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The Best Home Remedies for Diarrhea

Diarrhea occurs when people pass about a quart of waste a day or use the restroom more than three times a day. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse states that acute diarrhea usually goes away in about one or two days and does not require special treatment. Diarrhea lasting more than two days can lead to dehydration because of the loss of fluids. Symptoms of severe diarrhea may involve cramping, stomach pain, bloating, nausea, fever and bloody stools. You can effectively use home remedies for brief episodes of diarrhea.

  1. Eat a Clear Diet

    • "The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies," published by Rodale Books, says to eat a clear diet to avoid irritating the stomach when suffering from diarrhea, giving the bowels time to rest. Clear foods include chicken or vegetable broths, Jell-O, and applesauce. Once symptoms begin improving, slowly introduce soft foods like rice, bananas, applesauce and yogurt. When all symptoms subside, add a few solid foods at a time.

    Stay Hydrated

    • Many people experience dehydration because of the loss of fluids associated with diarrhea, so the best home remedy is staying well-hydrated. Add lemon, sugar, honey or a pinch of fruit juice to water for more flavor. "The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies" has a recipe for a hydrating drink. Take 8 ozs. of fruit juice and add either ½ tsp. of honey or corn syrup and a pinch of table salt. Mix and drink. Gatorade replaces glucose and electrolytes lost through diarrhea, and ginger ale and carrot juice makes the stools less watery. Ginger tea helps cramps. Avoid carbonated, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. The gas in carbonated beverages exacerbates diarrhea.

    Avoid Irritating Foods

    • Avoid certain foods that worsen this condition while recuperating. Foods to avoid include beans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, pasta, whole-grain products, oats, corn, prunes, apples, pears, peaches and prunes. Dairy products aggravate diarrhea while you recover.

    Take Over-the-Counter Treatments

    • Although the best home remedy for diarrhea is letting the bout run its course, over-the-counter medications help control bodily functions by stiffening the bowels. These treatments include Imodium, Kaopectate, and Pepto-Bismol. Many people take these medications when their diarrhea results from food consumption or bacterial infections.

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