Mailbag: Diarrhea Remedies That Really Work
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted October 22, 2024
“I have had diarrhea for 6 months. I’m going crazy and don’t know how to stop it! Please help!”
– Can’t Stop Running
Dear Can’t Stop,
Few things disrupt life like battling a bout of diarrhea.
Diarrhea is typically defined as having three or more loose, watery stools daily. If you experience this for over four weeks, it’s considered chronic diarrhea and can quickly transform from frustrating into potentially harmful to your health.
When my patients come to me complaining of diarrhea, I typically recommend several different approaches that might help:
- Probiotics: An out-of-balance microbiome can be behind loose stools. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help restore gut balance. A high-quality supplement or eating more fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, or sauerkraut could help.
- Herbal soothers: Chamomile tea, peppermint, and ginger can help soothe an angry digestive tract. Slippery elm bark is an effective anti-inflammatory that can help calm an upset gut.
- Fiber adjustment: While fiber is generally good for digestion, during bouts of diarrhea, reducing insoluble fiber and focusing on more soluble fiber sources like bananas, rice, and oatmeal can be helpful.
- Hydration and electrolytes: Diarrhea can quickly dehydrate you. So, replacing those fluids is critical. Coconut water, herbal teas, plain broth, and plain water are an excellent place to start. There are also simple homemade oral rehydration solution recipes online as well as commercial versions, such as Pedialyte, that can replace lost fluids and minerals.
- Eliminate triggers: Common diarrhea culprits include dairy, gluten, eggs, soy, corn, and artificial sweeteners. An elimination diet (removing one food or category at a time for a week) can help identify specific trigger foods.
- Stress management: Chronic stress wreaks havoc on your gut. Meditation, yoga, or other relaxation techniques are a fantastic way to blow off stress.
- Bone broth: Bone broth is rich in minerals and amino acids that can help heal the gut lining.
- Zinc: Some studies suggest zinc can help reduce the duration of diarrhea.
Any combination of these tips could be the key to ending a brief battle with diarrhea.
However, I also always warn my own patients that chronic diarrhea is a serious condition that can lead to severe dehydration, malnutrition, and other health complications.
In fact, if left untreated prolonged diarrhea can even be life-threatening, so it’s vital to seek medical attention promptly if you develop diarrhea and it doesn’t clear up soon.
P.S. Is your bathroom hiding a dirty secret?
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
Take the SHORTER Path to Dramatically Better Health
Are you tired of fitness gurus preaching the virtues of 5 AM workouts and pushing Olympic-level training regimens? Their narrative can feel exhausting and entirely unattainable. But before you toss in the towel completely, I’ve got news that might just put a spring back into your step. A groundbreaking new study reveals that the key...
Unexpected Perks of Your Coffee Habit Revealed!
We all know that the first cup of coffee in the morning can FEEL like a lifesaver. But what if it might actually BE saving your life? A groundbreaking new study suggests that your daily coffee habit could be protecting you from not just one but multiple chronic diseases. Let’s pour over this fascinating research…...
The TRUTH About Diabetes Drugs and Brain Aging
You’ve probably seen the gushing headlines… Most say something like, “Common diabetes drug protects the brain against aging!” And let’s face it, that sounds fantastic. After all, who doesn’t want to keep their brain young and in tip-top shape? The headlines refer to the results of a new study that suggests the widely prescribed type...
Hidden Smartphone Danger Puts You at Risk
Remember when we thought cell phones were just something for young folks to obsess over? Back when we were convinced they were nothing more than a passing fad? Well, times certainly have changed. Now, most people… including many of us older folks… have jumped on the smartphone bandwagon. Heck, some of us are practically as...
Preserve Your Mobility with “Agile Aging” Exercises
Aging has a way of humbling us. You lose hair where you want to keep it—and often end up growing it where you don’t. With every passing year, your eyesight fades, and your waistline expands. And as your once quick pace begins to slow, you fear developing the dreaded “senior shuffle.” But here’s the thing....
Yes, Lazy Saturday Lie-Ins Can BOOST Your Health
Are you burning the midnight oil during the week and catching up on sleep on weekends? Well, I’ve got some news that might help you feel less guilty about those lazy Saturday mornings. A new study suggests that weekend lie-ins might be doing far more than just helping you feel refreshed. Experts say they could...
Mailbag: 7 Hidden Culprits Behind Your Weight Gain
“Why am I gaining weight, even though I am watching what I am eating?” – Battling the Bulge Dear Battling, Gaining weight when you’re not trying to is frustrating. And it just gets worse as we age… often regardless of our diet. The truth is that various factors can promote weight gain even when you’re...
Popular Artificial Sweetener Linked to Dangerous Heart Risk
Remember when erythritol was the darling of the health food world? Well, this popular sugar substitute might not be as sweet a deal as we were led to believe… A shocking new study reveals a dark side to this widely used artificial sweetener. It turns out erythritol is associated with a dangerous—and even deadly—heart risk....
Cracking the Code on Chronic Inflammation
Inflammation and obesity are the evil tag team at the heart of nearly every major disease we face—from diabetes to obesity. What starts as a normal, healthy process to fend off dangerous invaders can quickly fan into the flames of chronic inflammation… and that includes in your gut. The trouble is almost no one has...
Dreaming of Better Sleep? Your Gut Holds the Key
Do you toss and turn at night? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, if you’re a senior over 65, you join nearly 17 percent of your peers who ALSO struggle with poor sleep quality. But science has uncovered a natural supplement that not only could help you catch more Z’s but can also give...