Diarrhoea

This is the natural method the body uses to get rid of irritant or harmful substances in the intestine, but it may become pathological and troublesome if the stool is too abundant, too frequent or too loose. It is caused by an infection, viral in 80 per cent of cases, which explains why antibiotics are usually ineffective.

Diarrhoea normally takes a favourable course. needs no further examination, and presents no special problems apart from transient discomfort.

In Third World countries diarrhoea is a veritable scourge and, because of the considerable loss of water and minerals it entails, the most common cause of death in children under five.

Generel advice

Of vital importance:

• An absolute necessity for rapid rehydration with water and bouillon
• Go on a starvation diet because the intestine needs to rest, then a diet that produces little residue, to reduce the volume of the stools:
  - For a few days you must rule out vegetables (especially haricot beans and cabbage). fruits, fat, fatty meats, dairy products, bread, potatoes, and pastries
  - You may eat rice, cooked carrots, fruit jellies, Coca-Cola (surprisingly, an antidiarrhoeal), infusions, tea, coffee, and plenty of liquids (tap water, natural bouillon, vegetable broth, and sweet broth with no pulp)
• Seek medical advice quickly:
  - if the diarrhoea does not stop in 48 hours
  - if it is accompanied by abdominal pain
  - if it is accompanied by signs of extreme weakness
  - if the patient cannot drink
  - if you see blood, mucus, or pus in the stools

Oligotherapy

Zinc

Trace elements are normally supplied by the diet, which should be varied and of good quality. When there is a deficiency, zinc can be given as a supplement.

Dietary sources of zinc

Zinc is widespread in seafood, oysters++, other shellfish, and fish. However it is also found in cereals, some vegetables (broccoli, mushrooms, spinach, haricot beans)... brewer's yeast, walnuts, wholemeal bread, egg yolk, and meat.

• Zinc preparations: there are various forms and brands: Organic Minerals (Colloidals) which contains 70+ trace minerals:
  - Available in 946ml bottles
  - Take 1-3 caps just before breakfast and/or evening meal
  - Children 1 teaspoon daily for each 20lbs of body weight

Or Maximol (Ionized colloidals):

- Available in 500ml bottles
- Take 1/2 capful once or twice daily on an empty stomach

Or you can take Zinc picolinate (Thorne) which contains 30mg ofzinc:
- Available in containers of 60 or 180 capsules
- Take 1 capsule daily, preferably on an empty stomach

Homeopathy

Arsenicum album, Podophyllum

Arsenicum album

- Chemical origin: arsenic oxide
- Homeopathic remedy for severe diarrhoea
- Characteristic sign: improved by warmth

Podophyllum peltatum

- Vegetable origin: the root of a North American plant, the May apple
- Homeopathic remedy for summer diarrhoea
-Two characteristic signs: improved by warmth and by lying on the stomach
- Four granules of each of these products at 5c, to be sucked like sweets, ilternately, throughout the day, increasing the interval when improvement occurs

• You can almost automatically add paratyphoidinum B:
  -Six granules at 6c, when the diarrhoea starts, then once a day for three or four days.

Paratyphoidinum B

-Animal origin: prepared from bacterial cultures of Salmonella paratyphi B -The specific homeopathic remedy for food poisoning with abundant diarrhoea

• If the bout of diarrhoea seems serious, call your doctor and take four granules of Veratrum album 5c every ten minutes while you wait

Veratrum album

-Vegetable origin: white hellebore
-Homeopathic remedy for abundant diarrhoea with extreme weakness -Characteristic sign: cold sweats

you can take Diarrheel@ (Heel) which contains Acidum arsenicosum D8, Argenturn nitricum D8, Colocynth is D6, veratrum D4...

-Available in packs of 30 and 200 tablets
-In general, 1 tablet to be dissolved under the tongue 3 times daily. In acute disorders, initially 1 tablet every 15 minutes

Hellebore

This herbaceous plant was once used to cure madness; now it is simply used as a purgative and vermifuge.

