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Diarrhea
Diarrhea
is caused by either a weak digestive fire or increased pitta. When food is not
properly digested or absorbed, it passes out in semi-liquid or watery form.
Improper eating habits, such as eating food which the system cannot digest,
eating a meal before the previous one is digested, and irregular eating
habits, are some of the common causes of diarrhea.
Diet
Most people have a general idea of the foods which cause these problems. For
example, if a person feels heaviness, uneasiness, wind, distention or stomach
ache immediately after eating a certain food, it indicates that the particular
food is not easily digested. Generally, foods which are fried in oil or ghee
(clarified butter), meats, vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, beans, nuts
and sweets are difficult to digest. So they should be eaten less frequently
and in small quantities.
Eating contradictory (incompatible) foods, such as taking milk and citrus
fruits simultaneously, can cause digestive upsets. Impure food or water,
eating food which the system is not used to, infection of the alimentary
canal, or psychological factors like grief and nervousness can also lead to
diarrhea.
Some Home Remedies
Add one teaspoon of fresh grated ginger and one gram of nutmeg powder to half
a cup of water. Blend them together for few minutes into a mixture. Drinking
this twice or thrice a day helps to stop diarrhea.
In
cases of excessive thirst, water boiled with coriander seeds should be given
(after straining). Pomegranate juice in small quantities can be also given
frequently.
A decoction prepared from pomegranate skin is very useful in stopping
diarrhea. To prepare the decoction, take 50 grams of fresh pomegranate skin.
Soak it in 800 ml. of water for one hour. Boil until a quarter of the volume
remains (200 ml). Store this mixture in a clean, dry bottle. A couple of
tablespoons can be taken several times a day. If there is blood in the stools,
add half a teaspoon of honey to the decoction.
Another helpful remedy is a sugar and salt solution. Mix one teaspoon of sugar
and half a teaspoon of common salt in a cup of water. Small doses of this
mixture (around a quarter cup) can be given whenever the patient wants to
drink.
A paste made of sesame seeds (1 teaspoon) and a few tablespoons of goats milk
is also beneficial.
Regimen
Fasting helps in digesting toxins in the intestine, although it should not be
practiced if the patient is weak. As the absorption power of the intestines is
very low, the patient should not eat too much at one time. The principle is to
eat less, but more frequently if necessary.
The diet must be easy to digest. Only foods that bind the stool like yogurt,
rice, banana, apple and pomegranate should be taken in the beginning. Easily
digestible foods like boiled vegetables, boiled rice, khichadi and fruits
should be eaten. Khichadi is prepared by cooking together rice and mung dal
(green lentils). Digestive spices like cumin, coriander, ginger, turmeric and
cardamom should be used for cooking.
Liquids should be given in small quantities (3 or 4 sips) at one time, though
it can be given more frequently—at intervals of thirty minutes. Fruit juices
can also be taken in small quantities.
Patients should take complete rest until they gain enough strength and energy.
Physical exertion of any kind like exercise, sexual activity, sports, singing,
dancing etc. should be strictly avoided. The mind should be relaxed and free
from all kinds of tension. A gentle oil massage on the head is also helpful.
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