Diarrhea Treatment

Clay has a long history of being used internally. Since most people still equate clay with dirt and mud, the thought of ingesting clay internally may seem a little unsettling. It shouldn’t be.

For centuries, various clays have proven very effective at safely stopping diarrhea symptoms and even many types of food poisoning. Research has documented its use in China, Germany, France, and elsewhere to effectively treat cholera and to combat dysentery and other forms of diarrhea. One study from the 1960s involved 35 different individuals whose diarrhea symptoms were being caused by food poisoning, food allergy, viral infection, spastic colitis, or mucous colitis.

Two tablespoons of smectite clay (montmorillonite) were given with distilled water three times a day. (In the food allergy cases, six tablespoons of clay per day were used.) In 34 of the 35 individuals, the diarrhea was stopped in an average of 3.8 days, and bowel movements reduced to an average of 1.8 per day. Food allergy–induced diarrhea proved to be the most difficult cases, whereas those from viral infections resolved the quickest. (Med Ann Dist Columbia 61;30:326-328)

Until the late 1990s, the once very popular anti-diarrheal medicine Kaopectate contained the mineral clay kaolin, primarily found in Georgia and Alabama. It worked great, but there was some concern that the clay was mildly radioactive. The formula later was changed to include attapulgite clay, but around 2003, the formula was changed again and all clay was eliminated, due to possible lead contamination. It was replaced with pink bismuth subsalicylate (the same as Pepto Bismol). (If you’re wondering why it doesn’t work as well as it used to, this is probably the reason.)

For more information on diarrhea treatments, constipation and diarrhea, or other bowel problems, visit www.drdavidwilliams.com.

As I was sitting eating my crunchy, delicious 15 day–fermented sauerkraut recently, I ran across a study showing that infectious digestive disorders are among the biggest risks to our military troops who are deployed overseas. Every month, about 30 percent get infectious diarrhea. Those who had experienced even just one incident had six times the risk for subsequent functional diarrhea and four times the risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome.

The medical records of personnel deployed in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom indicate the fourth leading cause of their visits to Veterans Affairs medical centers was chronic gastrointestinal disorders. As many as 20 percent of these patients have conditions that have persisted for five years or longer after returning home.

It’s not hard to understand the high incidence of this problem, considering the stress these soldiers are under and the less-than-sanitary conditions they’re exposed to. What is hard to understand is the way these men and women are being treated.

Typical treatment focuses on the use of antibiotics to wipe out the offending bacteria. Patients are then switched to over-the-counter diarrhea treatments and bulking agents when the problem persists. Knowing what we know today, I’m amazed that probiotics aren’t being used to correct and ultimately prevent diarrhea symptoms.

I don’t have cost figures, but I’m certain that adding a daily probiotic supplement to their regimen would be an extremely cost-effective method to prevent many of these problems. And the fact that probiotics aren’t used following every round of antibiotics is absurd.

For more information on diarrhea treatments, body digestion, or bowel regularity in general, visit Dr. Williams’ Web site. While there, you can also sign up for Dr. Williams’ FREE eLetter or subscribe to his monthly newsletter.

Common digestive problems are the second most common cause of hospitalizations. (Pregnancy is #1 with women and coronary problems are #1 with men.) Thousands of diseases can be linked directly to a poor digestive system.

In the case of diarrhea, one of the best diarrhea treatments is to increase your intake of cultured foods, specifically, those made milk products, such as yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, etc.

Yogurt has been used for centuries to cure bowel problems and diarrhea. The oldest people in the world, in the mountains of Russia, reportedly use plenty of yogurt and clabbered milk as their protein source. Similarly, a study at a New York hospital confirmed that between a third and a half cup of ordinary yogurt stopped severe infant diarrhea twice as fast as the standard anti-diarrhea drug Neomycin Kaopectate (Clin. Ped.63;1(7):407-411). In fact, yogurt works so effectively at preventing diarrhea in the first place, it is routinely used for that purpose in hospitals throughout Russia, Japan, and Italy.

