Top 9 Homeopathic Medicines for Diarrhea & Loose Stools

The condition where thin, loose, watery stools tend to occur three or more times in a day is known as diarrhea. Diarrhea tends to last for a couple of days, but in chronic cases, it can go on for a long time. It is a fairly common problem and not a severe condition if timely treatment is taken. In cases where diarrhea continues for more than a couple of days or weeks, it indicates an underlying infection or inflammation in the bowels that needs to be addressed. Other signs and symptoms of diarrhea that can accompany loose stool include cramping/ pain in the abdomen, mucus/blood in stool, gas, abdominal bloating, weakness, weight loss (in chronic cases). In case of food poisoning, vomiting and nausea may be present. Dehydration is a common complication of diarrhea. The signs to look out for to detect dehydration are dry skin, light-headedness, less urination, and general weakness. In case you experience such symptoms, it is necessary to restore the fluid and electrolyte balance immediately.

Homeopathy offers effective treatment for cases of diarrhea. It treats the root cause of diarrhea to help ease the symptoms and bring about recovery. Diarrhea causes a person to lose a significant amount of fluid and electrolytes quickly, so rehydrating salts are usually recommended along with these medicines to restore the fluid and electrolyte balance, and prevent dehydration. Homeopathy for diarrhea effectively treats mild-to-moderate conditions when coupled with the intake of fluids and electrolytes. These medicines also help reduce the severity of the symptoms. However, in case of severe diarrhea, where the person passes a significant amount of watery stool, allopathic medicines are recommended to prevent severe dehydration and help quick relief and recovery. Both allopathy and homeopathy can be taken together to help manage the problem.

Homeopathic medicines for diarrhea work by treating the underlying cause of diarrhea. It can effectively manage cases of diarrhea associated with food poisoning, IBS, food allergies, stress, anxiety, inflammation of gastrointestinal tract. With use of homeopathic medicines, the body’s self-healing capacity is boosted which helps fight the root cause of the problem and promotes natural recovery. For extracting the problem from its root a complete course of homeopathic treatment needs to be taken under the guidance of a homeopathic doctor. But in severe cases, when bleeding accompanies loose stool, continued fever along with stools, severe dehydration, and weight loss, it is advised to take urgent help from conventional mode of treatment.

Homeopathy is helpful for acute as well as chronic cases of diarrhea. The time duration for which a person needs to take medicines for diarrhea depends on the chronicity and severity of the problem. In acute cases of diarrhea, medicines need to be taken ranging from a few days to a week. In case of chronic diarrhea, the duration of treatment lasts from few months to a year’s time.

Homeopathic medicines for diarrhea are prepared from natural substances, so there are no side effects. Homeopathy for diarrhea works for people of all age groups and can be safely used among them. It is advised to take oral rehydration salts along with medicines in cases of acute diarrhea.

Top 9 Homeopathic Medicines for Diarrhea

The most effective medicines for treating diarrhea include Aloe Socotrina, Colocynthis, Croton Tiglium, China Officinalis, Arsenic Album, Podophyllum, Argentum Nitricum, Chamomilla and Colchicum.

1. Aloe Socotrina – For Diarrhea with Watery Stool

Aloe Socotrina is a leading homeopathic medicine to manage cases of loose stool. It is used to treat cases where the stool is copious, watery, yellowish or brownish. An urgency to pass stool, rumbling/gurgling in abdomen, a constant sensation of bearing down in the rectum are some other symptoms that indicate the need for this medicine. Involuntary release of stool on passing flatus (gas) is yet another characteristic symptom to use this medicine.

When to use Aloe Socotrina?

Aloe Socotrina offers best help in loose stool when stool is watery, profuse, yellow / brown with an urgency to pass stool.

How to use Aloe Socotrina?

Aloe Socotrina 30C can be used three to four times a day with a three hour gap between every dose.

2. Colocynthis – For Diarrhea with Abdominal Cramps and Pain

Colocynthis is recommended in cases where there is a loose stool with abdominal cramping. A watery, yellowish, sour-smelling stool, increased flatulence, a burning, pricking pain at the anus are other features attending abdominal cramps that indicate the need for this medicine. Bending down double or applying pressure helps relieve the abdominal cramps.

When to use Colocynthis?

It is a wonderful medicine for managing loose stool attended with cramps in the abdomen.

How to use Colocynthis?

This medicine can be used in both low and high potencies but to start with it is advised to take it in 30C potency twice or thrice a day.

3. Croton Tiglium – For Diarrhea with Urge of Stool soon after Eating and Drinking

For diarrhea where an urge to pass stool occurs shortly after eating and drinking anything, Croton Tiglium is recommended. Even after consuming a small quantity of food or drink, one feels the urge to pass stool. The stool is yellowish, watery, copious, and gushing in nature. Croton Tiglium is also used to treat diarrhea that occurs during hot weather.

When to use Croton Tiglium?

Croton Tiglium is an important medicine to manage diarrhea with a desire to pass stool immediately after eating or drinking anything with passage of watery stool that gushes out (means suddenly with much force).

How to use Croton Tiglium?

It is advised to take this medicine two to three times a day in 30C power.