Modifiers of the intestinal flora

Probiotics

Ingested live, these micro-organisms are taken to repopulate the intestinal ecosystem. Living with us in our bodies, in perfect harmony, are a great number of bacteria (about one kilogram of body weight), some of which are even indispensable. Friendly bacteria, which invade the colon from birth, control harmful bacteria by secreting lactic acid. This makes the intestine hostile to the development of other colonies of harmful guests. Benign bacteria also produce substances with antibiotic properties, hence the name 'probiotics'. When present in appropriate numbers and balance, they carry out their policing action efficiently. As soon as their numbers change (due to age, change of diet. stress, or antibiotic treatment) the defences are lowered and clinical symptoms of illness may appear. When this happens, restoration of the intestinal flora becomes necessary.

Properties: Probiotics control the reproduction of harmful bacteria and restore the intestinal flora. They strengthen defence reactions and increase the ability to combat infection by stimulating the immune system and producing vitamin C. They also predigest proteins and in particular, lactose, improving digestion and assimilation. They produce vitamins in group B, and may prevent cancer of the colon.

The digestive tract is host to numerous bacterial species. More than 400 germs have been identified in the faeces. The largest, dominant group is represented by the genera Bifidobacteria and Bacteroides. Least represented are the genera Lactobacilli. Enterococci, and Enterobacteria (coli bacilli). Other potentially pathogenic germs are Corynebacteria, Klebsiellas, Proteus, and Staphylococci. Probiotics help to maintain the balance of this internal flora.

Method Of Use: You can find probiotics in natural yoghurt containing live bacteria (acidophilus, casei, bifidus), and also in vials, capsules and tablets, in pharmacies and health food shops. Take one or two doses a day during an infection, while travelling abroad, or after antibiotic treatment.

Possible Side Effects: Mild but troublesome gas

• You can use Acidophilis Extra (Lamberts) - each capsule contains 4 billion live bacteria:
  - Available in containers of 30 and 60 capsules
  - Take two capsules daily, one in the morning and one in the evening with a glass of water or with a meal
• You can also take Replete (Biocare)­a seven-day intensive probiotic combination of L. acidophilus, B. bifidum and L. bulgaricus:
  - Available in packs of seven sachets
  - one sachet per day

Minerals

Clay and charcoal have a long history of effectiveness against flatulence and diarrhoea.

Clay

Clay is a sedimentary rock taken orally as a 'sponge' to adsorb intestinal germs. You can obtain clay of excellent quality, ground, as granules and as a powder, from health food shops and pharmacies

- One dessertspoonful of finely ground clay should be taken in a half-glass of water, once or twice a day

• You can use Argiletz@ Fine Green Clay:
  - Available in 300g boxes
  - Add one teaspoon to a glass of water and stir well. Allow to stand overnight and next morning drink the clay milk or just the clear water before breakfast

Charcoal

Charcoal is one of the most powerful adsorbent substances, capable of retaining bacteria, viruses, gas, and toxins. It is therefore almost indispensable as a natural 'intestinal bandage' for the treatment of diarrhoea, aerophagy, and gas distension. It is perfectly well tolerated, but can sometimes cause constipation.

• You can use Bragg's medicinal charcoa:
  - Available in boxes of 250 tablets
  - Take three to four tablets after meals, three times a day
  - Not recommended for children under twelve

Herbal treatment

Carob, blueberry, purple loosestrife

Possible Prescription:- You can take an infusion of purple loosestrife three times a day, for rehydration and as a treatment
- Ask your herbalist to prepare 15 capsules of a mixture of dried extracts of carob, blueberry, and purple loosestrife, 100mg of each for a NO.2 capsule ( the size of the capsule that the herbalist will use for the ingredients) One capsule to be taken three times a day for five days
- A decoction of dried blueberries is effective against diarrhoea

The decoction is prepared by cutting the plant into pieces and boiling it in water for 15 minutes. After filtering, it may be drunk hot or cold.

Blueberry

The tannins present in these bluish­black berries are anti diarrhoeal, antiseptic, and have a beneficial effect on intestinal pains and spasm. By contrast, the ripe berries are mildly laxative.

Purple loosestrife

Nicknamed 'the colic herb', purple loosestrife is a hardy plant that lives in humid locations; it grows readily by the sea under willow trees. It is an antiseptic and of course, effective against diarrhoea.