6 Home Remedies For Loose Motion

Diarrhea is another name for loose motion, and it is one of the most common ailments that affect all age groups – from infants to the elderly. This condition can be highly uncomfortable, but you can treat it by getting enough rest and using home remedies for loose motion. You can get loose motion from either bacteria or a virus, and the condition usually goes away without treatment within two to three days. Almost all of us have experienced diarrhea at a certain point in our lives. Loose motion is often a way your body gets rid of disruption in your gastrointestinal system.
You will learn the following from this post:

• Meaning of loose motion
• Signs of loose motion
• Causes of loose motion
• Natural remedies for loose stools

What is Loose Motion?

Loose motion or diarrhea is a digestive condition that causes a loose, watery bowel movement. A person may suffer from this condition for a few hours or days. The symptoms are expected to improve after a couple of days. However, in some cases – probably severe – the symptoms last longer.
Some people with loose motion use Imodium (loperamide) whenever they discover that they have loose motion. But drugs like that are only meant for severe or frequent diarrhea rather than occasional bouts.

Signs of Loose Motion

The significant signs of loose motions include the following:

• Chills
• Body aches
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Bloating
• Abdominal cramps
• Stomach pain

Loose motions can also be a symptom of other more severe conditions which might require urgent medical attention. Those severe symptoms include the following:

• Dehydration
• Persistent vomiting
• Mucus in the stool
• Blood in the stool

When you notice any of these severe symptoms in you or your loved one(s), do not hesitate to call your doctor as soon as possible. Those symptoms can be an indication of an illness that could become fatal if left untreated for a long time. It is not advisable to incorporate home remedies for loose motion for those severe symptoms.

What Causes Loose Motion?

When you have loose motion, you may make unscheduled trips to the restroom about 4 to 5 times each day, and this condition may go on for some days. However, if your loose motion persists for over a week, it can become pretty worrisome and might require immediate medical attention. Some factors can cause the onset of loose motions – some common causes include the following:

• Bacteria like campylobacter, salmonella, E.coli present in contaminated food and water can trigger loose motions.
• Viral infections like viral rotavirus, norovirus, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis can cause loose motions.
• Irritable bowel syndrome due to stress can cause the symptoms of loose motions to occur.
• Some people are not tolerable to certain foods or certain ingredients present in foods. Their inability to digest these foods can cause loose motion. For instance, lactose-intolerant people can experience diarrhea on consuming milk or any dairy products. Similarly, people can be intolerant to fructose present in fruits.
• Sometimes, intestinal conditions like gallbladder disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or inflammatory bowel disease can trigger loose motions.
• Hereditary disorders like cystic fibrosis can also cause loose motions.
• Consuming raw or unpasteurized milk can affect the digestive system, which may cause loose motions.
• Deficiency of nutritious food or malnutrition can cause loose motions.
• Ingesting certain medications like antibiotics can have a laxative effect that can trigger diarrhea.

Foods to Consume while Suffering from Loose Motion

The following foods will help reduce the symptoms arising from loose motions:

1. Pomegranates

Besides the fact that it can hydrate the body, pomegranates can also help deal with loose motions.

2. Bananas

Banana has starch that can thicken the stool and make it firm. In addition, bananas have high potassium content that can help improve digestion and reduce loose motions.

3. Sugar Syrup

Taking a cup of sugar syrup can help eliminate the symptoms of loose motions.

4. White Rice

Plain white rice has a high carbohydrate content that can digest easily. Rice is a natural binding element, which means that it can make stool become firmer. When you suffer from loose motion, you should consume either plain rice or rice with chicken broth.

5. Guava

Guavas also contain astringent properties that can effectively eliminate the issue of loose motions.

6. Carrots

Consuming a lot of carrots can give you relief from loose motions because of the pectin it contains. You can either drink a glass or cup of fresh carrot juice or consume steamed carrots.

7. BRAT Diet

Brat simply means bananas, rice, apples, and toast. All these can provide relief from loose motions.

8. Strawberries

The high fiber contained in strawberries can firm up the watery or loose stools and improve the functioning of the digestive system.

9. Sago

Sago seeds can be excellent in providing relief from loose motion. Soak sago or tapioca seeds in water before drinking.

10. Bottle Gourd Juice

This liquid vegetable can be effective for people suffering from loose motions. Drinking this fresh vegetable juice can help maintain proper hydration levels in the body.

11. Mashed Potatoes

Adding starchy foods to your diet, such as boiled potatoes, can add weight to the stools and give the body the necessary energy because the body easily absorbs nutrients from starchy foods. Potatoes are excellent comfort food, but they also contain a high potassium level. You can boil the potatoes and leave them in mashed form. Your tummy will relax when adding a little salt to the mashed potatoes before eating.

