Montezuma’s revenge: diarrhea

Last Updated on 8. June 2023 by eschalch

The different symptoms, self-help in mild cases

It hits everyone at some point, whether it’s during the vacations, at home, or in conjunction with an illness.

Diarrhea is usually a defensive reaction of the body to toxins or harmful substances and is manifested by thin and usually liquid stools. The causes can be very diverse: spoiled food, contaminated water, medications, allergies, diseases (for example, intestinal flu, gastritis, colitis, kidney disease), psychosocial stress.

In most cases, diarrhea is harmless and overcome after a maximum of three days.

In chronic diarrhea, the intestinal mucosa is inflamed, so that the intestine can no longer fulfill its function. In this case, the doctor should be consulted. This is also true if the diarrhea is completely unexpected and spasmodic.

However, diarrhea can also occur as a result of certain psychological influences. Just think of the saying, “He’s scared shitless.”

The symptoms are often associated with abdominal pain, but this is only a side effect and is usually harmless. In principle, however, diarrhea should not be treated lightly, because in the worst case a more serious disease could be behind it.

Self-help for mild diarrhea?

For mild diarrhea helps herbal tea and from the third day additionally rusk or gruel. You can also add a few drops of peppermint or lavender oil to the tea. Some people swear by pretzel sticks and Coca Cola.

It has proven quite futile in most cases to resolve diarrhea simply by taking constipating agents. Harmful substances often remain too long in the stomach and intestines where they can lead to pain.

What to look for in diarrhea?

Diarrhea results in high fluid loss. As a result, the important electrolyte balance (potassium, calcium, sodium …) suffers. Especially in infants and young children, as well as in debilitated elderly patients, care should be taken to ensure that they drink plenty of fluids. This is often a problem, because sufferers feel too weak and unwell to eat anything. In an emergency, the physician will provide fluids through an IV.

Home remedy

• Full body washes with garlic vinegar for elimination through the skin. This relieves the intestine somewhat and the intestinal flora can regenerate.
• Eat a lot of raw vegetables. Carrots, radishes, artichokes and beet are particularly suitable because of the antibacterial agents. They absorb the toxins located on the intestinal walls.
• Apple cider vinegar inhibits diarrhea by regulating intestinal function and absorbing or fighting toxins present in the intestinal wall. Full body washes with apple cider vinegar support elimination through the skin. In addition, apple cider vinegar helps to gently rebuild the intestinal flora. Furthermore, it provides the organism with the necessary vitamins and minerals when food intake is greatly reduced or one has decided to fast for a short time.
• Drink: Two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water (still water to avoid flatulence) three times a day until diarrhea subsides, in small sips, preferably before each meal.