Homeopathic Medicines for Diarrhea & Loose Stools

The condition where thin, loose, watery stools tend to occur three or more times in a day is known as diarrhea. Diarrhea tends to last for at least a couple of days, but in chronic cases, it can go on for a long time. It is a fairly common problem and not a severe condition if timely treatment is taken. In cases where diarrhea continues for more than a couple of days or weeks, it indicates an underlying infection or inflammation in the bowels that needs to be addressed. Homeopathic medicines for diarrhea work by treating the underlying cause of diarrhea.

Can Homeopathy treat Diarrhea?

Yes, homeopathy offers effective treatment for diarrhea. It treats the root cause of diarrhea to help ease the symptoms and bring about recovery. Medicine for diarrhea is prepared from natural substances, so there are no side effects. Homeopathy for diarrhea works for people of all age groups and can be safely used in children and older adults.
Homeopathy offers cures for diarrhea also work well for infections (viral, parasitic, bacterial), inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel disease.

Homeopathic Medicines for Diarrhea

The most effective medicines for diarrhea include Aloe Socotrina, Croton Tiglium, and Podophyllum Peltatum.

1. Aloe Socotrina – For Diarrhea with Watery Stool

Aloe Socotrina is used to treat cases where the stool is copious, watery, yellowish or brownish. An urgency to pass stool, rumbling/gurgling, a constant sensation of bearing down in the rectum, involuntary release of stool on passing flatus are some other symptoms that indicate the need for this medicine.

2. Colocynthis – For Diarrhea with Abdominal Cramps and Colic

Colocynthis is the medicine for diarrhea recommended in cases where there is a loose stool with abdominal cramping. A watery, yellowish, sour smelling stool, increased flatulence, a burning, pricking pain at the anus along with intense abdominal cramps are the symptoms that indicate the need for this medicine. Bending down double or applying pressure helps relieve the abdominal cramps.

3. Croton Tiglium – For Diarrhea (after light eating and drinking)

For diarrhea that occurs from light eating and drinking, Croton Tiglium is recommended.
This medicine is indicated when the person feels the urge to pass stools even after consuming a small quantity of food or drink. The stool is yellowish, watery, copious, and gushing in nature. Croton Tiglium is also used to treat diarrhea that occurs during hot weather.

4. China Officinalis – For Diarrhea with Weakness

China Officinalis is a well-indicated medicine for diarrhea where there is an excessive weakness. Yellowish, frothy, loose stool followed by weakness, distension of abdomen with flatulence, flatulent colic, belching of bitter fluid, and rumbling in the stomach pit are the symptoms that indicate the need for this medicine.

5. Colchicum Autumnale – For Diarrhea with Mucus

Colchicum Autumnale is indicated in cases where the mucus (present in the stool) is jelly-like, while the stool is watery, and has an intense, sour odor. Itching and burning at the anus may also be present.

6. Podophyllum Peltatum – For Watery Stools

Podophyllum Peltatum is the medicine for diarrhea where the stool is watery, foul-smelling, painless and gushes out. The stool is profuse and may be yellowish or greenish, and contain undigested food particles.
This medicine is also indicated in cases where there is an involuntary release of stool (upon passing flatus or during sleep).

7. Argentum Nitricum – For Diarrhea due to Anxiety

Argentum Nitricum is used to treat diarrhea that is triggered by anxiety or nervousness. The person needing this medicine has watery stool (which may have mucus) with noisy flatulence, loud belching, cutting pain and loud rumbling in the abdomen. Diarrhea that arises due to anticipation or as a result of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) also indicates the need for this medicine.

8. Chamomilla – For Diarrhea during Dentition

Chamomilla is the medicine recommended for diarrhea that occurs during dentition (teething).
Symptoms indicating the need for Chamomilla include a fetid, watery, sour-smelling stool that is yellowish – greenish. Swelling at the anus may be present with diarrhea and the child is usually irritable, cross and restless.

9. Arsenic – For Diarrhea due to Food Poisoning

Arsenic Album is a medicine for diarrhea and vomiting in cases of food poisoning. The characteristic symptoms include foul, loose stool, offensive odor, excessive nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, weakness, and a sour/bitter taste in the mouth.

10. Natrum Carb – For Diarrhea due to Milk Consumption

Natrum Carb is a medicine recommended in cases where diarrhea occurs after consuming milk. The primary symptoms for using Natrum Carb include a watery gushing stool, fetid flatus, burning in rectum after stool, cutting pain in the rectum during stool, gas, bloating, and abdominal colic.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is diarrhea serious?

Diarrhea, in general, is not a very serious problem, but its severity varies from case to case. If a person passes thin stool about three to four times a day, for a duration of two to four days, then it is not a severe condition. However, passing excessive stool multiple times a day can lead to dehydration and the complications related to it.
Also, if a person passes blood or mucus with loose stool, loses weight, or has continued fever along with stools, then it is a cause of concern.

