Diarrhea or loose motion occurs when the intestines are unable to absorb nutrients. When this happens, food is passed through the body without being properly digested.
Loose motions or Diarrhea is one of the most common ailments across every age group – from infants and mothers to the elderly.Diarrhea is the frequent passage of watery or loose stools across irregular intervals. There are many possible causes of Diarrhea. These include allergies, food poisoning, infections, and stress. As such, Diarrhea is merely a symptom of one of many possible causes. Most of the time, loose motions are not a serious problem and can be treated at home.
Diarrhea can result in liquid and electrolyte loss, dehydration, blood clots, and various other symptoms. However, the main reason for loose motion is when your gut loses its good bacteria because of some diet changes or an ill-timed antibiotic treatment.
People often wonder how to stop loose motion. Luckily, diarrhea is short-lived and usually subsides within a day or two. It can, however, become a serious condition in severe cases. So, if home remedies for loose motion aren't working for you, you must consult a doctor.
Most Effective Home Remedies for Loose Motions
1. Bananas, Ghee, Nutmeg, and Cardamom
Peel and mash bananas into a paste. Then, add half a tablespoon of ghee to this paste. This mixture, along with a dash of nutmeg and cardamom powder, should be consumed twice a day.
2. Rice along with Yogurt and Ghee
Mix some rice with warm yogurt and ghee. This home remedy will help you relieve diarrhea.
3. Consume Yogurt with Ginger and Water
Mix an equal amount of yoghurt and water and add some grated ginger to it. Drink this home remedy twice a day to ease the symptoms of diarrhea.
4. Ginger, Sugar, and Warm Water can prevent diarrhea
Take one tablespoon of grated ginger in a cup. Add warm water with sugar to it. Drink this mixture to treat diarrhea and loose motion.
5. Ghee, Ginger, and Sugar are the perfect solution
Take a small amount of ghee in a bowl. Add some grated ginger, powdered nutmeg, and natural sugar to it. Mix well and have this mixture twice or thrice a day.
6. Fennel and Ginger Powder
Fennel and ginger powder are very effective. You can easily chew the powders once or twice a day to relieve diarrhea.
7. Drink Black Tea with Lemon Juice, and Cardamom or Nutmeg
A cup of strong black tea will help prevent diarrhea. Add lemon juice and some freshly grounded cardamom or nutmeg to it. Drink this mixture whenever you have loose motion.
8. Apple, Nutmeg, Cardamom, and Ghee
Apple has many health benefits. So take an apple and cook it in ghee. You can make it more effective by adding to it nutmeg and cardamom. Consume it and keep loose motion at bay.
Other Effective Home Remedies to Stop Loose Motion
Below, we’ve outlined simple homemade cures that can help you overcome your loose motions without seeing a doctor.
Yogurt
One of the most well-known and effective foods containing probiotics is yogurt. Yogurt is abundant in probiotic-rich strains of bacteria which help combat the infective bacteria in your digestive tract that causes diarrhea. If you suffer from loose motions, you should eat yogurt throughout the day. Eating yogurt does not cause gastric problem or acidity.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk contains the live cultures of lactic acid bacteria called lactobacillus that helps maintain a balance between harmful and useful gut bacteria. It supports the immune system and acts as an excellent probiotic. One tall glass or two small glasses of buttermilk per day are recommended for a healthy body. Excessive consumption of buttermilk can worsen your cold and fever, so moderation is the key.
Kefir Lime Leaves
Kefir lime leaves, which are extensively used in Thai cuisine, have a galore of health benefits, including probiotic properties. These leaves contain certain antibacterial agents that effectively fight against the staphylococcus bacteria, a common culprit for food poisoning and loose motions. Excess to good substances is bad, so ensure you consume them in moderation.
Kimchi (A Korean dish)
Prepared by fermentation of cabbage, kimchi is an excellent probiotic. Fermented foods, such as yoghurt and kimchi, contain the same lactobacilli as buttermilk. Consuming kimchi increases the levels of good bacteria in your guts and helps maintain healthy digestion and prevents loose motions. One serving of 100 gms of kimchi daily is recommended to derive maximum probiotic benefits. Do not overeat it, though! Excessive consumption may lead to side effects like bloating, gas, and nausea.
It is important that you do not over-eat probiotic-containing foods. Though helpful in small quantities, if ingested in large amounts they can lead to acidity. Other foods that contain probiotics are buttermilk, kefir lime leaves, and Kimchi (A Korean cabbage dish).
Bananas
Fruits and Vegetables such as bananas and potatoes are high in potassium. They also contain pectin -a water-soluble fiber that helps to absorb excess water in the intestines. In addition to this, bananas contain important electrolytes that your body loses if suffering from loose motions. They also provide your dehydrated and tired body with much-needed energy.
Eat a ripe banana every two hours. If you prefer something slightly more savory, you can mash a banana and have it with rock salt or have mashed potatoes with chives.
Potatoes
Potatoes are rich in potassium. In fact, they are one of the best available dietary sources of potassium. A large (300 gm) baked potato contains around 1600 mg of potassium. It is best to consume them unpeeled as the potassium is found both in the flesh and the skin of the potato.
