Diarrhea

Diarrhea

Back in my musical days, I spent a summer playing bass fiddle with a trio at the Ocean Forest Hotel north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Our vocalist was also a drummer, but for some strange reason, the musicians' union would not allow us to have three instruments. So the vocalist just used drummer's brushes on a folded newspaper on the piano. We told the union, "Look, only two instruments, a bass and a piano."

What a summer that was. My bandmates and I had day jobs painting signs, and then we played music at night. We drank too much and didn't eat enough good food. Our systems were so thrown off-kilter that we all developed bad cases of diarrhea. We honored our affliction by calling the band Three Squirts in the Fountain.

The Dire Discomfort

Everyone knows what diarrhea is. Many serious diseases can cause it. And infectious diarrhea, caused by viruses or bacteria, still ranks as a leading killer of Third World children. But this chapter is devoted to common, run-of-the-mill diarrhea that usually clears up within 48 hours.

The most important thing to do for diarrhea is to drink fluids, but a lot of people do just the opposite. They cut down in the mistaken belief that refraining from drinking fluids will help the body stop producing them.

How well I remember one of our ecotourists at Machu Picchu. She was so convinced that her diarrhea was caused by the water that she refused to drink any. The physicians who accompanied us had a tough job convincing her to drink even bottled water.

The fact is, the main medical risk of ordinary diarrhea is dehydration. So keep getting fluids by sipping water or astringent iced tea throughout the day.

Green Pharmacy for Diarrhea

There are a number of herbal approaches to clearing up a bout of diarrhea. All of these herbs contain one or more of three natural ingredients, tannin, pectin and mucilage.

Tannins are the chemicals that give some herbs their astringency--that is, the ability to bind up or contract tissues. Tannins' astringent action reduces intestinal inflammation. The tannins bind to the protein layer of the inflamed mucous membranes and cause them to thicken, hence slowing resorption of toxic materials and restricting secretions.

Pectin is a soluble fiber that adds bulk to stool and soothes the gut. The "pectate" in the over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicine Kaopectate contains pectin.

Mucilage soothes the digestive tract and adds bulk to stool by absorbing water and swelling considerably.

Here are several of the many herbs that can be helpful.

Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria). Commission E endorses agrimony for common diarrhea, probably due to its high tannin content. Try using two to three teaspoons of leaves to make a tea.

Apple (Malus domestica). Apple pulp is rich in pectin. That's why apples and applesauce are a hallowed folk remedy for diarrhea. (Apple pectin also helps treat constipation because it acts as a gentle stool softener. Like psyllium, it's amphoteric, which means that it works in either direction, plugging you up if your bowels are loose or loosening you up if you are constipated.)

Bilberry and blueberry (Vaccinium, various species). Dried (not fresh) fruits of bilberry and blueberry help relieve diarrhea because they are rich in both tannins and pectin.

Blackberry and raspberry (Rubus, various species). Commission E, the body of scientists that advises the German government about herbs, suggests making an astringent tea with two teaspoons of blackberry leaf. Oddly, it does not mention raspberry leaf, which is a close botanical relative that is also high in tannin. I've used both and found them effective.

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua). Years ago in Panama, I had an acute attack of salmonella, a type of food poisoning, after I'd handled fresh-water turtles that harbor the bacteria. My Panamanian doctor prescribed powdered carob for the diarrhea, and it seemed to work. That was nearly 30 years ago.

Then just a few months ago, I reviewed a study of 41 infants with bacterial or viral diarrhea. Children given an inactive substance (a placebo) had diarrhea for an average of nearly four days. Children given carob powder had it for only two days.

Carrot (Daucus carota). I like the idea of using cooked carrots to treat infant diarrhea. When they're cooked, carrots seem to soothe the digestive tract and control the diarrhea while also providing nutrients that are lost during the attack.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). The seeds of this herb contain up to 50 percent mucilage, so they swell in the gut, thus relieving diarrhea. (They also help relieve constipation by softening stool.) Just don't use more than two teaspoons at a time, as more may cause abdominal distress.

Oak (Quercus, various species). Commission E recommends using one to two teaspoons of dried oak bark to make an astringent tea.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum). Pomegranate, an herb mentioned in the Bible, is often used to treat diarrhea. I'm not surprised, because the seeds are astringent.

Psyllium (Plantago ovata). Psyllium is useful for relieving constipation. Its high mucilage content also makes it useful for treating diarrhea. By absorbing a great deal of water, psyllium adds bulk to stool. (In constipation, it speeds up transit time by increasing the volume of bowel content.) You should watch how you react to this herb if you have allergies, however. If allergic symptoms develop after you take it once, don't use it again.

Tea (Camellia sinensis). One of the most astringent plants around is conventional tea in conventional tea bags. Under Food and Drug Administration regulations, Lipton can't make medicinal claims. But the next time you have diarrhea, try a nice cup of tea.