Diarrhea Treatment   A temporary episode of diarrhea usually indicates a mild, self-limiting event, which frequently resolves within a day or two.  If the condition gets progressively worse, it may be wise to call on a physician for assistance.  Once the type of diarrhea is determined, the underlying causes can then be treated.   Because of the extreme loss of fluids, diarrhea is usually accompanied by dehydration.  Lost fluids and electrolytes should be replaced by drinking juices, herbal teas, broths, or electrolyte-replacement drinks. An antidiarrheal drug, such as loperamide, may be prescribed.  Antibiotics may also be prescribed to treat persistent diarrhea with a bacteria or parasitic cause.     Supplements helpful for Diarrhea   Probiotics (lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria) Probiotics including lactobacillus acidophilus (small bowel friendly bacteria) and bifidobacteria (large bowel friendly bacteria) are nutritional supplements containing the same beneficial bacteria that are found in the digestive tract.  Probiotics supplementation is important for the treatment of diarrhea of any kind, and is shown to enhance intestinal tract immunity, improve digestive health, relieve food allergy symptoms, and insure healthy intestinal microflora.  Since antibiotics are used to treat persistent diarrhea with a bacteria or parasitic cause and often destroy friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract, probiotic supplementation is particularly helpful. [2-5]   Pancreatic Digestive Enzymes Digestive enzymes containing pancreatic enzymes (protease, lipase, and amylase) aid digestion and help the body to absorb and completely utilize the food. Digestive enzymes supplementation is particularly helpful for diarrhea caused by food allergy and nutritional malabsorption problems as well as a parasitic infection.[6-8]   Lactase Digestive Enzymes Deficiency in the digestive enzyme, lactase, is common worldwide.  This enzyme is solely responsible for digesting milk and dairy products.  Lactose-intolerant people don't produce enough lactase to properly digest milk and dairy products, and often suffer from symptoms ranging from minor bloating and abdominal pain, to severe diarrhea.  Lactase-containing enzyme supplements can aid in the digestion of lactose-containing foods and reduce the symptoms associated with this condition. [9]   Berberine Standardized berberine, extracted from berberine-containing plants such as goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape, and goldthread, may be effective in treating gastrointestinal infections such as traveler's diarrhea, shigellosis, food poisoning, giardiasis, amebiasis, and cholera.  Studies have show that diarrhea caused by E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Faecalis aerogenes, or the parasite Giardia, is effectively treated by berberine supplementation. [10-12]  Another study reports that traveler's diarrhea can be helped with the dietary supplementation of berberine. [13]   Carob Carob powder has been shown to be an effective treatment of acute diarrhea.  One study indicates that young children hospitalized with acute diarrhea of bacterial and viral origin benefited from carob powder supplementation. [14]   Pectin and Kaolin The use of pectin (fruit fiber) alone, or in combination with Kaolin (clay), is an effective natural treatment for diarrhea. [15]  Pectin and kaolin have been traditionally used as bulking agents to improve stool consistency, and are found in popular antidiarrheal drugs, like Kaopectate, Donnagel, and Kaodene.   Electrolyte-Replacement Drinks Electrolyte-replacement drinks are useful for replacing the fluids and electrolytes [such as potassium, sodium, and chloride] lost with diarrhea. [16]   Learn More About Diarrhea Introduction to Diarrhea Diarrhea Treatment Products helpful for Diarrhea Go Back Learn More

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