Diarrhea
Diarrhea refers to the frequent
passage of loose or watery unformed stools. As a rough guide it can be said
that three or four loose or watery stools a day can be considered as diarrhea.
The disease may be acute or chronic. Commonly known as "loose
motion", it is perhaps the most common disease in India.
The intestine normally gets more than
10 liters of liquid per day which comes from the diet and from secretion of the
stomach, liver, pancreas and intestines. In the case of diarrhea, water is either
not absorbed or is secreted in excess by the organs of the body. It is then
sent to the colon where water- holding capacity is limited. Thus the urge to
defecate comes quite often.
Causes
There are many and varied causes of
diarrhea. The chief causes are overeating or eating of wrong foods,
putrefaction in intestinal tract, fermentation caused by incomplete
carbohydrate digestion, nervous irritability, use of antibiotic drugs and
excessive intake of laxatives. Other causes include parasites, germs, virus,
bacteria or a poison which has entered into the body through food, water or air;
allergies to certain substances or even common foods such as milk, wheat, eggs
and sea foods and emotional strain or stress in adults and fright in children.
Diarrhea may be a prominent feature of
organic disease affecting the small or large intestine such as the sprue syndrome,
malignant disease and ulcerative colitis. It may also result from operations on
the gastro-intestinal tract. Diarrhea may alternate with constipation. This may
result from the irritation of the mucous membrane by impacted hard feces.
Diarrhea, for prolonged periods, can
lead to certain complications. These may include
1.
weakening,
due to loss of vitamins like A, D, E and K and other nutrients as food is rushed
through the body without giving the nutrients a chance of being absorbed.
2.
dehydration,
due to loss of body fluids and washing out of minerals from the body and nervous
conditions.
Treatment
In severe cases of diarrhea, it is
advisable to observe a complete fast for two days to provide rest for the
gastro-intestinal tract. Hot water only may be taken during the period to
compensate for the loss of fluids. Juices of fruits may be taken after the
acute symptoms are over. After the condition improves, meals can be enlarged
gradually to include cooked vegetables, whole rice, spoured milks. Raw foods
should be taken only after the patient completely recovers. An effective remedy
for diarrhea is the use of buttermilk. It is the residual milk left after the
fat has been removed from yogurt by churning. It helps overcome harmful
intestinal flora and re-establish the benign or friendly flora. The acid in the
buttermilk also fights germs and bacteria. It may be taken and mixed with a
pinch of salt three or four times a day controlling diarrhea. Carrot soup is
another effective home remedy for diarrhea. It supplies water to combat dehydration,
replenishes sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur and magnesium, supplies
pectin and coats the intestine to allay inflammation. It checks the growth of
harmful intestinal bacteria and prevents vomiting. One pound of carrot may be
cooked in five ounces of water until it is soft. The pulp should be strained
and boiled water added to make a quart. Three-quarter tablespoon of salt may be
mixed. This soup should be given in small amounts to the patient every half an
hour.
The pomegranate has proved beneficial
in the treatment of diarrhea on account of its astringent properties. If the
patient develops weakness due to profuse and continuous purging, he should be
given repeatedly about 50 ml. of pomegranate juice to drink. This will control
the diarrhea.
Mango seeds are also valuable in
diarrhea. The seeds should be collected during the mango season, dried in the
shade and powdered and kept stored for use as medicine when required. It should
be given in doses of about one and a half gram to two grams with or without
honey.
Turmeric has proved another effective
home remedy for diarrhea. It is a very useful intestinal antiseptic. It is also
a gastric stimulant and a tonic. Turmeric rhizome, its juice or dry powder are all
very helpful in curing chronic diarrhea. In the form of dry powder, it may be
taken in buttermilk or plain water.
In case of diarrhea caused by
indigestion, dry or fresh ginger is very useful. A piece of dry ginger is
powdered along with a crystal or rock salt. A quarter teaspoonful of this
powder should be taken with a small piece of jugglery. It will bring quick
relief as ginger, being carminative, aids digestion by stimulating the gastrointestinal
tract. Starchy liquids such as arrowroot water, barley water, rice gruel and
coconut water are highly beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea. They not only
replace the fluid lost but also bind the stools. Other home remedies include
bananas and garlic. Bananas contain pectin and encourage the growth of
beneficial bacteria.
Garlic is a powerful, effective and
harmless antibiotic. It aids digestion and routs parasites. The best water
treatment for diarrhea are the abdominal compress (at 60°F) renewed every 15 to
20 minutes and cold hip bath ( 40° - 50°F). If the patient is in pain, abdominal
fomentations for 15 minutes should be administered every two hours.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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