For loose motion, boiled potatoes are considered good as they are easily digestible and provide adequate energy due to their high carbohydrate content.
Avocados
Avocados have great health benefits. Not only are they an excellent source of potassium, but they are also rich in healthy fats, vitamin K, and folate. Sixty-eight grams of avocado contains about 345 mg of potassium, about 7% of your total DV for potassium.
Notably, Avocados contain substances called sorbitol or polyols (carbohydrates) that might affect people with sensitive stomachs. Overeating Avocados in one go can cause bloating, diarrhoea, or intense pain.
Spinach
Spinach is a very nutrient-dense vegetable. It is highly dense in potassium, with 1 cup or 190 grams of spinach providing about 12% of the potassium DV. While having spinach in moderate amounts is great for your gut health, consuming it in excess may increase your risk of developing kidney stones.
Watermelon
Did you think watermelon contains only a high water content? Well, no! It does have quite a good amount of potassium as well. Just two wedges of watermelon, about 572 grams, provide nearly 14% of the potassium DV.
It is a great source of dietary fibre and water which keeps you hydrated during motions. However, consuming too much watermelons can cause gas, bloating, diarrhoea, and other stomach troubles.
Lemon
With its anti-inflammatory properties, lemon is a great home remedy for stopping loose motions. You can consume it as juice or squeeze a good amount of juice on your fruits and veggies. Please avoid over-intake of it! Consuming lemons in excess over time can damage your teeth and lead to heartburn.
Gooseberry
Also known as amla, Gooseberry has powerful laxative properties and is a great food product to cure loose motions. Take about 10 grams of dried amla, grind it and make a fine powder. Take 1 gram of this powder with one glass of water every morning and evening whenever you have loose motions.
Grapefruit
They are rich in fibres that ease the flow of bowels. However, grapefruit's high amount of sugar, fibre, and antioxidants promote bowel movements and worsen diarrhoea. So, while it is a healthy food choice, consuming it in excess may cause bloating, gas, and diarrhoea.
Sweet Lime
Sweet lime or mosambi juice contains acids that are great for combating the toxins in bowel tracts. It helps improve bowel movements and helps to flush out the toxins from the gut, relieving loose motions. You can drink sweet lime juice with lukewarm water and consume it 1-2 times daily. Add a little honey for improved taste and enhanced health benefits.
If you blend Indian gooseberry with a very small amount of sugar, the resulting drink can help to calm your stomach. Alternatively, a little bit of lemon in a cup with warm water is a simple and soothing homemade remedy.
Tips to Prevent Loose Motions
Rehydrating
The best home remedy to prevent loose motion is to drink plenty of water. Eating fruits and vegetables that contain natural electrolytes like bananas and salted cucumber will also help you stay away from diarrhea.
Eating a recovery diet (Follow B.R.A.T Diet)
You can prevent diarrhea by following a recovery diet or the B.R.A.T diet, which stands for bananas, rice, apple, and toast. This diet helps in relaxing your gut and reducing water content in the stool.
Avoiding certain foods
Caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks will all increase the chance of you being struck by diarrhea. So, it is wise to limit your consumption of such drinks, especially if you are prone to loose motion.
Taking probiotics
Probiotics are essential to maintain a healthy gut. If there are some changes in your diet or routine, then it is strongly recommended that you consume some dietary probiotics to balance gut health and prevent loose motion.
Trying medicines
Home remedies for loose motion may not help in all cases. So it is always good to consult a doctor at a leading hospital like BLK Max or others and take medicines if needed.
Conclusion
Although there are several home remedies for loose motion, they aren't as effective for some people as they are for others. Therefore, you should consult a doctor and take medications if you don't know how to stop loose motion with home remedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I stop loose motion instantly?
It is advisable to consume fewer foods during loose motion and let the stomach relax. However, if the motions are severe, having the following foods can provide relief for a certain time - ginger tea, lemon and salt, carom seeds with water, and coriander and lemon water.
2. Can I drink milk in loose motion?
The gut enzyme that digests milk is washed away during loose motions or diarrhoea. Hence, milk and milk products should be avoided during loose motions for at least three-four days. Even after the loose motions have stopped, you should not consume milk till you are completely fit and fine.
3. Can I drink tea in loose motion?
Teas, especially herbal tea, cure flu, and the common cold. Teas contain compounds that ease the symptoms of loose motion and diarrhoea. Hence, consuming teas within limits can help you feel better during loose motions.
4. What is the best drink for loose motion?
Water, fresh juices, and caffeine-free drinks will help relax the bowels in loose motions. Have a glass of any of the drinks to stay hydrated during loose motions. Add a pinch of salt or sugar to the drinks to make them more effective.
Also read- Loose Motions: Do's and Don'ts
Alert:-
Dr. Manoj Ranka, Consultant, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket says, a person with background medical history like diseases immunocompromised status & elderly tolerate diarrhoea poorly, they might require urgent attention and consult a doctor immediately. And if there is blood, black coloured, rice watery diarrhoeas (cholera) immediately rush to the nearest hospital.
