Diarrhea is one of the more unpleasant digestive symptoms that you can encounter, but thankfully, home remedies for diarrhea are easy and effective when you find yourself faced with an upset stomach of this type. There are many reasons why you may find yourself suffering from diarrhea: eating something that just didn’t agree with you, stress, worry, anxiety or even as a side effect from common medications like antibiotics. Whatever the reason, remember to stay hydrated by sipping on water or an electrolyte drink throughout the day, get some rest and try one of these easy home remedies for diarrhea to get relief from your symptoms.

Yogurt with Live Cultures as a Home Remedy for Diarrhea 

Diarrhea can occur when the good bacteria in your gut is killed off, a common side effect from taking prescription antibiotics. In order to restore that bacterial environment to your gut, try eating a cup of yogurt with live cultures two or three times throughout the day. The live cultures in the yogurt will help replenish the gut with the friendly bacteria that help you process your food.

You can learn how to make yogurt from scratch using live cultures, or seek out a local organic farm that makes yogurt. Usually I prefer to make my own yogurt, but luckily for my family, we have an organic creamery right up the road from us that provides us with a healthy supply of organic, homemade yogurt.

If you are using yogurt with live cultures as one of your home remedies for diarrhea, avoid store-bought yogurt that has added sugars or fruit added to it. Some fruits may actually aggravate diarrhea and the added sugars can irritate your stomach.

Herbal Tea as a Home Remedy for Diarrhea

You may know that herbal teas like ginger and peppermint are great for relieving digestive upsets like gas and bloating, but did you also know that they are just as effective as home remedies for curing diarrhea?

Among the other ginger tea benefits like anti-viral and antibacterial properties, ginger tea works as an easy home remedy for treating diarrhea. Ginger tea works best for treating diarrhea when it’s made from fresh ginger, instead of using powdered or dried ginger root. If you grow ginger in your own gardens or in your house, simply take a one-inch chunk of ginger and prepare it as a tea.

For those of us that love this uplifting herb, peppermint plant uses include an effective remedy for diarrhea. Fresh, organic peppermint leaves work best in my experience, and all you need to do is crush a small handful of leaves and add them to boiling water for at least 10 minutes before straining and drinking.

Other herbs for treating diarrhea include the following.

• Fennel
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Blackberry leaf
• Raspberry leaf

Other Home Remedies for Diarrhea 

BRAT Diet – One of the easiest home remedies for diarrhea is the BRAT diet – Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. These bland, easy-to-digest foods can help soothe your digestive tract and ease the symptoms of diarrhea.

Acupressure Points for Diarrhea – Among one of my favorite (and more unusual) home remedies for diarrhea is the use of acupressure points. If your diarrhea is being caused by stress and anxiety, acupressure is a wonderful way to relieve tension in the body and allow your body to heal itself.

Be aware that when you are using acupressure for treating diarrhea, you may feel some discomfort when applying gentle pressure to these points on the body. Discomfort is perfectly acceptable – just breathe through it. If, however, you experience severe pain when applying pressure to these spots, discontinue immediately.

My three favorite acupressure points for relieving diarrhea are the following.

1. Union Valley. This point is located in the fleshy webbing between your thumb and first finger on both hands. You can use the thumb and forefinger from your opposite hand to apply gentle but firm pressure for up to 3 minutes before releasing. If you have someone who can help you, ask them to apply gentle pressure to this point on both hands for up to 3 minutes before releasing.
2. Foot Three Miles. This acupressure point is located four fingerwidths below and to the inside of the right kneecap. Apply gentle but firm pressure using your forefinger or thumb for up to 3 minutes. Repeat on the left side. You may feel tenderness in this point if you are suffering from chronic diarrhea.
3. Heaven’s Axis. You can find this pressure point located three fingerwidths to either side of the navel. Apply firm pressure with your index fingers for up to 3 minutes.

Make Your Own Electrolyte Drink – No matter what the cause of your diarrhea, staying hydrated is important during symptoms to avoid further complications. When my son was a toddler, my pediatrician gave me a simple recipe for a homemade electrolyte drink to help when he developed diarrhea.

• 1 liter of water
• 6 teaspoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt

Mix these together and sip throughout the day. If you would like, you can add one slice of lemon OR lime to the mixture and let that steep in the cool water.

Activated Charcoal – Activated charcoal uses include treating stomach pains caused by diarrhea. It’s most effective in treating diarrhea if the condition is caused by toxins in the gut. Do not use activated charcoal for treating symptoms of diarrhea if you are dehydrated – it can worsen your symptoms.

Remember to get plenty of rest and stay hydrated while you have symptoms of diarrhea. If symptoms persist, always seek the care of a medical professional.

Do you have a favorite home remedy for diarrhea? Let us know in the comments below.