What Causes Loose Motion?
Loose motions are stools that are watery or mushy and may have a strong foul odor. When loose motions occur multiple times (three or more) during the day, the condition is known as diarrhea (1). The loss of fluids and minerals from your body can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances within the body. Viral infections are one of the leading causes of loose motion in adults (2). Other causes include:
Bacterial infections Intestinal diseases, such as colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Allergy to certain foods Malabsorption of food Certain medicines that can have a laxative effect Excessive consumption of alcohol
Infants usually produce loose stools, but they should be mostly soft. If the stool is watery and is accompanied by fever or congestion, it is diarrhea. Note: Persistent loose bowel movements can have life-threatening consequences, and, therefore, must be treated immediately. You need medical back up if there is blood in the stool, you are so dehydrated that you are no longer urinating, or you have a fever. Here are some remedies that you can try to get relief from loose motion.
Natural Ways To Treat Loose Motion
1. Coconut Water
Research shows that young coconut water can be used as an oral rehydration solution for children with mild diarrhea (3). However, it should not be used for patients who are severely dehydrated or have developed kidney issues. 1-2 glasses of coconut water Consume a glass or two of coconut water. How Often You Should Do This Do this 1 to 2 times daily for a few days. Note: Excessive consumption of coconut water can cause an increase in the level of sodium in your blood. Hence, you must stop consuming it once your symptoms have subsided. Also, as the coconut matures, the levels of potassium and sodium vary. Ensure you pick young coconuts.
2. Yogurt
Yogurt is a probiotic that can help regulate the gut bacteria (4). Along with this, it was also found to help in the treatment and prevention of diarrhea (5). You Will Need A cup of plain yogurt What You Have To Do Consume a cup of plain yogurt after your meals. How Often You Should Do This Do this 2 times daily for a week.
3. Cumin (Jeera) Water
Cumin (or jeera) can have a therapeutic effect on your gastric system. It may help regulate regular bowel movement, which, in turn, can help reduce indigestion and loose motion (6).
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds 1 glass of water
Add a teaspoon of cumin seeds to a glass of water. Bring this mixture to a boil in a saucepan. Allow it to cool a little before consuming it.
Consume this solution 3 to 4 times daily, preferably after every meal.
4. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile exhibits powerful antidiarrhoeal, antispasmodic, and antisecretory properties (7). This may help relieve loose motion by relaxing the muscles of the gut.
1-2 teaspoons of dry chamomile flowers 1 cup of water 1 teaspoon honey
You can drink chamomile tea 2-3 times daily for a few days. Note: If you are allergic to flowers from the Asteraceae family, you must avoid chamomile as it may cause an allergic reaction. In large doses, it may cause vomiting.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Research shows that apple cider vinegar exhibits antimicrobial properties (8), (9). This may help fight the microbes that cause infections and loose motion.
2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar 1 glass of warm water Honey to taste
You can consume this solution 2 times daily for a couple of days. Note: Consuming large amounts of undiluted ACV can cause digestive issues and increase potassium levels in your body. This will aggravate your condition.
6. Ginger
Certain bowel disorders, such as gastritis, may be caused by bacteria. Ginger is rich in bioactive compounds that possess anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties (10), (11). This may help soothe the gastric system and fight the infection causing loose motion.
1-2 teaspoons of freshly extracted ginger juice Honey to taste
Do this at least 2 to 3 times daily until you notice an improvement in your condition.
7. Peppermint And Honey
Peppermint contains menthol, which exhibits antispasmodic properties (12). This may help soothe your stomach, thereby relieving symptoms of diarrhea. You Will Need
1 teaspoon of peppermint 1 teaspoon of freshly extracted lemon juice 1 teaspoon honey 1 cup of warm water
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This You can do this 2 times daily.
8. Cinnamon And Honey
Cinnamon possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties (13). This may help relax an upset tummy by eliminating any infection-causing loose motion and providing relief from discomfort. You Will Need
1/2 teaspoon of powdered cinnamon Honey to taste 1 glass of warm water
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this 2 to 3 times a day for a few days. Note: Consuming too much cinnamon can increase the risk of liver damage. Hence, use it only in prescribed quantities.
9. Oat Bran
In a study, unprocessed oat bran tablets were found to lessen the occurrence of diarrhea (14). Hence, oat bran can help reduce loose motion as well. You Will Need 1 bowl of cooked oat bran What You Have To Do Consume a bowl of cooked oat bran. How Often You Should Do This Consume this 2 times daily.
10. Moringa (Drumstick) Leaves
Moringa leaves possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties (15), (16). These properties can help eliminate the infection that causes loose motion and provide relief from the discomfort. You Will Need
1 teaspoon of moringa (drumstick) extract Honey to taste
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this once daily for a couple of days. Note: Do not consume more than the recommended quantity of drumstick leaves as this might worsen your condition. This is because, in high doses, they can have a laxative effect.
11. Black Tea With Lemon
Several studies show that black tea possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties (17), (18). These properties may help soothe inflammation in the digestive tract and fight off the pathogens causing loose motion. You Will Need
1 teaspoon of tea powder 1 teaspoon of lemon juice 1 cup of water Honey to taste
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This You can sip on this tea 3 times a day.
Medical Treatment Options
If you are experiencing loose stools, you can also opt for the following over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicines:
Loperamide is an easily available anti-diarrheal medicine that can help increase fluid absorption in the digestive tract by decreasing peristalsis or bowel movement (19). Bismuth subsalicylate (commonly sold as Pepto-Bismol) can have an antisecretory effect on the digestive system, thereby reducing frequent bowel movements (20).
In addition to over-the-counter medicines, it is helpful to know what foods can be included in your diet to accelerate your recovery.
What To Eat During Loose Motions And What To Avoid
ORS
Oral Rehydration Solution is a mixture of sugar, electrolytes, and water. This is to be taken orally and is known to restore the fluid balance lost due to diarrhea or vomiting (21). This solution is made by mixing half a teaspoon of salt with six teaspoons of sugar in one liter of water.
BRAT
The BRAT diet, also known as the low-residue diet, is helpful in soothing your digestive system. A bland diet is a lot easier to digest and thus helps your digestive system relax. It can also help decrease the frequency of bowel movements and firming your stool due to its bland nature (22). BRAT stands for ‘bananas, rice, apples, toast.’ In this diet, you will limit your food intake to these foods (23). What To Avoid Avoid the intake of milk and dairy products like cheese, fiber-rich foods with insoluble fibers, spicy food, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, aerated beverages, etc. (24). Now that you are aware of the foods you must eat and avoid, ensure that you follow these tips to prevent the recurrence of loose motion.
Prevention Tips
Stay hydrated by drinking enough water. Consume soluble fiber-rich foods like broccoli, peas, bananas, etc. Identify foods that you may be allergic to and stay away from them. Consume healthy and hygienic food. You may have to avoid fruit or fruit juices because an irritated GI tract may not be able to digest fructose. Avoid alcohol.
Is lemon juice good when you have loose motion? Yes. Lemon juice added to water with a pinch of salt and sugar may be helpful in dealing with loose motion. This is because lemon has antibacterial properties that can help inhibit the growth of diarrhea causing pathogens and help recovery from loose motion (25). Is honey good for loose motion? Yes. Honey can shorten the duration and severity of loose motion in individuals with diarrhea caused due to bacterial activity. In individuals with non-bacterial diarrhea, honey can be helpful as part of rehydration therapy (26).
