CLINICAL TIPS ON HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT OF

DIARRHOEA
Dr.Anjali Miglani
Chief Medical Officer (Homoeopathy)
Directorate of AYUSH, Govt. of NCT of Delhi
WHAT IS DIARRHOEA?
Diarrhoea (or diarrhea) is the frequent passing of abnormally loose or watery
stools.
HOW IS DIARRHOEA CLASSIFIED?
There are three forms of diarrhoea defined by the length of time that the
condition lasts:

Acute diarrhoea is short-lasting - between several hours and a number

of days, and for less than 2 weeks or 14 days. It is the presence of 3 or
more abnormally loose or watery stools in the preceding 24 hours.
Cholera is a form of acute diarrhoea. If the acute diarrhoea is bloody, it
is called dysentery.

Persistent diarrhoea lasts for longer than 2 weeks but less than 4
weeks

Chronic diarrhoea lasts more than 4 weeks.

PATHO PHYSIOLOGY AND ETIOLOGY

There are four mechanisms by which diarrhoea occurs:

The small intestine cannot absorb a soluble compound and fluid is

drawn into the gut.

There is active chloride secretion into the bowel. Water follows the
chloride ions, leading to a net loss of fluid.

Inflammation of the intestinal lining.

Motility of the intestines is increased.

Acute diarrhoea is usually a symptom of an infection in the gastrointestinal

tract which may be caused by microbes e.g:

Bacteria; Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella and Escherichia coli.

Viruses; rotavirus, norovirus
Parasites; Giardia intestinalis
Other possible causes are: anxiety, drinking too much alcohol, food
allergy, appendicitis, damage to the lining of the intestines due to
radiotherapy.

Causes of chronic and persistent diarrhoea are:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); It is the most common cause of

functional diarrhoea.
Inflammatory bowel disease conditions that cause the gut to become
inflamed such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
Coeliac disease
Bile acid malabsorption
Chronic pancreatitis
Diverticular disease
Bowel cancer
Drug-induced usually due to laxatives
Endocrine causes - chronic secretory diarrhoea in Addison disease,
carcinoid tumors. Hyperthyroidism can increase gut motility
Persistent diarrhoea can also sometimes occur after gastrectomy

SYMPTOMS

Diarrhoea is itself a symptom - of frequent and loose or watery stools.

It may be accompanied by other symptoms e.g.; stomach pain,
abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea and vomiting, increased thirst,
loss of appetite and fever.

Dehydration: It may occur with diarrhea due to fluid loss. Symptoms

are: increased thirst, restlessness or irritability, dizziness, reduced
elasticity of the skin, pinched face, dry tongue and sunken eyes. In
severe dehydration, patient along with above signs may have reduced
consciousness, low urine output, cool, moist extremities, a rapid and
feeble pulse, low or undetectable blood pressure, pale skin. Coma may
ensue.

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT

For all cases of diarrhoea, the first important step in treatment is to

rehydrate. Advice patient to drink plenty of fluids, fruit juice without
added sugar, ORS etc. Drink 200 ml after each bout of diarrhoea. This
is in addition to the usual amount that a patient drinks daily.

Most of the drinking should be between and not during meals when
they may otherwise increase passage of food in the gut.
Use high-potassium foods, examples potatoes (without the skin) and
bananas.
Eat foods high in soluble fiber to help thicken the stool - bananas, rice
and oatmeal.
Zinc supplementation with a daily dose of 10 to 20 milligrams may
reduce the severity and duration of diarrhoea in children.
Limit certain foods such as creamy, fried and sugary foods as they
make the diarrhoea worse.
Avoid caffeine contained in coffee, tea, lactose in dairy products and
soft drinks such as cola.
Gastroenteritis occurs due to dirty water and poor sanitation.
Therefore adequate personal hygiene, safe drinking water and good
sanitation should be recommended.
Vaccine prevention: Rotavirus vaccination helps to prevent diarrhoeal
disease. In the US it is available for infants under the brand names
RotaTeq and Rotarix. Also, giving children the measles immunization is
known to substantially cut rates and severity of diarrhoeal diseases.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Aconite- complaints of gastrointestinal, watery diarrhoea in kids with

intense thirst.
Aethusa cyn- summer diarrhoea especially children, intolerance to
milk with vomiting.

Aloe socotrina- A distinct feeling of insecurity in the rectum that may

lead to accidental expelling of a stool after passing gas. There is much
gurgling and rumbling in the abdomen prior to a stool and much
sputtering during its release. The diarrhoea is worse in the morning
and stools are mucoid like jelly. Haemorrhoids may be present
concurrently.

Arsenicum Album- Stools in small quantities. Restlessness, anguish

and intolerance of pain. Thirst for small quantities and often. The
prostration and weakness are out of proportion to stool. Another grand
feature is the burning in the rectum, which almost amounts to a
tenesmus. The stools are dark yellow, undigested, slimy or bloody;
worse at night and after eating or drinking. Diarrhoea due to chilling of
the stomach by cold food, ice water or ice cream.

Chamomilla- Infants and children who are extremely irritable,

inconsolable and wants to be carried. They are aggravated by heat, in

the evening until midnight and better from cold drinks. Teething or
colicky infants who experience diarrhoea which is offensive, green, like
chopped grass and it smells like rotten eggs.

Cinchona officinalis- Diarrhoea with great bloating, indigestion, and

general weakness. Worse at night, in hot weather, and after nursing.

Ipecac- Amoebic dysentery, pain around naval with constant feeling of

nausea &little thirst (D/D Colchicum, Merc sol-intense thirst for cold
drinks)

Mercurius solubis- Diarrhoea with much retching. Feeling of stool left in

rectum after evacuation, never completely done sensation. Sensitive to
extremes of temperature. Stools are worse at night. Patient sweat profusely,
have offensive breath, usually salivate onto the pillow and have a strong
thirst for cold fluids.

Podophyllum - All most specific for summer diarrhoea. profuse and

painless diarrhoea; mostly yellowish or watery, green and fetid.
Prolapse of rectum before or with stool esp. in children. Diarrhoea is
usually worse in morning hours. Concomitantly, grinding of teeth or
pressing of gums is present. Amelioration from rubbing the abdominal
area.
Veratrum Album- Profuse watery stool, forcible evacuated. Pain in the
abdomen preceding stool. Great prostration following stool.The stools
are watery, containing flakes like rice water. Cold sweat, coldness and
blueness of the body. Cramps in the feet and legs may also be present.
(D/D from Ars Alb- Profuse stools. No restlessness, anguish)

Based on causation, homoeopathic remedies found useful are;

GIARDIASIS- Dulcamara, Trombidium, Aloes, Croton tig, Gambogia,

Pulsatilla
DENTITION- Podophyllum, Chamomilla
HEAT STROKE- Bryonia, Belladonna
CHOLERA LIKE- Camphora, Ipecac, Veratrum album
NERVOUS DIARRHOEA- Gelsemium, Argentum nitricum
AMOEBIASIS- Merc sol, Merc cor
FOOD POISONING- Arsenic album, Carbo veg

Contributed by Dr. Sanjeev Aggarwal, Dr. Sahoo, Dr. Nirmal Yadav

and Dr. Anjali Miglani
Compiled by Dr. Anjali Miglani