What to drink for diarrhea: folk remedies, drugs, causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea is not a disease in itself. This symptom indicates a malfunction of the digestive tract or the body as a whole. Before treatment, you should find out the cause of the pathology and direct efforts to eliminate it. However, if the disorder is one-off, you can use proven remedies. About the scheme of actions for diarrhea: what to drink and how to quickly relieve unpleasant symptoms, read on.

Diarrhea causes

Diarrhea accompanies many pathological conditions - from indigestion after eating fatty foods to intestinal infection.

Diarrhea comes in 2 varieties:

1. Sharp. It occurs due to infectious bowel diseases or poisoning. Duration - no more than 2 weeks.
2. Chronic. It is caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and lasts until the complete cure of the ailment that caused the upset stool.

In a normal mode, a mature person produces from 100 to 300 g of feces daily. Liquefaction is carried out due to a sudden change in the consistency of the stool: with diarrhea, it is 90% water.

By the volume of feces, it is possible to establish whether diarrhea is a consequence of a failure of the motor functions of the intestine. In case of malfunctions in motor skills, the number of bowel movements does not increase: defecation occurs often and in small portions. If there is a violation of peristalsis, there is a significant increase in the volume of feces due to poor digestibility of food.

The most common causes of diarrhea are:

• the use of "heavy" food;
• poisoning;
• taking medications;
• rejection of certain foods;
• frequent stressful conditions;
• "Traveler's diarrhea".

Such pathologies disappear within 3 days after the elimination of the factors that provoked them.

Diseases can provoke diarrhea, among which the following are distinguished:

• acute intestinal infections;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• inflammatory processes of the digestive organs;
• chronic pancreatitis;
• peptic ulcer;
• dysfunction of the digestive tract;
• Crohn's disease;
• celiac disease.

In such situations, it is necessary to undergo qualified treatment, sometimes a hospital stay is required.

Treatment rules

Depending on the diagnosis, the specialist chooses the direction of therapy. The main efforts should be directed to the treatment of the underlying disease. Elimination diarrhea is a secondary measure.

Diarrhea is treated with the following drugs:

• probiotics;
• android;
• enzymatic;
• antibacterial;
• enterosorbents;
• rehydration.

Note! The use of the listed groups of drugs is possible only by agreement with the attending physician.

Making an accurate diagnosis is the paramount task that determines the course of treatment. In the acute form of dysentery, antibiotics are needed, which, for example, are ineffective in Crohn's disease.

Rehydration funds

Since profuse diarrhea is fraught with a violation of the water-electrolyte balance in the body, the lack of fluid should be replenished in a timely manner. However, ordinary still water is not able to compensate for losses, because it contains an insufficient amount of essential minerals. To this end, you should start taking rehydration drugs.

For moderate diarrhea, oral rehydration drugs are prescribed, among which the following are most in demand:

• "Regidron";
• "Glucosolan"
• Orsol;
• "Regisol".

The funds are taken orally, produced in the form of sachets filled with powder. The contents of the sachet should be diluted in the recommended amount of water and drunk at the indicated dosage throughout the day. You can also make up for fluid loss intravenously. For this purpose, crystalloid solutions are used:

• "Acesol";
• "Trisol";
• Quartasol.

If diarrhea becomes acute, rehydration agents are also given through a vein.

Enterosorbents

Enterosorbents are drugs that have the ability to adsorb pathogenic bacteria, toxins and gases. In addition, medicines of this group create a protective film on the intestinal walls and protect the organ from the negative effects of stomach acid.

These medicines are especially effective in acute intestinal infections, since they successfully remove viruses from the body.

The most popular are the following:

• "Activated carbon";
• "Phosphalugel";
• Enterosgel;
• Cholestyramine;
• "Atoxil";
• "Polyphepan";
• Polysorb;
• "Smecta";
• "De-Nol"
• White clay;
• calcium carbonate and gluconate.

Enterosorbents are produced in various packages - gel, tablets, powders and capsules. It has been established that this category of drugs reduces the therapeutic effect of taking other medications. It is advisable to take sorbents 1.5 hours before using other medicines.

Probiotics

Probiotics are drugs that contain live microorganisms. This category of drugs was developed to normalize the intestinal microflora. It is believed that they successfully fight against dysbiosis and are advisable in the recovery period after the cure of intestinal infections.

Popular drugs, which include the following "fragments" of the intestinal microflora:

• transit flora - Enterol;
• particles of intestinal microorganisms - "Hilak Forte";
• obligate flora - "Linex".

Some experts dispute the effectiveness of probiotics. It is believed that 85% of the nutrients die when they enter the acidic environment of the stomach. The remaining 15%, penetrating the intestines, are rejected by the natural microflora.

Antibacterial agents

Acute bacterial intestinal infection is considered one of the most common causes of diarrhea.

Modern infectious disease specialists agree that most infectious bowel diseases do not require intensified therapy. Without aggravating diseases, the body is healed without the use of external resources. With minor disorders, you just need to adjust the diet and restore the water-electrolyte balance. Antibacterial agents are prescribed only for severe infections.

Among the demanded drugs in this group, the following are distinguished:

• Ofloxacin;
• Ftalazol;
• Ersefuril.