Tips to Prevent Loose Motions and Get Rid of Diarrhea Naturally

The following tips are how you can prevent loose motions. After all, prevention is better than cure. So if you want to avoid having to suffer from diarrhea in the future, these tips are pretty essential to follow:

• First, make sure you eat healthy and hygienic food.
• Incorporate foods rich in fiber into your daily diet. You can consume foods like bananas, broccoli, and peas.
• Identify the foods that do not sit well in you and keep yourself from taking them at all.
• Third, drink enough water and healthy beverages to remain hydrated. Ensure that you drink clean, boiled water.
• Fourth, reduce excessive intake of alcohol and caffeine.
• Wash your hands always to keep viral and bacterial infections from spreading

6 Home Remedies for Loose Motion

Acute diarrhea lasts less than a fortnight, and it can come from many sources, such as:

• Water contaminated with an infectious agent
• Recent use of antibiotics
• A bacterial infection
• A viral infection

Children are more susceptible to infectious diarrhea than adults. Diarrhea is often caused by a virus. Traveler’s diarrhea, however, can occur if you travel to an underdeveloped area that has contaminated water. Bacteria from improperly cooked or stored foods are the significant causes of food poisoning.
The following are some of the most effective remedies to stop loose motion:

1. Hydration

Hydration is essential when you suffer from loose motion. Dehydration from loose motion could lead to death in children and adults. When infants have diarrhea, the best way to hydrate them is by constantly breastfeeding them or giving them the necessary formula they need. OTC oral pediatric hydration solutions, such as Pedialyte, are the recommended liquid of choice for kids with diarrhea. In addition, you should frequently give small amounts of hydration solutions. These formulas also come in popsicle preparation.
Research has revealed that OTC rehydration solutions or sports drinks are effective for adults with mild symptoms of loose motion. However, you should not take soda, milk, alcohol, and other caffeinated or carbonated beverages for hydration, because they can worsen your symptoms.

2. Probiotics

Probiotics provide ‘good’ bacteria that help your intestinal tract to create a healthy gut environment. Probiotics are live microorganisms you can find in certain foods, such as:

• yogurt
• tempeh
• sourdough bread
• pickles
• natto
• miso
• sauerkraut
• kombucha
• kimchi
• kefir
• green olives
• dark chocolate
• cottage cheese
• beet kvass
• aged soft cheeses

You can easily get probiotics in pill or powder form. Those good bacteria that reside in your intestinal tract are essential for the normal functioning of your gastrointestinal system. In addition, those bacteria play a vital role in shielding your intestines against infection. When antibiotics change your system or overwhelm it with harmful viruses or bacteria, you may suffer from loose motion. Probiotics can help with loose motion by restoring bacterial balance in your gut.
One of the probiotics is a yeast probiotic called saccharomyces boulardii; even though it may not be a bacterium, it functions like one. This probiotic may improve loose motion associated with antibiotic. S. boulardii also seems to relieve the symptoms of traveler’s diarrhea. In addition, research has led that S. boulardii may help your intestines battle away unwanted pathogens and make sure your intestines are properly absorbing nutrients. Because this probiotic is a yeast, you must use it with extreme caution. However, proper medical care is the best way to treat acute loose motion. Discuss with your healthcare provider before using probiotic supplements to treat your loose motion.

3. Eating a Recovery Diet

When recovering from loose motion, a diet of little, frequent meals can supersede eating three larger meals a day. An excellent diet for someone with loose motion may include:

• adequate amount of protein
• cooked, soft vegetables
• foods with electrolytes, such as sports drinks and miso soup
• foods with high potassium content, such as sweet potatoes and potatoes
• foods containing pectin, such as fruits

Some people discovered that taking a liquid meal for the first 24 hours of loose motion helps settle the digestive system. This may include drinks, bland soups, and salty broth. Another dietary option for people with loose motion is the BRAT diet, which combines bland foods high in starch but low in fiber. The BRAT diet can help produce more solid bowel movements. The diet also contains healthy nutrients like pectin and potassium.

4. Avoid Certain Foods

Avoiding some specific foods may help reduce the issue of loose motion. Some foods worsen diarrhea by putting pressure on the gastrointestinal tract. Such foods include:

• high-fructose foods
• foods containing artificial sweeteners
• spicy foods
• high-fat foods

Some doctors warn against taking dairy products because they may worsen loose motion in some people. While there is no solid evidence for this claim, people with lactose intolerance should stay away from these products.

5. Drink Tea

Some people claim that chamomile tea is an excellent remedy for loose motion, but the evidence supporting this claim is still weak. However, specific research did discover that a combination of the flower extract of chamomile, coffee charcoal, and a tree resin (myrrh) helped with severe loose motion.
Lemongrass tea, too, may be beneficial for relieving stomach ailments because it effectively calms the gut. It may not necessarily cure loose motion, but it can relieve one from cramps and other stomach discomforts.

6. Ginger

People have relied on ginger for their healing for millennia, and it is also a remedy for all forms of stomach issues, but it can effectively treat nausea more than loose motion. Ginger is commonly used in tea, food, and supplement form to relieve motion sickness, nausea after chemotherapy or surgery, and pregnancy-related queasiness. All in all, ginger is an excellent remedy for stomach upset. Before using ginger, however, ensure that you first ask your doctor. Ginger may actually aggravate loose motion in some people and cause digestive issues like heartburn or gas. Therefore, it is even more important for pregnant women to consult a healthcare provider before taking any new supplements or medications.

Final Thoughts

Most mild loose motions go away without treatment after a couple of days. However, if you cannot deal with the pain or wait for the condition to subside, you can consider trying the natural ways to stop diarrhea already provided above. Mild diarrhea or loose motion may not require any medication. Just try drinking lots of fluid, taking probiotics, and temporarily changing your diet. If the loose motion does not go away after a couple of days, inform your healthcare provider about it. You may have to be diagnosed with a more severe condition. It is better to discover your ailment as early as possible.