4. China Officinalis – For Diarrhea with Weakness

China Officinalis is a well-indicated medicine for diarrhea where there is an excessive weakness. Yellowish, frothy, loose stool followed by weakness occurs. With this, distension of abdomen with flatulence (gas) and flatulent colic appears. Burping of bitter fluid, and rumbling in the stomach pit are the other symptoms that may attend.

When to use China Officinalis?

China Officinalis is an ideal choice of medicine for cases of loose stool with marked weakness and gas, bloating in abdomen.

How to use China Officinalis?

One may use this medicine in 30C power twice or thrice in a day.

5. Arsenic Album – For Diarrhea due to Food Poisoning

Arsenic Album is a top medicine for diarrhea and vomiting in cases of food poisoning. The characteristic symptoms include foul smelling, loose stool along with excessive nausea and vomiting. This may also be accompanied with stomach pain, weakness and a sour/bitter taste in the mouth.

When to use Arsenic Album?

Undoubtedly Arsenic Album is the best prescription to manage diarrhea and vomiting resulting from food poisoning.

How to use Arsenic Album?

One to two doses of Arsenic Album 30C can be used in a day.

6. Podophyllum – For Watery, Bad smelling Stool That Gushes Out

Podophyllum is the medicine for diarrhea where the stool is watery, foul-smelling, painless and gushes out i.e. passes suddenly and forcibly with great force. The stool is profuse and may be yellowish or greenish, and contains undigested food particles. This medicine is also indicated in cases where there is an involuntary release of stool upon passing flatus or during sleep.

When to use Podophyllum?

This medicine suits well cases of diarrhea with watery, painless, foul smelling stool that passes sudden and forcibly.

How to use Podophyllum?

Podophyllum 30C can be utilized twice or thrice a day.

7. Argentum Nitricum – For Diarrhea due to Anxiety

Argentum Nitricum is used to treat diarrhea that is triggered by anxiety or nervousness. The person needing this medicine has watery stool (which may have mucus) with noisy flatulence.  Loud burps, cutting pain and loud rumbling in the abdomen are also noticed. Diarrhea that arises due to anticipation or as a result of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) also indicates the need for this medicine.

When to use Argentum Nitricum?

This medicine offers great help in cases of loose stool with passage of noisy gas associated with anxiety and nervousness.

How to use Argentum Nitricum?

One may use Argentum Nitricum 30C once a day.

8. Chamomilla – For Diarrhea during Dentition

Chamomilla is the medicine recommended for diarrhea that occurs during dentition (teething). Symptoms indicating the need for Chamomilla include a fetid, watery, sour-smelling stool that is yellowish-greenish. Swelling at the anus may be present with diarrhea and the child is usually irritable, cross, restless and wants to be carried in arms always.

When to use Chamomilla?

Chamomilla is frequently used as a first remedy to manage diarrhea during dentition in kids with watery, sour smelling stool attended with irritability and a desire to be carried in arms all the time.

How to use Chamomilla?

This medicine can be used once a day in 30C potency.

9. Colchicum – For Loose Stool with Mucus

Colchicum is indicated in cases where the mucus passes with loose stool. The mucus is jelly-like. The stool is watery and has an intense, sour odor. Itching and burning at the anus may also be present.

When to use Colchicum?

Colchicum works well for cases of loose stool with passage of jelly-like mucus.

How to use Colchicum?

This medicine can be administered in 30C potency one to two times a day.

Causes of Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be a result of many conditions and factors, but the most common causes of diarrhea include:

Contaminated Food and Water

‘Spoiled’ food and water contain disease-causing pathogens like (bacteria and parasites) which can get transferred into our body and disturb the physiological functioning. This is also known as food poisoning.
Parasites like Giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium cause diarrhea, while Escherichia coli (commonly known as E.coli), salmonella, shigella, and campylobacter are common diarrhea-causing bacteria.
In developing countries, ‘traveler’s diarrhea’ is a common complaint, brought about by these bacteria and viruses.

Medications

Certain medicines like antibiotics disturb the balance of gut bacteria by killing both good and bacteria. This imbalance can cause diarrhea.
Antacids often contain magnesium, which can cause the stools to become loose.

Emotional Stress and Anxiety

The gastrointestinal tract has many nerves connected to it and is very sensitively tuned to the nervous system. Therefore, any factors (like stress) that affect the nervous system also have an impact on the gastrointestinal tract. Stress and anxiety can cause diarrhea as a result of the hypersensitivity of the gut to emotional and hormonal responses. A significant example of a medical condition that persists from stress and anxiety is IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Stress can cause spasms throughout the gut and cause diarrhea.

Food allergies

Food allergies can also cause diarrhea, as the body tries to expel the allergens out quickly.
Lactose intolerance is also a common cause of diarrhea. People who are unable to digest lactose (found in dairy products) often experience loose stools after consuming dairy products.

Digestive Disorders

Chronic diarrhea is often a sign of some underlying gastrointestinal disorder like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS which is a functional disorder of colon that causes diarrhea, constipation or alternation between these, abdominal cramping, gas, bloating), celiac disease (an autoimmune disorder in which eating gluten which is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley results in damage to small intestine), colitis (inflammation of large intestine) and inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and ulcers in gastrointestinal tract.

Rotavirus in Children

A widespread cause of diarrhea in children is rotavirus, a virus that spreads quickly through contaminated hands, objects and surfaces. This virus causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines, leading to severe diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal cramps, and vomit.