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 at least 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. Homeopathic medicines for diarrhea work by treating the underlying cause of diarrhea.
Can Homeopathy treat Diarrhea?
Yes, homeopathy offers effective treatment for diarrhea. It treats the root cause of diarrhea to help ease the symptoms and bring about recovery. Medicine for diarrhea is 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 in children and older adults.
Homeopathy offers cures for diarrhea also work well for infections (viral, parasitic, bacterial), inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel disease.
Homeopathic Medicines for Diarrhea
The most effective medicines for diarrhea include Aloe Socotrina, Croton Tiglium, and Podophyllum Peltatum.
1. Aloe Socotrina – For Diarrhea with Watery Stool
Aloe Socotrina is used to treat cases where the stool is copious, watery, yellowish or brownish. An urgency to pass stool, rumbling/gurgling, a constant sensation of bearing down in the rectum, involuntary release of stool on passing flatus are some other symptoms that indicate the need for this medicine.
2. Colocynthis – For Diarrhea with Abdominal Cramps and Colic
Colocynthis is the medicine for diarrhea 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 along with intense abdominal cramps are the symptoms that indicate the need for this medicine. Bending down double or applying pressure helps relieve the abdominal cramps.
3. Croton Tiglium – For Diarrhea (after light eating and drinking)
For diarrhea that occurs from light eating and drinking, Croton Tiglium is recommended.
This medicine is indicated when the person feels the urge to pass stools even after consuming a small quantity of food or drink. The stool is yellowish, watery, copious, and gushing in nature. Croton Tiglium is also used to treat diarrhea that occurs during hot weather.
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, distension of abdomen with flatulence, flatulent colic, belching of bitter fluid, and rumbling in the stomach pit are the symptoms that indicate the need for this medicine.
5. Colchicum Autumnale – For Diarrhea with Mucus
Colchicum Autumnale is indicated in cases where the mucus (present in the stool) is jelly-like, while the stool is watery, and has an intense, sour odor. Itching and burning at the anus may also be present.
6. Podophyllum Peltatum – For Watery Stools
Podophyllum Peltatum is the medicine for diarrhea where the stool is watery, foul-smelling, painless and gushes out. The stool is profuse and may be yellowish or greenish, and contain undigested food particles.
This medicine is also indicated in cases where there is an involuntary release of stool (upon passing flatus or during sleep).
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 belching, cutting pain and loud rumbling in the abdomen. Diarrhea that arises due to anticipation or as a result of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) also indicates the need for this medicine.
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 and restless.
9. Arsenic – For Diarrhea due to Food Poisoning
Arsenic Album is a medicine for diarrhea and vomiting in cases of food poisoning. The characteristic symptoms include foul, loose stool, offensive odor, excessive nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, weakness, and a sour/bitter taste in the mouth.
10. Natrum Carb – For Diarrhea due to Milk Consumption
Natrum Carb is a medicine recommended in cases where diarrhea occurs after consuming milk. The primary symptoms for using Natrum Carb include a watery gushing stool, fetid flatus, burning in rectum after stool, cutting pain in the rectum during stool, gas, bloating, and abdominal colic.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is diarrhea serious?
Diarrhea, in general, is not a very serious problem, but its severity varies from case to case. If a person passes thin stool about three to four times a day, for a duration of two to four days, then it is not a severe condition. However, passing excessive stool multiple times a day can lead to dehydration and the complications related to it.
Also, if a person passes blood or mucus with loose stool, loses weight, or has continued fever along with stools, then it is a cause of concern.
2. I am passing frequent loose stool with mucus from last three months; what does it indicate?
There are many reasons for passing mucus with loose stool. The most common causes include colitis, parasitic infections, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). Detailed case history and investigations are required to pinpoint the exact reason for your problem. Diarrhea can be a symptom of some other underlying problem.
Certain medications can also lead to diarrhea, including antibiotics, antacids, and antidepressants.
3. Can a person get diarrhea from stress or anxiety?
Yes, 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).
4. Can allopathy and homeopathy for diarrhea be taken together?
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.
5. Can oral rehydration salts be used along with natural medicines for diarrhea?
Yes, one may take oral rehydration salts along with medicines for diarrhea.
6. For how long does a person need to take homeopathy for diarrhea?
The time duration for which a person needs to take medicines for diarrhea depends on the severity of the problem. In acute cases of diarrhea, medicines need to be taken for few days to a week In case of chronic diarrhea due to conditions like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), parasitic infection, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), the duration of medicines lasts from few months to a year’s time.
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
‘Spoilt’ 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.
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 vomiting.
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
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 also have an impact on the gastrointestinal tract.
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), Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, colitis, inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD).
Symptoms of Diarrhea
If you are passing stool for three or more times in a day, and the stool is watery, or loose, then you have diarrhea.
Other signs and symptoms of diarrhea that can accompany loose stool include cramping in the abdomen, mucus/blood in stool, and abdominal bloating.
In case of food poisoning, vomiting and nausea may be present.
Diagnosis
Not everybody with diarrhea needs to undergo clinical tests and investigations. Simple diarrhea with a duration of a few days to a week is not very serious and can be treated with adequate home remedies.
Clinical tests for diarrhea are required when the duration of the problem lasts for a couple of weeks to months, along with the presence of blood or mucus in the stool. In such cases, tests like stool culture, endoscopy, colonoscopy, anti – TTG (tissue transglutaminase ), wheat allergy, etc., are conducted.
