or applesauce (both of which help calm diarrhea), says Elkins. For acute diarrhea that comes on suddenly, you'll want to triple the capsule-a-day dosage listed on the label, she adds.

PROBIOTICS: Balancing Intestinal Bacteria
Your colon is filled with helpful bacteria that aid digestion. Taking a supplement of these bacteria, called a probiotic, can help normalize the colon's environment and ease diarrhea, says Elizabeth Lipski, a certified clinical nutritionist in Kauai, Hawaii.
To maximize potency and effectiveness, look for a supplement that's refrigerated in the store and that contains at least 4 billion units of the bacterium acidophilus.
Probiotics can also help prevent traveler's diarrhea. Lipski recommends taking the supplements a week before and then during your vacation abroad.

COLOSTRUM: Help from Mother's Milk
Colostrum is a milk-like substance that's produced by female mammals in the first hours after giving birth. It's rich in immune-supporting factors, and some alternative practitioners believe that it can help control both acute and chronic diarrhea, says Andrew Gaeddert, a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and director of the Get Well Clinic in Oakland, California. Look for a concentrated, purified, non-allergenic form of bovine (cow) colostrum and follow the dosage directions on the label, he advises.

HOMEOPATHY: To Calm the Worst Diarrhea
For severe diarrhea, there are two homeopathic remedies that can help until you can get to a doctor, Dr. Stengler says. Try Phosphorus if you have burning, watery stools and you're very thirsty. Use Veratrum if you have violent diarrhea and your stools are very loose, with green mucus. For either remedy, dissolve two tablets of the 6C potency under your tongue every 15 minutes until the diarrhea calms down.

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: Removes Toxins
"Activated charcoal is an excellent remedy to help relieve diarrhea from food poisoning," says Teresa Rispoli, Ph.D., a licensed nutritionist and acupuncturist in Agoura Hills, California. It works by dragging diarrhea-causing toxins produced by bacteria out of your system. Take four to six 250-milligram capsules every 2 hours until your symptoms are relieved, she advises.
You should also take some charcoal supplements with you on your next trip outside the United States, says Dr. Rispoli, so you can use them if you develop traveler's diarrhea.
If taken regularly over a period of time, charcoal may interfere with the absorption of nutrients or increase the risk of gastrointestinal obstruction. If you take other oral medications or supplements at the same time as charcoal, the charcoal may interfere with their absorption, so take them at least 2 hours apart. At high doses, charcoal may cause stomach upset, diarrhea, constipation, or vomiting.

Long- Term Relief
If you have chronic diarrhea-the kind that goes on for months-you need to see your doctor to find the cause. But you may also want to experiment with alternative home remedies, which can be used under a doctor's supervision, says William B. Salt II, M.D., clinical associate professor of medicine at Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health in Columbus.

FIBER SUPPLEMENTS: Adding Bulk to Loose Stools
Taking fiber supplements with meals can be extremely helpful for chronic diarrhea, says Dr. Salt, because they help make stools firmer. Look for a product that contains psyllium seeds, without dyes or fillers. With each meal, take 2 rounded teaspoons in an 8-ounce glass of fat-free milk, water, or fruit juice, he advises.

SIMPLE AND COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES: Identifying Sensitivities
Frequently, people who have diarrhea lack the enzymes to break down disaccharides, double sugars that are simple carbohydrates, says Dana Laake, a licensed nutritionist in Rockville, Maryland. For chronic diarrhea, she recommends a low-disaccharide diet that eliminates or limits foods with lactose (found in milk products), sucrose (table sugar found in processed foods), and maltose (found in malted milk, candies, and corn syrup). You should also avoid sugar alcohols used as artificial sweeteners, such as Sorbitol, which can contribute to gas and diarrhea, as well as starches such as corn and breads, pasta, and other flour products.

If you avoid or significantly reduce all of these for 1 to 2 weeks or more, and your diarrhea lessens or stops altogether, you've probably identified the diarrhea-causing culprit(s) in your diet, and you'll know to avoid these foods in the future, she says.