Yogurt can do so much more than just correct bowel problems. At least seven natural antibiotics have been isolated from yogurt and fermented milk products. One called acidolin has been shown to be as effective, if not more so, as many prescription antibiotics (J. of Antibiotics 74;27(8):631-636). Eating yogurt may also decrease the risk of cancer. One French study discovered that among women who ate dairy products, those who ate the greatest amounts of yogurt had the lowest rate of breast cancer (J.Nat.Cancer Inst. 86;77(3):633-636).
Yogurt can also drop LDL cholesterol levels as much as 10 percent in one week, while raising HDL cholesterol levels (the good kind) (Ather.77;26[3]:335-340). And regular yogurt (not the low-fat kind) contains the hormone-like substance prostaglandin E2, which, among other things, can prevent ulcers. It can even boost the immune system.

Like just about everything else these days, the type of yogurt you eat makes a difference. The label of any yogurt you buy should say it has "active cultures." Some companies pasteurize the product after it’s been made, and this kills off the remaining beneficial bacteria making it useless. If you can find products made from L. acidophilus bacteria cultures, they will have the greatest benefits. If the yogurts made in your area don’t list the type of cultures used, you may have to call or write the manufacturer.

Also, avoid the yogurts containing sugar. Usually the yogurts with fruit are loaded with sugar. Add your own fruit. Bananas give it a sweet taste and counteract the sourness. For a more consistent sweetness, try blending the banana into the yogurt in the blender.

Digestive problems are the second most common cause of hospitalizations. (Pregnancy is #1 with women and coronary problems are #1 with men.) Thousands of diseases can be linked directly to a poor digestive system. And one of the biggest culprits is bowel problems, specifically a bacteria imbalance in the bowels.

Cultured foods can help intestinal bacteria growth. Generally, cultured foods are made from milk products. Since the bacteria is necessary for their production requires milk sugar (lactose), the end product will contain less sugar and therefore be less sweet. This holds true for all "soured" milk products like yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, etc.

Yogurt has been used for centuries to cure bowel problems and diarrhea. The oldest people in the world, in the mountains of Russia, reportedly use plenty of yogurt and clabbered milk as their protein source. A study at a New York hospital confirmed that between 1/3 and 1/2 cup of ordinary yogurt stopped severe infant diarrhea twice as fast as the standard anti-diarrhea drug Neomycin Kaopectate. (Clin.Ped.63;1(7):407-411.) It works so effectively as a diarrhea treatment, it is routinely used for that purpose in hospitals throughout Russia, Japan and Italy.

Yogurt can do so much more than just correct bowel problems. At least seven natural antibiotics have been isolated from yogurt and fermented milk products. One called acidolin has been shown to be as effective, if not more so, as many prescription antibiotics. (J. of Antibiotics 74;27(8):631-636.) Eating yogurt may also decrease the risk of cancer. One French study discovered that among women who ate dairy products, those who ate the greatest amounts of yogurt had the lowest rate of breast cancer. (J.Nat.Cancer Inst. 86;77(3):633-636.)

Like just about everything else these days, the type of yogurt you eat makes a difference. Don't be fooled by the recent clever marketing of many yogurt products. The label of any yogurt you buy should say it has "active cultures." Some companies pasteurize the product after it’s been made, and this kills off the remaining beneficial bacteria making it useless. If you can find products made from L.acidophilus bacteria cultures, they will have the greatest benefits.

Also, avoid yogurts with fruit, as they are loaded with sugar. Add your own fruit instead. I find that bananas give yogurt a sweet taste and counteract the sourness. For a more consistent sweetness, try blending the banana into the yogurt in the blender.

I’ve found that successful treatment of IBS requires a multi-faceted approach. And key among these are dietary changes. Research (not to mention common sense) shows that there is a strong connection between IBS and diet. Specifically, IBS problems require the addition of fiber in the diet, but two very important factors must be taken into consideration.

First, some types of fiber should be avoided. IBS patients are often sensitive or allergic to certain types of food. Wheat and other grain products are typically on that list. As such, wheat bran and other cereals are generally not the best source of fiber in these cases. Instead, water-soluble fibers that promote the formation of protective gel and mucus in the bowel are best. This type of fiber is found in guar gum, psyllium, oat bran, flax seeds, fruits, vegetables and legumes (or beans and peas).

Secondly, although increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables is essential in treating IBS, during periods of diarrhea they are best avoided. But they should be reintroduced gradually when the bowels are normal. The amounts and timing will vary from individual to individual. The same holds true for the amount of guar gum or psyllium that needs to be taken. It would be impossible for me to give the exact amount needed. Each person will have to monitor bowel consistency and looseness and adjust the dosages accordingly.

