Anyone know of an inexpensive diareah remedy?

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Standard corporate stuff is,like,5-8 bucks for 10 doses or so.I'm looking for a counterpart for my epsom salt laxatives!

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), October 14, 1999

Answers

Boil rice in water and drink the water. I remember my aunt doing this for family members a lot of times. I was just a kid, so I don't know if it works. She called it Trot Stop. This is the same aunt that cured trench mouth in babies by using contents of a slop bucket. I do not remember the details of this remedy only that a lot of mothers brought their babies to her.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), October 14, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

I don't. However, I do know that it would be wise to have oral rehydration salts or commercially available pre-mixed solutions such as is available as Pedialyte.



-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), October 14, 1999.


One that a doctor gave me some years back is to eat two heaping tablespoons to flour. This will stop things up quick! It works, but is difficult for some to take due to the taste. I use it every now and then for the dog, too.

This does not tackle any underlying causes...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), October 14, 1999.


MM...are you saying 2 Tablespoons of flour???? Do you mean mixed with water to make a paste, or what? I don't get it...

My herb chart suggests cayenne, camomile and peppermint help with diareah. I buy all of these by the pound and always keep them on hand....You would make a tea with the camolile and/or peppermint. Peppermint tea is good after your meal to generally help with digestion.

-- Margo (margos@bigisland.com), October 14, 1999.


I do know the flour has to be all purpose flour not self rising. This sounds like the same remedy of the rice water, which is pretty thick when it cools.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), October 14, 1999.


Come on, cheap store brand version of Pepto Bismol! Buy some generic lomotil for really bad cases. Buy a bottle of the cheapest pink stuff each week and you will probably have plenty! Though I also find it interesting to read other ideas, and will stockpile the knowledge in case we need it. Also remember that a common cause of vomiting/diarrhea is food poisoning - so be really careful with what you eat/drink. Good luck!

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), October 15, 1999.

From dotpharmacy, a British site

A run-in with diarrhoea

Diarrhoea can hit when it is least expected, leaving the sufferer embarrassed and distressed. Derek Balon, community pharmacist and King's College lecturer, discusses how these patients can be saved from dire straits To be familiar with the pathaphysiology of diarrhoea

To be aware of the causes of diarrhoea

To diagnose diarrhoea using the menomonic SCRUTINY

To be aware of drug and non-drug management of diarrhoea

Diarrhoea may be defined as the more frequent passing of stools, which are more fluid than usual. It should be noted that this definition reflects a significant change from normal. The fluidity is important: stools contain about 100-200ml of fluid; in a patient with severe diarrhoea this can increase to 10 litres in 24 hours.

Incidence

It is difficult to obtain accurate figures for the incidence of all self-limiting minor conditions, as most surveys are the result of self-reporting. However, 19 per cent of respondents to a British survey reported diarrhoea in the last year and 4 per cent in the previous two weeks.

Pathophysiology

There are four major pathophysiological mechanisms which result in diarrhoea.

In the normal gut, the balance between absorption and secretion of fluids is maintained. Diarrhoea is the result of a significant change in this balance, favouring excess fluid reaching the lower colon. Ion-transport mechanisms are the primary regulators of this balance, which act in conjunction with various hormones (vasopressin, glucocorticoids) and some neurotransmitters (serotonin). Various diseases affect these regulators which result in diarrhoea. Drugs may act directly (altering osmolarity) or indirectly (antibiotics allowing overgrowth of toxin-producing bacteria) giving rise to diarrhoea.

Causes

Diarrhoea can be either acute or chronic. Chronic diarrhoea is defined as diarrhoea of more than four weeks standing and is outside the remit of community pharmacists: such patients must be referred to their general practitioner for assessment.

Acute diarrhoea is often caused by bacteria and viruses. In children, the most common causative organism is viral. Two viruses are implicated: the rotavirus in infants and children (six to 24 months old); the Norwalk virus in adults.

'Food poisoning', a term used to describe the condition which results from pathogenic bacteria ingested with food, is common for adults, as is dietary indiscretion. The bacteria which cause diarrhoea may be classified into non-invasive and invasive: non-invasive bacteria do not damage gut mucosa directly but produce exotoxins which interfere with the normal secretory/absorption process. Invasive bacteria directly attack mucosal cells which causes the diarrhoea; stools from such an attack may contain blood and pus.

The mechanism of virally-induced diarrhoea is not fully understood, but is believed that the normally absorptive intestinal lining becomes secretory, resulting in excess water in the colon. Some protozoa and fungi also cause diarrhoea.

Some drugs cause diarrhoea, most notably antibiotics (especially clindamycin). Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) is usually the result of an overgrowth of an antibiotic-resistant bacteria or fungi which produces toxins.

Presentation

The presentation of diarrhoea is usually straightforward. The only problem normally encountered is the patient's embarrassment to talk about the subject.

Questions to ask:

describe the stool - formed or watery

how often do you pass a stool?

how long have you had these symptoms?

was the onset sudden?

any blood or mucus in the stool?

any other symptoms?

anyone else with this problem?

any questionable food/alcohol excess recently?

have you been abroad within the last week?

what about medicines/drugs?

age?

Diagnosis

Pharmacists should not treat chronic diarrhoea and should be wary of treating acute diarrhoea of more than 24 hours' duration. The following refers only to acute diarrhoea.

Symptom complex Acute diarrhoea is characterised by its rapid onset, which may be accompanied by gastric cramp, stomach pains, colonic pain, flatulence, nausea and vomiting, and occasionally pyrexia. Formed stool is not often present in patients with true diarrhoea, although at the start of an attack stool may be mixed or only semi-formed. The presence of blood or mucus in the stool requires referral as does a temperature (>380C) or any signs of dehydration (loss of skin turgor). Pyrexia is more common with invasive bacterial attack.

