Diarrhoea and Homeopathy
Definition:
Frequent and watery bowel movements, increase in frequency of bowel motions, or increased stool liquidity.
Some important Signs and Symptoms of Diarrhoea
- Cramping pain in the abdomen
- Needing to get to the toilet urgently.
- Bloated feeling in the tummy.
- Increased volume of stools
- Fever or chills may also be accompanied with diarrhoea.
- Signs of dehydration such as feeling very thirsty, rapid heart beat, feeling or being sick, and dark looking urine etc
- In some cases stool contains blood or mucus
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Headache.
During diarrhoea, the body loses water and electrolytes in the form of liquid stool. Fluids can also be lost through vomit, sweat, urine and breathing. Dehydration occurs when these losses are not adequately replaced.
Diarrhoea may present in different forms such as acute watery diarrhoea, dysentery (blood in stool), or persistent diarrhoea (more than 14 days).
Diarrhoea causes dehydration. Children are more likely than adults to die from diarrhoea because they become dehydrated more quickly.
Causes of Diarrhoea
The main causes of diarrhoea are poor hygiene, lack of clean drinking water. In children, the trend towards bottle-feeding rather than breastfeeding is the major causes of diarrhea.
Some foods have a laxative affect naturally for instance prunes or figs so over indulgence will give temporary diarrhea.
Acute diarrhoea is usually caused due to accidental intake of infected food or drinks. Once the infection sets in the person has frequent loose motions which may be accompanied by fever, abdominal pain & vomiting. There might be presence of blood &/or mucus in the stools.
Chronic &/or recurrent diarrhoea i.e. repeated bouts of diarrhoea with/without periods of normal motions intermittently, could have many other causes like tuberculosis of the intestines, irritable bowel syndrome, malabsorption, ulcerative colitis etc. Detailed investigations are needed in such cases to find a cause before treatment can be started.
DIETARY ADVICE:
- It is very important to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated .
- It is better to avoid food until the diarrhoea has stopped, but if you do want to eat then consume light, nourishing meals such as homemade soups and plain crackers.
- Avoid protein for two days to rest the digestive tract.
TREATMENT
a) Homeopathy
There are various treatments for this disease. Some of them can be mentioned below, but it should be noted down that the symptoms should match with the given one.
Argentum nitricum
Diarrhoea after eating sweets. Patient nervous, feels like passing stools before any important event. Stage fear. Stools watery, slimy and green(like chopped spinach).
Veratrum alb
Diarrhoea before and during menses and preceded by cutting pain in the abdomen. Stools, which are profuse, watery and gushing, are accompanied by cramps in hands and feet, and cold sweat on the forehead. Each bout of diarrhoea leaves the victim weak and exhausted, on the verge of a collapse. These symptoms are very much common in the diarrhoea patient, and for all these the medicine Veratrum is important.
Ars alb
Loose motions after food poisoning. Frequent, watery and dark. Stools highly offensive smell. Worse and increased after midnight. Pain and burning in anus.
Cuprum ars
useful for copious, dark, watery stools with pain and rumbling in the abdomen. The resultant dehydration causes cramps in the calf-muscles. The urine has a garlicky odour as well. For these symptoms the medicine is very important.
Chamomilla
Loose motions in children, particularly during the period of dentition. Child is highly irritable and wants to be carried all the time.
Gelsemium
This medicine is suitable for diarrhoea from undue mental nervousness and apprehension just before attending to any important work. Trembling, dullness, dizziness, drowsiness and thirstlessness are other features of this medicine.
Ipecac
Motions after eating rich foods. Loose stools with green mucus. Great nausea
Nux vomica
Diarrhoea alternates with constipation. Sedentary lifestyle, alcoholism, too much coffee.
Phos acid
This is suitable for painless and non-debilitating diarrhoea, the stools being watery and whitish.
Podophyllum
Diarrhoea in summer.Pain in the abdomen. Foul smelling, loose stools, profuse in the morning
Aloes
Stools yellow, bloody, comes in great masses. Involuntary stools, Rectum protrudes out, worse in hot weather and is better by cold.
suggested potency: 30- 200
b)Tissue Salts for Diarrhoea
Ferrum phos
Diarrhoea from a relaxed state of the villi, or absorbents of the intestines not taking up the usual amount of moisture. Stools of undigested food, brought on by a chill beginning with fever.
Kali mur
Diarrhoea after fatty food, pastry, etc.
Kali phos
Foul diarrhoea, often accompanied by other diseases, to heal the conditions causing putrid evacuations. Diarrhoea of strong odor, occasioned by fright and other similar causes. Diarrhoea with depression and exhaustion of the nerves, with or without pain.
Natrum mur
Diarrhoea with watery, slimy, frothy stools. Transparent, glairy slime, excessive use of salt. "Natrum mur is chiefly used for chronic diarrhoea of children.
Natrum phos
Itching, sore and raw anus. Stools white or green from deficient bile. Diarrhoea caused by excess of acidity.
Natrum sulph
Diarrhoea; stools watery, dark, bilious, or of green bile
Kali sulph
Diarrhoea yellow, slimy or watery, purulent stools.
Calcarea sulph
Diarrhoea purulent, mixed with blood, with clay-colored tongue. In typhus; from maple sugar and change of weather.
Calcarea phos
Diarrhoea in teething children, as an intercurrent or alternate remedy.
Magnesia phos
Stools watery, expelled with force, with griping pains in the bowels, flatulent colic relieved by drawing up limbs, or hot applications. Vomiting and cramp in calves of legs. Pain at intervals.
Silicea
Infantile diarrhoea, cadaverous-smelling, after vaccination, with much sour perspiration on head, and hard, hot, distended abdomen.