And no discussion of IBS and diet would be complete with discussing those foods that must be eliminated from the diet. Sugar and highly concentrated sugar-containing products like fruit juices need to be eliminated. People looking for IBS help also need to avoid alcoholic beverages. The acidity and nature of tomatoes and tomato products will irritate a sensitive bowel and should be avoided.

Additionally, consumption of saltwater fish and those from lakes contaminated from acid rain should be minimized or completely avoided. This caution also applies to canned tuna. Although most individuals will experience no such problems, German research has found that the mercury often contained in these fish is one of the main IBS trigger foods.

If you still want that tuna, make sure you are choosing young tuna. I personally like Wild Planet Low Mercury Albacore Tuna. Or even forgo the tuna and give wild salmon or sardines a try.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—also known as spastic colon, nervous indigestion, mucous colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease—is the most common gastrointestinal complaint reported to physicians, and it accounts for as many as 50 percent of all referrals to gastroenterologists (physicians who specialize in problems of the GI tract).

If you happen to be part of the estimated 15 percent of the population who needs help for IBS, you undoubtedly know how debilitating the disease can be. Women seem to need help for IBS more than men, but this is probably because men, for some reason, are less likely to seek help for the complaint.

IBS is a complex problem with numerous causative factors and a wide variety of changing symptoms. The following is a list of some of the more common symptoms.

• Spastic constipation and diarrhea
• Pain and distention of the abdomen
• Frequent bowel movements associated with pain
• Colicky pain often relieved by a bowel movement
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Anorexia
• Intestinal bloating and gas
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Bowel incontinence
• Excess mucus production in the colon

The good news is that there are inexpensive and natural IBS treatments that I will discuss over the next few weeks. So be sure to check in on my blog.

IBS help can be achieved through hypnosis. While many physicians are reluctant to recommend IBS treatments such as this, numerous studies have shown that the mind-body connection can provide a great deal of help for IBS patients.

Now Dr. Roland Valori, the editor of a brand new peer-reviewed journal called Frontline Gastroenterology says that he has used hypnotherapy among the IBS treatments for more than 100 of his patients.

90% of that group saw significant improvement in the bowel problems associated with IBS--including bloating and gas, constipation and diarrhea. Even better, 40% saw positive bowel changes leading to complete relief.

The bad news? Reviewers of Dr. Valori's writing say that hypnotherapy should be among the last-resort IBS treatments, after drugs have failed. I'm sorry, but that's just crazy. The drugs used for IBS support have significant side effects, and they aren't any more effective than hypnotherapy. Why would you not start there?

Probiotic benefits of a digestive health supplement containing Lactobacillus gasseri include the relief of occasional diarrhea symptoms.

L. gasseri is a recently discovered strain of bacteria. It resists both acid and bile, so it can survive the trip through the stomach and small intestine into the lower bowel. As side benefits, the bacteria can help in ulcer treatment by reducing levels of the competing bacteria H. pylori, and it supports healthy cholesterol levels. It even helps with the bacterial balance in the vagina.

Look for a digestive health supplement that contains L. gasseri, along with a variety of other bacteria species, to get the full range of probiotic benefits.

Rye bread is one of the more effective natural laxatives, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Participants were given either white bread, whole-grain rye bread, probiotic digestive supplements, rye bread plus the probiotics, or their usual laxative. Those who ate just the rye bread showed greatly decreased bowel transit time, which means that their stool was in their body for much less time--a good thing.

Though the participants ate a lot of rye bread--about 8 ounces per day--you can still get the benefits. Switch from regular white bread to whole-grain rye bread, and even if you're eating just a couple slices of toast every morning you can expect to see an improvement in your digestion.

As an aside, I thought it was odd that the researchers chose the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus for this trial. It's pretty well known that L. rhamnosus is beneficial for vaginal health and as a diarrhea treatment. Why you'd test a diarrhea treatment as a constipation treatment is beyond me. Someone is going to trot this study out as "proof" that probiotics "don't work." Use a bacteria such as Bifidobacterium longum, which is known to be an effective constipation treatment.