Region Self-explanatory: the passing of stool. Pains associated with this condition can be either in the upper or lower region of the intestine or both.

Universal factors Common causes of diarrhoea include 'bad' or unusual food, alcohol, drugs and contaminated water, especially for those who have travelled abroad. In the case of 'food poisoning', others who ate the same food may have a similar problem.

Provoking factors: one of the most commonly encountered causes of diarrhoea in community pharmacy is bacteria. Foods which are unusual for the patient may cause the problem as may spicy meals or alcohol excess.

Relieving factors: self-treatment by having no food will, in the majority of cases, reduce the diarrhoea to a point at which it will cease (self-limited condition). In the more severe cases, drug treatment is required.

Time/intensity Dehydration is the major risk to patients so the time/intensity continuum has to reflect this. Loss of fluid in the stool may be considerable. The passing of loose watery stools for more than 24 hours may be serious and such patients should be referred. Less severe water loss over a period of two to three days also requires referral.

Natural history Attacks often start with griping stomach and/or lower colon pains. Diarrhoea follows, frequently with the initial stool formed (absorption from the gut being normal when this was formed). Subsequently, the stool becomes unstructured and watery. Some gas may be passed. Nausea and vomiting may occur, especially with infectious bacterial attack.

Management

Attention has already been drawn to the fact that only acute diarrhoea should be treated by the pharmacist: chronic cases should be referred. Once again CARE should be taken. Chronic/risk group/age Infants are always at risk from diarrhoea and such patients should only be treated by advising rehydration therapy and referral. The elderly should also be cautiously assessed. They frequently have other chronic conditions which raise management risks, especially diabetics and those with heart disease (ion balance problems). Allergies This does not normally create any problems. Reaction of proposed medication The use of anti-diarrhoeal agents, if used for any length of time, may produce constipation. Establish patient preference The best treatment for most acute diarrhoea cases seen by pharmacists is to allow it to take its natural course (non-suppression), perhaps with the use of rehydration therapy. Patients may find this socially awkward. Furthermore, they find the act of passing stool uncomfortable and disagreeable.

Non-drug approach

The objectives of management are:

prevent dehydration

relief of symptoms

identify and remove causation. Relief of the symptoms may not be the best course of action. Many acute diarrhoeas are self-limiting and non-intervention may be the most suitable management course.

Acute bacterial diarrhoea should be allowed to run its course (24-48 hours maximum) - no food for at least 24 hours.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies fed on breast milk may be allowed to continue after rehydration. Drug-induced diarrhoea requires identification of the causative agents and its removal, if appropriate.

Protozoal diarrhoeas must be identified and a suitable treatment to eradicate the invading organism should be instituted (by the doctor).

Food/alcohol-induced diarrhoea requires abstinence from the offending substance and time for the intestine to recover.

Product selection

If there is a clear indication that drugs should be employed, there are two major product classes to be considered: anti-peristaltic and rehydration agents. Anti-peristaltic agents: the opiates, especially codeine used to be used. Loperamide is now the drug of choice. It reduces gastric motility and produces positive water and electrolyte movement. It also reduces cramp. Rehydration preparations: the councils of perfection suggest that rehydration therapy should be employed, even for normal adults. Such preparations replace lost electrolytes and the glucose present provides energy and promotes electrolyte absorption.

Antispasmodics: (eg alverine) do little to reduce diarrhoea but may reduce cramp.

Absorbents: (eg kaolin) have little effect.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 15, 1999.


This looks like a good place for the fluid replacement recipe Ken Seger put on the forum.

ELECTROLYTE AND FLUID REPLACEMENT

One teaspoon of "Lite Salt" (by Morton, 1/2 iodized potassium chloride, 1/2 sodium chloride in a light blue cylinder, next to the regular salt at the grocery store)

1/3 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate),

10 teaspoons of table sugar (sucrose),

one quart of water.

This is a life saving fluid replacement and partial electrolyte expedient replacement. At least it is expedient if you have had the foresight to purchase the above three items BEFORE an emergency happens while it is readily available and very cheap. Many people die in times of emergency because of fluid losses. This can be from burns, vomiting, or diarrhea. The body needs water and certain water soluble chemicals to function. If either or both of these drop below a certain level, you die. There are many non-fatal diseases like cholera that become fatal due to lack of simple things like proper fluid replacement. If you have ever had a bad case of diarrhea and start to have pain in your muscles or joints, you have had the early warning symptoms of a potassium deficiency.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), October 15, 1999.


Thanks, Pearlie, for posting that recipe...My question is how much do you drink? Is one quart enough for 1 person per day? Is this a similar solution to something like Gatorade?

And, also, I wonder if you can use regular salt?

Thank you, Margo

-- Margo (margos@bigisland.com), October 15, 1999.


You must use Lite salt because regular salt doesn't have potassium in it. Potassium is very important in this recipe. As to how much you need to drink, I'm afraid you're on your own.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), October 15, 1999.


Old home remedy: blackberry brandy. Dosage depends on severity. Guaranteed stopper-upper! Stock up!!!

-- Big D (ddac82@yahoo.com), October 15, 1999.

I would guess that if it was just running through you that you'd want to keep drinking the electrolytes to absorb what you could before it ran out.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), October 16, 1999.

Bananas are very "binding" for diarrhea sufferers. Adds potassium as well.

-- Jill D. (jdance@mindspring.com), October 17, 1999.

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