What home remedies are there for diarrhea?

C.

Many things can cause diarrhea, including gastrointestinal infections (viruses, bacteria), food poisoning, side effects of medication, and inflammatory and metabolic disorders that involve the gastrointestinal tract. Most cases of diarrhea are not serious, and the symptoms gradually go away on their own. However, patients with chronic diarrhea, severe diarrhea that leads to dehydration, or diarrhea associated with rectal bleeding or fever should seek medical attention.

If a medical evaluation rules out a serious cause of the diarrhea, your doctor may recommend some at-home treatments to alleviate the symptoms. One very effective over-the-counter medication is ioperamide (Imodium). A change in diet may also help. One specific recommendation is to avoid dairy products because a prolonged bout of diarrhea may temporarily deplete supplies of the intestinal enzyme (lactase) needed to digest milk. If milk is not properly digested, the byproducts can lead to even more diarrhea and abdominal cramps. On the other hand, certain foods may help reduce diarrhea by slowing the passage of food through the intestinal tract, or helping to replenish minerals and other nutrients lost as a result of diarrhea. These foods include bananas, rice, applesauce and toast -- the so-called BRAT diet often recommended for children suffering from diarrhea.

Most importantly, people with diarrhea need to drink plenty of fluids so they do not become dehydrated due to the excessive losses of fluid and electrolytes in the stool. Gatorade and similar sports drinks enriched with vitamins and minerals can be very helpful in such cases.