Over the last couple of months I've provided you with treatments for addressing diarrhea symptoms. I've found that these are also useful for preventing diarrhea before it starts. Some of the treatments involve digestive health supplements, and others are dietary items. Here's a summary.

• Diarrhea treatment #1: Clay helps in preventing diarrhea by absorbing water in the bowel
• Diarrhea treatment #2: Ileocecal valve manipulation works for diarrhea treatment by closing off the valve that allows digestive products to move from your small intestine to your large intestine.
• Diarrhea treatment #3: Turmeric works to restore bowel regularity.
• Diarrhea treatment #4: Black tea restores absorption of water in the bowel.
• Diarrhea treatment #5: Carob powder is a useful diarrhea treatment for infants.
• Diarrhea treatment #6: BRAT for kids provides bulk and essential minerals that can be lost via diarrhea, along with calming the digestive tract.
• Diarrhea treatment #7: Lactic Acid Yeast wafers help support a natural bacterial environment in your gut.
• Diarrhea treatment #8: Probiotics also support a normal bacterial balance.

Here are more complete explanations for the diarrhea treatments in this "series."

Diarrhea symptoms are more likely to appear in women travelers than in men. Women seek diarrhea treatment about 25% more often for the "traveler's diarrhea" that's so dreaded by vacationers, according to a report in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

The researchers aren't sure why women seek diarrhea treatment more often. It could be because women are more willing to ask for help when they need it, or they may be more susceptible to diarrhea symptoms in the first place. According to the study, women were also more likely to seek help for the bowel problems of irritable bowel syndrome, which include abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea.

Men were more likely to come down with fever-related diseases, including malaria and bacterial infections.

Whenever you're traveling to a new place, it's a good idea to keep a diarrhea treatment available, whether you're a man or a woman. Black tea and digestive health supplements such as probiotics can help promote bowel regularity while you're on the road.

A common diarrhea treatment can actually increase your risk of stomach bleeding.

Maalox Total Relief is pretty much identical to Pepto-Bismol (except it's not pink). It contains the diarrhea treatment medication bismuth subsalicylate, a cousin to aspirin. Users have been taking it the way they would regular Maalox--that is, often and without thought. Using excessive amounts of bismuth subsalicylate can have the same effect as taking excessive aspirin: bleeding in the stomach and upper GI tract.

The maker of Maalox Total Relief, Novartis, has agreed to rename the product to avoid the confusion among consumers. They say they'll have the renamed product on store shelves by September.

No matter what your diarrhea cause, Dr. Williams has recommendations for diarrhea treatment, ranging from clay to probiotic digestive supplements.

A constipation treatment that's overlooked by just about every conventional doc is the ileocecal valve. Not long ago I wrote about how a stuck valve can cause diarrhea. Interestingly, the same problem can cause constipation. In diarrhea, the valve is stuck open, so digestive contents flow more quickly than normal. In constipation, the valve is stuck shut, so the contents flow more slowly than is healthy.

To get the valve open, start by increasing your intake of fiber. This alone may be enough to get things moving, but if you need more help you can add supplements of calcium and vitamin D.

You can also massage various acupressure points to help release the ileocecal valve. This can work almost instantly.

Determining your diarrhea cause can help you identify the best diarrhea treatment for your situation. Remember that diarrhea symptoms appear when your body is trying to purge itself of toxins.

If your diarrhea cause is related to digestive upset, then using a diarrhea treatment is appropriate. I've written about several diarrhea treatments, including clay, probiotics, and black tea.

If your diarrhea symptoms are especially severe, it's probably a better idea to let them run their course for up to a day--so the purging can take place. Diarrhea symptoms that last longer than a day call for medical attention, because you can become severely dehydrated.

I've written often about the probiotic benefits for diarrhea treatment, but the story bears repeating. Your digestive tract contains more bacteria than there are cells in your body. Preventing unwanted bowel changes and maintaining bowel regularity requires a healthy balance of the "good" and "bad" bacteria.

There's a normal die-off of both kinds of bacteria. You get inoculated with the unhealthy bugs constantly, through exposure to your environment. That makes it especially important that you restore the positive bacteria by either consuming fermented foods or taking digestive health supplements every day.

If you prefer to go the food route, look for yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, or other "live" fermented foods. They're available in most groceries, or you can do what I do and make your own. You'll find several recipes on my blog.