Attention! Despite the fact that antibacterial medicines are commercially available, they should only be taken as directed by your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health.

The causative agent of the infection may not be susceptible to a particular antibiotic. Uncontrolled use of drugs is fraught with the development of drug resistance in microbes, which complicates further treatment of the disease. In addition, antibiotics contribute to the appearance of dysbiosis, which aggravates diarrhea.

Antidiarrheal drugs

This pharmacological category includes medicines that target intestinal motility. They activate the tone of the rectum, which leads to a delay in the release of feces. Due to this effect, their consistency is compacted, and the frequency of bowel movements decreases.

Among the popular antidiarrheal drugs are the following:

• "Imodium";
• "Papaverine";
• Octreotide.

These medicines have worked well for both chronic diarrhea and diarrhea caused by an unbalanced diet. If the patient suffers from an acute intestinal infection, it is advisable to refrain from using these drugs. This is due to the fact that harmful microbes leave the body at the same time as the feces. The suspension of the movement of feces is fraught with increased reproduction of pathogenic bacteria.

Enzyme preparations

Enzymes are responsible for the digestive processes and the mechanism of food absorption. The lack of these elements occurs in the presence of non-infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the body. In addition, after eating excessively fatty foods, it is advisable to support the body with this group of medicines.

The most demanded tools are the following:

• Pancreatin;
• "Mezim";
• Panzinorm.

Enzymes are recommended to be consumed with food, drinking a pill with plenty of liquid.

Treatment of diarrhea with folk remedies

In home medicine, there are many effective ways to combat diarrhea. Despite the fact that with frequent diarrhea, you need to visit your doctor, for one-time stool disorders, you can resort to one of the recipes. In addition, folk remedies have practically no side effects, and the ingredients necessary for cooking can always be found in the kitchen.

The "magic" action of many astringent herbs is based on the reduction of intestinal secretion. Healers from time immemorial have successfully used chamomile flowers, bird cherry fruits, oak bark and cinquefoil root for the prevention and treatment of diarrhea.

Table 1. Folk remedies for diarrhea

Component	Properties	Cooking method	Dosage
Oak bark.	It has a strong anti-inflammatory, astringent and antiseptic effect. When interacting with proteins, the tannins contained in the bark form a protective layer that prevents the appearance of irritations on the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.	2 tbsp Pour raw materials with 1 glass of boiled water, cook in a water bath for 30 minutes, strain and refrigerate.	3 times a day, 100 ml.
Bird cherry fruits.	It is also possible to use the flowers and bark of this shrub. A high concentration of tannins contributes to the retention of feces in the intestines. In the presence of an acute chronic infection, it is advisable to refrain from this remedy. The use of bird cherry in large volumes is contraindicated. The amygdalin located in it, getting into the body, breaks down into hydrocyanic acid, which belongs to the group of potent poisons, and glucose. It is necessary to prepare the broth while strictly observing the dosage. It is necessary to take the remedy only after agreement with the doctor. Expectant mothers and lactating women are prohibited from using this drink.	1 tbsp fruits, flowers or bark pour 1 cup boiling water and heat in a water bath for 15 minutes.	4 times a day for 1/4 cup.
Rice.	Due to the fact that rice water is able to envelop the intestinal walls with a protective film, the irritating effect of stomach acid is reduced. In parallel, the motility of this organ improves, and the feces are formed of the desired consistency. The astringent qualities of the drink are caused by the high percentage of starch content. Penetrating into the body, it absorbs excess fluid and thickens feces. In addition to fighting diarrhea, rice water is effective for excessive gas production. Another valuable property of this product is its nutritional value. During diarrhea, eating food can worsen the patient's physical condition, while a decoction of rice, in addition to healing properties, has a huge set of useful substances.	2 tsp Pour 0.5 liters of boiled water into washed rice groats. Simmer for 45 minutes. Then cool and strain through a sieve.	3 times a day, 150 ml.
Pomegranate crusts.	For cooking, a dry red shell is used. The second, white layer must be removed before use, since it does not contain useful substances. The peel contains up to 30% tannins, which determines the value of this fruit in the treatment of diarrhea. It also contains polyphenols, which are excellent antioxidants that even act on dysentery bacillus.	After thorough cleansing with water, cut off the top layer of the fruit and remove the white pulp. Then dry the raw materials in the oven or under the sun. Store the crusts in a dry glass container. Grind the crusts with a coffee grinder. 1 tsp pour the resulting mixture with 1 glass of boiling water and cook for 15 minutes in a water bath. Then infuse the broth for at least 30 minutes and strain.	4 times a day for 1 tsp.
Dried blueberries.	Dried blueberries are rich in pectin and tannins that can help relieve stool upset.	1 tbsp fruits pour 300 ml of drinking water, add 1 tsp. starch and 1 tbsp. Sahara. Simmer for 30 minutes over low heat.	3 times a day for 100 g.

The duration of the course depends on the severity of the symptoms. It is recommended to take home remedies until the diarrhea has completely disappeared.

Diarrhea often occurs without the use of medication or home prescriptions.

Rememberthat innocent symptoms sometimes hide serious illnesses, including colon cancer.

If the stool disorder lasts more than 3 days, and spotting is observed in the stool, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Video - Folk remedies for diarrhea