Diarrhea in Children – Natural Homeopathic Remedies Can Help

Diarrhea refers to passing loose, watery stools many times a day (three or more times a day). Diarrhea is a very common problem among children and can affect children of any age. It can be acute or chronic. In acute cases  diarrhea lasts for 1 or 2 days. In case of chronic diarrhea, complaints last for a few weeks or more. Homeopathy for diarrhea in children works well in mild to moderate cases.

Causes 

It can arise from various reasons. Firstly, it can arise from infection of the gastrointestinal tract (gastroenteritis). The infections can occur from viruses (like rotavirus), bacteria and in rare cases, parasites also. Among them, viral infections are the most common reason.
It can also arise from food poisoning and use of medicines like antibiotics and laxatives. It may also arise in case of food allergies or food intolerances. 
Certain medical conditions may also cause diarrhea, like Celiac disease (an autoimmune disease in which eating gluten which is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye triggers an immune response that causes damage to the small intestine’s lining and prevents proper absorption of nutrients from the food). 

Crohn’s disease (a type of inflammatory bowel disease -IBD, that can cause inflammation in any segment of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. It results in symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue and malnutrition) is another cause.
Next is ulcerative colitis (a type of IBD that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon and the rectum. Its major symptoms are diarrhea mixed with blood and abdomen pain).
Lastly, it can be a part of IBS – irritable bowel disease (a common disorder affecting the large intestine that causes symptoms including abdominal cramping, gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation or alternate diarrhea and constipation).

Symptoms 

There is passage of loose stool at least three or more times in a day in case of diarrhoea. There may be urgency to pass stool also. In some cases the stool may pass involuntarily. The loose stool may be accompanied with pain or cramps in the abdomen. Sometimes mucus or blood may pass in stool in some of the cases depending on the cause behind it. In some cases nausea and vomiting also occurs. The symptoms can be mild and last for a day or two or they can be severe that last for several days. Chronic diarrhea can lead to malnutrition.
It can cause dehydration. Few symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, tongue and lips, increased thirst, urinating less than usual,  lack of energy, lethargy, weakness, irritability, sunken eyes and cheeks, no tears when crying. In case of severe dehydration, there may be drowsiness, coldness of the hands or the feet, very less urination (not passing urine in more than 8 hours), pale skin and sunken soft spot on infant’s head (fontanelle), inability of child’s skin to spring back to normal right away on pinching and releasing, high fever and unconsciousness.  Severe dehydration can result in critical conditions including  shock, organ damage, coma and even death so should be urgently treated without any delay. 

Homeopathy for Diarrhea in Children 

Homeopathy can be very beneficial in mild to moderate cases of diarrhoea in children. Homeopathic medicines are very safe, natural and effective for managing this condition. These medicines help to manage loose stool and its attending symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdomen pain in a very effective way. Along with use of these medicines, plenty of fluid intake is recommended in each and every such case. It is advised to use any homeopathic medicine after consulting a homeopathic doctor who can suggest the most suitable medicine for a given case after detailed case analysis.  One can opt for use of homeopathic medicines when the case is of mild to moderate intensity but in case of severe diarrhea or when it is attended with fever or signs of dehydration then  it is strictly advised to take urgent help from conventional mode of treatment. Homeopathy has a limitation in treating such serious cases.

1. Chamomilla – Top Grade Medicine 

This natural medicine is prepared from plant Matricaria chamomilla. This plant belongs to family compositae.  It is a very effective medicine for cases in which a child passes watery, frequent stool. The stool is very offensive and smells sour. Stool is  mostly greenish in colour. It may have slimy mucus in it that can be yellow, green or white. Stool may be preceded by pain in the abdomen. With above putrid or sour smelling gas may also pass. It is one of the best medicine in homeopathy to manage complaints of  diarrhoea that occurs during dentition. 

2. Podophyllum –  For Profuse Gushing Stool

Podophyllum is the next well indicated medicine for managing diarrhoea in children. It is prepared from the root of a plant Podophyllum peltatum having the common name may apple. It belongs to the family berberidaceae. This medicine is beneficial when there is profuse gushing stool. It can be yellow or green coloured. Stool has a  very offensive smell. It may contain undigested food particles also. In some cases stool may be mixed with mucus also.

3. Calcarea Carb – When Stool is Offensive 

This medicine is helpful for children who pass stool having undigested particles in it and that has an offensive smell. It may smell sour or like spoiled eggs. Sometimes it may have blood also. In some cases the stool is involuntary and may be frothy too. Loose stool may be accompanied with abdominal pain. Use of this medicine is also recommended in case of diarrhea during dentition. 

4. Cina – For Watery Stool with White Mucus

It is prepared from the unexpanded flower heads of plant Artemisia maritima. It belongs to family compositae. This medicine is useful when there is a watery stool with white mucus in it. It may be greenish and slimy. The stool may be preceded by pinching colic in the abdomen. The stool may pass involuntarily sometimes. On some occasions blood may appear in stool.

5. Arsenic album – For Cases of Food Poisoning

It is a leading medicine for cases of diarrhea that results from food poisoning. In cases needing it the stool is thin or watery, slimy with offensive or rotten smell. It may have green mucus in it.  Along with it burning sensation may be felt around the navel region. The burning is felt before and during passing stool. In most cases vomiting is also there with loose stool. Along with above symptoms weakness can be present.

5. Aloe – For Sudden Urge to Pass Stool 

It is prepared from gum of a plant Aloe Socotrina. It belongs to family liliaceae. It is a well indicated medicine when there is sudden urgency to pass stool. The urge for stool occurs soon after eating or drinking. The stool is watery, lumpy or mushy. Sometimes mucus passes in the stool. Its use is also considered when stool is passed involuntary when passing gas.

6. Rheum – For Greenish Sour Smelling Stool

This medicine is prepared from plant Rheum officinale commonly known as rhubarb. It belongs to the family polygonaceae.It is a very suitable medicine for children who pass thin greenish stool with sour smell. It is accompanied by abdominal colic. The pain may be pinching type. Increase salivation is present with this.

7. Ipecac – For Loose Stool Attended with Nausea, Vomiting

Ipecac is prepared from the dried root of a plant Cephaelis Ipecacuanha. It belongs to the family rubiaceae. This medicine works well when nausea and vomiting occurs with loose stool. Along with this colic is also there. It is mainly indicated when loose stool occurs from eating unripe fruits, sweets or during dentition. The stool is mainly yellow or green coloured. 

8. China – For Loose Stool with Excessive Gas

This medicine is prepared from dried bark of plant Cinchona Officinalis commonly known as Peruvian bark. It belongs to family rubiaceae. It is  helpful when stool is attended with excessive gas. The stool is profuse, loose. It may be greenish or brownish. It can have undigested food in it. It has marked putrid smell. Weakness may occur with above symptoms. It is also a very suitable medicine when diarrhea occurs from eating fruits.

9. Colocynth – For Managing Stomach Cramps

It is prepared from pulp of fruit of a plant Citrullus colocynthis commonly known as cucumis colocynthis and bitter apple. This plant belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. It is very suitable medicine to manage stomach cramps. In cases needing it cramps in the stomach gets worse after taking food or drink. Bending double or hard pressure helps to relieve the pain in the stomach. Stool is watery, yellow and frothy in cases that need it. Lastly during stool gas is also passed.

10. Silicea – For Frequent Loose Stool 

This medicine is well-indicated for cases in which stool is loose, frequent and contains undigested food particles in it. Sometimes stool is frothy or contains mucus also. Stool is most of the time painless in cases that require it. Weakness may occur with this.