If, instead, you prefer the supplement route, look for probiotic digestive supplements that are guaranteed to contain at least 1 billion CFU (colony forming units), and that have at least four to ten different strains of bacteria.

There are at least two delivery systems that help get the probiotic benefits directly to your gut. One is a "beadlet" technology that protects the bacteria on their way through the upper part of your digestive tract. The other is a micro-encapsulation process called Bio-tract. Look for either one when shopping for a probiotic digestive supplement.

Here are the other diarrhea treatments in this "series."

Effective diarrhea treatment often depends on addressing the diarrhea symptoms quickly. One tool to keep handy is Lactic Acid Yeast Wafers.

Take two or three wafers after a meal, for as long as the bowel changes persist. In children or infants, the wafers can be pulverized and mixed into food or formula. A quarter of a wafer three times a day may be all that's needed to restore bowel regularity.

Lactic acid is the agent that helps restore a healthful bacterial environment in your gut. Some of the probiotic benefits come from lactic acid that the "good" bacteria produce.

Lactic Acid Yeast Wafers are made by Standard Process Laboratories, a company that normally sells only through health professionals. Fortunately, they make an exception in this case. Lactic Acid Yeast Wafers can be found in some local health food stores, and on the Web from sources such as Naturamart.

Here are the other diarrhea treatments in this "series."

Here's another diarrhea treatment suggestion from a reader: BRAT. In this case, the acronym stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.

Bananas are high in potassium. Rice and toast add bulk to help slow passage through the digestive tract. Applesauce contains pectin, which is good for calming the digestive tract and easing bowel changes.

Diarrhea symptoms can quickly become a serious situation because of the rapid mineral loss. If the problem continues for more than a couple of days, check with the child's pediatrician about more intensive mineral replacement.

This solution will work for any child who's old enough to eat solid food, though I would be careful with the toast in very small children.

Here are the other diarrhea treatments in this "series."

An effective diarrhea treatment, especially for infants, is carob powder. 

Carob powder added to a baby’s food or formula will provide a naturally sweet, chocolate taste and stop diarrhea symptoms. More than 50 years ago, studies were performed in Canada showing that when carob was added to the formula of 230 infants with diarrhea, all but three were cured. In other parts of the world, carob powder is used both as a treatment and preventative of human dysentery and livestock diarrhea.

Carob powder is formed mostly of carbohydrates, which gives it a naturally sweet taste. If you purchase pure carob powder you won’t find any of the additional sugars, cocoa, etc. that are often added to chocolate. It also has another advantage over chocolate. It doesn’t contain caffeine or the stimulant theobromine. And, in addition to treating diarrhea, it can be used as a natural sweetener.

Carob can be found in most health food stores. Make sure you check the labeling, since some products will contain many of the same additives used in chocolate.

Here are the other diarrhea treatments in this "series."

Diarrhea treatments can be less effective when the source of the bowel problem is an infection from Clostridium difficile (C-diff). This bacterium creates toxins that affect the bowel's ability to manage fluid levels properly.

Now, according to an article in Science Daily, researchers have come up with a diarrhea treatment that uses artificially created antibodies to C-diff.

In contrast to most diarrhea treatments, this one actually addresses the diarrhea cause. But also in contrast to diarrhea treatments, this one (when it becomes available) will be a prescription therapy. And you can bet it will be much more expensive than an over-the-counter diarrhea treatment.

The best course, naturally, is to avoid C-diff infection in the first place. But if you do end up with a C-diff infection, or any other diarrhea cause, there are effective diarrhea treatments available.

The FDA has announced that it approved the drug Amitiza as one of the available IBS treatments for those patients who have IBS with constipation. The approval was based on trials that included more than 1,100 patients, nearly all of whom were women.

IBS is a condition that can produce varying bowel changes, including both constipation and diarrhea, plus bloating and gas along with abdominal pain. Until this drug approval, there had been no prescription IBS treatments that addressed the constipation.

That's not to say that there were no IBS treatments at all, however. Dr. Williams has recommended digestive health supplements for IBS support, including peppermint oil, to calm the gut and improve bowel regularity. As a bonus, peppermint oil doesn't produce the common side effects of Amitiza, which include...abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Take enteric-coated capsules of peppermint oil three times a day, between meals.