Guest Author - Carolyn Chambers Clark, ARNP, EdD

What causes diarrhea?
Diarrhea is your body's way of getting rid of noxious substances. Viruses, drugs, foods, allergies, anxiety and more can lead to diarrhea.

What self-care actions can you take to get rid of diarrhea?

1. Drink at least 10 glasses of water every day so you don't get dehydrated.

2. If diarrhea goes on for more than 5 days, see your doctor. Severe diarrhea in infants, children or older adults needs medical attention within three days.

3. Mix 1 heaping teaspoonful of carob powder (health food store) with water 1-3 times a day.

4. Avoid magnesium-containing antacids. (Check the label). These antacids can worsen diarrhea.

5. Prescription Alternatives recommends a number of natural alternatives to drugs.

*Let the diarrhea run its course for a day or two, drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day.

*Avoid caffeine, soft drinks and sugary foods that exacerbate the condition. See which foods seem to irritate the condition.

*Try to eat rice, cereal, bananas and potatoes. They are rich in carbohydrates and gentle to your stomach.

*Fill up on acidophillus or plain yogurt to restore the good bacteria you've lost through diarrhea.

*Take a mineral supplement that has potassium and magnesium to restore lost electrolytes.

6. A report in the British Journal of Nutrition found that large doses of vitamin A is recommended in cases of persistent diarrhea and even dysentery.

7. If you have fecal incontinence, take dietary fiber found in psyllium. It was associated with a decrease in the percentage of incontinent stools according to Nursing Research.

8. The next time you have diarrhea, try rubbing these points. Massage with firm pressure, for no longer 10-20 seconds

* the inside and outside of your thighs
* angling across the top of the left arm
* right beneath the bony ridge that runs across the back of the
head on the right side, and
*outside of the right calf about a third of the way down from the knee.

Note: massaging longer than 20 seconds is not beneficial and could negate the effect.