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Diarrhoea
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 diarrhoea. 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 litres of liquid
per day which comes from the diet and from secretion of
the stomach, liver, pancreas and intestines. In the case
of diarrhoea, 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 diarrhoea. 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.
Diarrhoea 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. Diarrhoea may alternate with constipation. This
may result from the irritation of the mucous membrane by
impacted hard faeces.
Diarrhoea for prolonged periods can lead to certain
complications. These may include
- 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.
- dehydration, due to
loss of body fluids and washing out of minerals
from the body and nervous conditions.
Treatment
In severe
cases of diarrhoea, 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 diarrhoea 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
diarrhoea.
Carrot soup is another effective home remedy for
diarrhoea. It supplies water to combat dehydration,
replenishes sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium,
sulphur 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
diarrhoea 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
diarrhoea.
Mango seeds are also valuable in diarrhoea. 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
diarrhoea. 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 diarrhoea 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 diarrhoea. 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 diarrhoea are the abdominal
compress ( at 60 o F) renewed every 15 to 20
minutes and cold hip bath ( 40 o - 50 o
F). If the patient is in pain, abdominal fomentations for
15 minutes should be administered every two hours.
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