Diarrhea and Dehydration
Diarrhea causes a person to lose a significant amount of fluid and electrolytes quickly, so rehydrating salts are usually recommended along with medicines to restore the fluid and electrolytes balance, and prevent dehydration.
The signs to look out for to detect dehydration are dry skin, lightheadedness, less urination, and general weakness. In case you experience such symptoms, it is necessary to restore the fluid and electrolytes balance immediately.
Tips to Manage Diarrhea
Some measures can help manage chronic diarrhea, like:
1. Avoiding milk, spicy food, highly fatty food and high fiber food
2. Increasing water intake
3. Managing stress and anxiety
4. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine5. Washing hands after stool and before eating to prevent infections
Daily 5-times stool with mucus, pain in rectum, taking IBS medicine from 1988.
No cure, suggest
Can you take two types of homeopathic medications for diarrhea? My Mom has had it for 5 months and nothing medical is working…I got her arcenicum album 30 and ordered her Podophyllum Peltatum 6C
I have the chronic problem of poor digestion and unformed stools. Stools passed have ragged edges and sometimes thin. If I take some digestive aid, it gets better and then stools passed appear normal. But if I discontinue digestive aids, symptoms reappear. I have difficulty in digestion of fibrous food and oily foods. Symptoms aggravate if they are consumed. Can this be cured permanently. Pl. advise regarding the medications to be used.
Can you please recommend a remedy for the common problem of diarrhea from taking western medicine antibiotics?
On day 3 of Azithromycin, 2 days left. Diarrhea with cramping started an hour ago, I’m sure I will need to go again. What homeopathic remedy can I use for relief?
sir
iam suffering with diaria for the last 2 years Taking allopathy medicines andial and ornidazol. It is not giving full relief Simultaneously iam using homeo kursi, kali mur, phodo phylumetc
but totally not gerting cure
can i use andial every day
iam a heart patient with 2 stents in rcd one in 2014 other in 2022. using medicines for bp collestrol. sugar and for sleep
when i get body pains and other complaints for them extra relavant medicines
can you guide e for improving my health. iam 73 completed now
streatment for Irritable bowel syndrome , loose stool formation , no proper absorption, gas l acidtiy and flatulemce
seeking treatment for Irritable bowel syndrome , loose stool formation , no proper absorption, gas l acidtiy and flatulemce
I facing stomach and intestinal problem since three years. Stool sometimes semisolid sometimes loose but not watery . Stool does not pass without medicine. If one day medicine not taken stool does not pass next day. Stool is not normal in color.
प्रणाम सर,
मेरे पिता जी को 2वर्ष से राइट साइड पैरालिसिस है,और वो अभी चल बोल नही पाते,बहुत कमजोर है फिर भी बैठ जाते है खुद से,7माह से उन्हें पतला लेट्रिंग हो रहा है जब तक दवा खाते थे तब तक ठीक रहते थे जब दवा छूटी तो फिर चालू,3दिन दिन से फिर पतला लेट्रिंग हो रहा अब खड़े होने में भी दिक्कत आ रही है।कृपया मार्ग दर्शन करे।
प्रणाम सर
Passes stools immediately after eating food. A sensitive person. please suggest remedy
Sir
I am having loose motion 2 to 3 times a day. I follow a diet of no gluten, no milk only rice and moog dal. I have no pain, little discomfort before rushing to toiler, rumbling sound in stomach. I am a sensitive person and feel this may be because of stress.
kindly suggest medicine.
vinayak
I have had diarrhea for a year and a half. I have had a colonoscopy, and a MRI scan. They only found Diverticulosis, no cancer. The GP/Medics have not come up with a reason for the continuous diarreah I have. I pass loose stools about 10 times a day, sometimes like pellets, and often with undigested food such as beans, peas. What can I take or do to stop the loose stools and diarreah
मुझे 2-3 mahine से दस्त है।। जीपी/चिकित्सकों ने मुझे लगातार दस्त होने का कोई कारण नहीं बताया है। मैं दिन में लगभग 4-5 बार पतला मल त्यागता हूँ, कभी-कभी गोलियों की तरह, और अक्सर बिना पचे भोजन जैसे सेम, मटर के साथ। पतले दस्त और दस्त को रोकने के लिए मैं क्या ले सकता हूँ या क्या कर सकता हूँ?
I have watery stool problem since 2-3 months. It is 3-4 times in the morning time only. During day time it is ok. Pl recommend medicine.
I am a chric diabetic and on insulin since 6years.of late, I am having lose motions say3or 4/day. Since one month. Light pain in the abdomen before motion. The motion is gushing and with gas. Can you suggest some homeo medicine.
Hiii
From last 3/4 days im having Diarrhea watery n pain in stomach I think it due to i hv consumed Gur [jaggery] purchased from local market…Today i hv taken Colocynthis30 and taken 4 drops with water…you suggest that i should continue with this or you recommend some other medicine
thanks
What medicine should I bring on trips to foreign countries where food and water may not be clean?
What medicine should I bring on trips to foreign countries where food and water may not be clean?
Reply
I am suffering from loose stool since last three months .always an urge for passing stool after eating ,specially meals .pain in lower abdomen before passing stool . Pain go away after passing stool . Low back as well as upper back always become stiff and painful . PL. Advice .