Adult Diarrhea

Chamomile, fenugreek and meadowsweet also stop light cases of diarrhea. Even more important, they tone the intestine and reduce the pain and inflammation that sometimes accompany diarrhea.

Blackberries are my favorite because they are by far the most potent of these plants. Conveniently, they also grow abundantly around my house. The root bark of the blackberry plant produces the strongest diarrhea remedy I know. You may have trouble, however, finding it in a store, even though it appears on the FDA safety list. This may be because digging up blackberry roots is such hard work! However, if you happen to have blackberries in your yard, as I do, only a few inches of root will give you plenty of medicine! Early American women had an easier solution to stop what they called "the runs"—they served their families blackberry jelly on toast.

In the early twentieth century, North American salesmen carried blackberry wine as they traveled from town to town. In fact, some still do! A few years ago, a man sitting next to me on a plane asked what I did. When I told him I was an herbalist, he opened his briefcase to show me a bottle of blackberry brandy next to the calculator, tape recorder and pens. He said that his father and his grandfather had been salesmen, and of all the tricks they taught him, the secret of blackberry was the best. He added that this trick was why his dad and granddad could pride themselves on never missing an appointment, even when traveling south of the border.

Because your body uses diarrhea to flush out "bad" food and intestinal invaders such as viral or bacterial infections and parasites, so it is not always a good idea to stop it. However, this cleaning attempt is not always successful. In any case, having diarrhea for more than two days can make you weak and cause your body to lose important nutrients. Your best bet is to use herbs not only to stop the diarrhea but also to treat the problem that caused it in the first place.

Fortunately, all the berries already mentioned contain a substance called tannin, which tones and temporarily tightens the intestinal lining. This helps prevent the irritating and toxic substances that cause diarrhea from being absorbed back into the bloodstream. Tannins also reduce the bleeding that may result from diarrhea, but if things get that bad, you must see your doctor immediately. You may need to take a dose every half hour or so for a few hours to stop the diarrhea. If the condition persists for more than a few days and the herbs seem to be doing nothing to help resolve it, consult a health care professional.

Do not let diarrhea go unchecked for days, especially in small children. The resulting loss of water and electrolytes can lead to serious dehydration and weakness. If you need to treat your child for diarrhea, you will find more information in "Diarrhea" in chapter 87. Finally, researchers have found that the herb gentian helps counter the debilitating feeling that sometimes goes along with diarrhea, in part by its action on the digestive tract.

Blackberry Cordial

1 tablespoon chamomile tincture

¼ cup blackberry brandy

3 drops ginger essential oil

2 drops peppermint essential oil

Combine ingredients. Shake well before using. Take 1 teaspoon every 30 minutes.

European Blueberry Remedy

3 heaping tablespoons dried blueberries

1 pint cold water

Put berries in water in a pan and bring to a boil. Let simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes. When the mixture is cool, strain it into a bottle. Take 2 tablespoons every half hour as needed. Stored in the refrigerator, this mixture will keep for a few days.