2. I am passing frequent loose stool with mucus from last three months; what does it indicate?

There are many reasons for passing mucus with loose stool. The most common causes include colitis, parasitic infections, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). Detailed case history and investigations are required to pinpoint the exact reason for your problem. Diarrhea can be a symptom of some other underlying problem.
Certain medications can also lead to diarrhea, including antibiotics, antacids, and antidepressants.

3. Can a person get diarrhea from stress or anxiety?

Yes, stress and anxiety can cause diarrhea as a result of the hypersensitivity of the gut to emotional and hormonal responses. A significant example of a medical condition that persists from stress and anxiety is IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).

4. Can allopathy and homeopathy for diarrhea be taken together?

Homeopathy for diarrhea effectively treats mild-to-moderate conditions when coupled with the intake of fluids and electrolytes. These medicines also help reduce the severity of the symptoms. However, in case of severe diarrhea, where the person passes a significant amount of watery stool, allopathic medicines are recommended to prevent severe dehydration and help quick relief and recovery. Both allopathy and homeopathy can be taken together to help manage the problem.

5. Can oral rehydration salts be used along with natural medicines for diarrhea?

Yes, one may take oral rehydration salts along with medicines for diarrhea.

6. For how long does a person need to take homeopathy for diarrhea?

The time duration for which a person needs to take medicines for diarrhea depends on the severity of the problem. In acute cases of diarrhea, medicines need to be taken for few days to a week In case of chronic diarrhea due to conditions like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), parasitic infection, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), the duration of medicines lasts from few months to a year’s time.

Causes of Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be a result of many conditions and factors, but the most common causes of diarrhea include:

Contaminated Food and Water

‘Spoilt’ food and water contain disease-causing pathogens like (bacteria and parasites) which can get transferred into our body and disturb the physiological functioning. This is also known as food poisoning.
Parasites like Giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium cause diarrhea, while Escherichia coli (commonly known as E.coli), salmonella, shigella, and campylobacter are common diarrhea-causing bacteria.
In developing countries, ‘traveler’s diarrhea’ is a common complaint, brought about by these bacteria and viruses.

Rotavirus in Children

A widespread cause of diarrhea in children is rotavirus, a virus that spreads quickly through contaminated hands, objects and surfaces. This virus causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines, leading to severe diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal cramps, and vomiting.

Medications

Certain medicines like antibiotics disturb the balance of gut bacteria by killing both good and bacteria. This imbalance can cause diarrhea.
Antacids often contain magnesium, which can cause the stools to become loose.

Emotional Stress

The gastrointestinal tract has many nerves connected to it and is very sensitively tuned to the nervous system. Therefore, any factors (like stress) that affect the nervous also have an impact on the gastrointestinal tract.
Stress can cause spasms throughout the gut and cause diarrhea.

Food allergies

Food allergies can also cause diarrhea, as the body tries to expel the allergens out quickly.
Lactose intolerance is also a common cause of diarrhea. People who are unable to digest lactose (found in dairy products) often experience loose stools after consuming dairy products.

Digestive Disorders

Chronic diarrhea is often a sign of some underlying gastrointestinal disorder like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, colitis, inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD).

Symptoms of Diarrhea

If you are passing stool for three or more times in a day, and the stool is watery, or loose, then you have diarrhea.
Other signs and symptoms of diarrhea that can accompany loose stool include cramping in the abdomen, mucus/blood in stool, and abdominal bloating.
In case of food poisoning, vomiting and nausea may be present.

Diagnosis

Not everybody with diarrhea needs to undergo clinical tests and investigations. Simple diarrhea with a duration of a few days to a week is not very serious and can be treated with adequate home remedies.
Clinical tests for diarrhea are required when the duration of the problem lasts for a couple of weeks to months, along with the presence of blood or mucus in the stool. In such cases, tests like stool culture, endoscopy, colonoscopy, anti – TTG (tissue transglutaminase ), wheat allergy, etc., are conducted.

Diarrhea and Dehydration

Diarrhea causes a person to lose a significant amount of fluid and electrolytes quickly, so rehydrating salts are usually recommended along with medicines to restore the fluid and electrolytes balance, and prevent dehydration.
The signs to look out for to detect dehydration are dry skin, lightheadedness, less urination, and general weakness. In case you experience such symptoms, it is necessary to restore the fluid and electrolytes balance immediately.

Tips to Manage Diarrhea

Some measures can help manage chronic diarrhea, like:

1. Avoiding milk, spicy food, highly fatty food and high fiber food
2. Increasing water intake
3. Managing stress and anxiety
4. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine5. Washing hands after stool and before eating to prevent infections