How to Stop Diarrhea Quickly: 6 Effective Home Remedies to Relieve Diarrhea

Your stomach begins to growl just before you go into a crucial meeting, a long-awaited date, or a special occasion. You realize you have unexpected diarrhea and quickly head to the bathroom. When panic strikes, how can it be swiftly stopped?

At the worst moments, diarrhea can attack, leaving you weak, unpleasant, and dehydrated. Finding quick relief is essential to getting back on your feet, even if it’s frequently the body’s method of eliminating impurities. Diarrhea depletes vital fluids and electrolytes, so it’s important to stay hydrated.

Thankfully, several natural ways can calm your stomach and quickly halt diarrhea. In this article, we have tried to provide information on how to stop diarrhea through some effective techniques.

Read More: Are You Chronically Dehydrated? Hidden Signs You Need More Water

What is Diarrhea?

Having loose or watery stool (poop) is referred to as diarrhea. It is always terrible to think of thin, sickly-looking waste in the toilet bowl. Not knowing what’s causing your diarrhea or how long it will stay makes the uncomfortable symptoms worse.

Diarrhea strikes many people a few times a year. Usually, it lasts two to three days. It occurs more frequently for some people, who may have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other illnesses.

Causes Of Diarrhea

Sometimes called “intestinal flu” or “stomach flu,” diarrhea happens when a virus enters your digestive system.

Other reasons are:

• Food-related allergies
• Intestinal disorders (e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease)
• Consuming meals that cause stomach distress
• Infection by bacteria, which are responsible for most food poisoning cases, or by parasites or other organisms
• Misuse of laxatives or an adverse pharmacological response to antibiotics or some cancer treatments
• “Malabsorption” is the term for difficulty absorbing specific nutrients
• Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid

Read More: Can You Heal a Leaky Gut Naturally? Science-Backed Solutions for Better Gut Health

Symptoms Of Diarrhea

Children and adults who have diarrhea experience similar symptoms, including:

• Watery, loose stools three or more times a day or more frequently than is typical for you
• An impulse to go to the restroom
• Abdominal discomfort or cramping
• Inability to regulate bowel movements
• Loss of weight if you have persistent diarrhea

Diarrhea brought on by certain infections can also include:

• Bloody stools
• Chills and fever
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Throwing up

How To Stop Diarrhea

Below are some significant remedies to treat diarrhea.

1. Hydration

When you have diarrhea, it’s critical to stay hydrated. Diarrhea-related dehydration in older individuals and small children can be lethal. Infants with diarrhea should continue to be breastfed or fed formula.

The preferred fluids for kids with diarrhea are over-the-counter oral pediatric hydration solutions, such as Pedialyte. Hydration solutions should be administered in small doses often. These recipes are also available in popsicle form.

Studies have shown that sports drinks and over-the-counter rehydration remedies work just as well for individuals with mild diarrhea symptoms.

Avoid hydrating with milk, soda, alcohol, and other caffeinated or carbonated beverages, as these may exacerbate your symptoms.

2. Fenugreek Seeds

Since fenugreek seeds have antibacterial and antifungal qualities, they are a popular natural treatment for diarrhea and stomach pain. These seeds offer immediate comfort by assisting the intestines in absorbing extra fluid. After grinding them into a fine powder, add one or two tablespoons of ground, dried fenugreek seeds in a glass of water.

Consume this mixture every morning on an empty stomach for two to three days to alleviate diarrhea symptoms, lessen discomfort, and naturally rebalance the digestive system.

Read More: SIBO vs. IBS: Understanding the Differences and How to Manage Them

3. Consuming a Recovery Food

The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) states that after recovering from diarrhea, eating small, frequent meals may be more beneficial than eating three larger meals daily. Among the foods they are:

• Foods and beverages high in potassium and sodium, like boiled potatoes, bananas, and broth.
• Meals with less fiber include noodles, lean meat, and yogurt.

However, not everyone who has diarrhea will benefit from the same foods. For instance, those who are lactose intolerant should not consume yogurt.

A liquid diet during the first 24 hours after diarrhea may help some people’s digestive systems calm.

4. Ginger

For thousands of years, ginger has been used to treat various stomach issues. It helps reduce nausea from motion sickness, chemotherapy, and pregnancy. Ginger is frequently found in food, supplements, and tea.

Ginger can cause diarrhea, gas, indigestion, and stomach pain, but these negative effects are rare.

If you are taking blood thinners, consult your doctor before consuming ginger. If you are pregnant, speak with your doctor before starting any new vitamins or drugs.

Read More: Is Your Morning Coffee Sabotaging Your Gut Health?

5. BRAT Diet

Eating bland foods can help you stay hydrated and improve your water absorption. The BRAT diet, which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, includes bland, easily digested foods.

On the BRAT diet, you can also eat the following foods:

• Clear soup and broth
• Potatoes
• Crackers with saltines

These starchy, low-fiber foods help give your stools more volume. Certain bland foods help replenish nutrients lost due to diarrhea.

Diarrhea can deplete potassium and is found in foods like skinless potatoes and bananas.

The BRAT diet does not include all the elements required to promote general health. Returning to a regular diet 24 to 48 hours after experiencing diarrhea is crucial.

6. Over-the-Counter Medications

If your symptoms are not severe, you can treat acute diarrhea with several over-the-counter drugs under your doctor’s care. Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate) and loperamide (Imodium) are common over-the-counter drugs.

These medications don’t address the root cause of diarrhea, but they can alleviate its symptoms.

You should not take these medications without your doctor’s approval if you have chronic diarrhea. Diarrhea lasting more than 14 days is considered chronic. It frequently has a variety of causes.

If your child has diarrhea, you should use extra caution. In young children, diarrhea can cause rapid and severe dehydration, which can be fatal.

How To Prevent Diarrhea

Following some critical actions helps prevent diarrhea, although it can occur for various reasons. Consider the tips given below to prevent diarrhea:

• Only use bottled water, especially when brushing your teeth.
• Steer clear of street food vendors.
• Avoid using tap water to make ice.
• You should only eat cooked or peelable fruit and vegetables.
• Make sure everything you eat is cooked all the way through and served hot.
• Generally speaking, prepackaged food is safe (check the expiration date).
• Never consume meat and fish uncooked or undercooked.

Read More: Why Probiotics Might Not Work Without Prebiotics: How to Maximize Gut Health

How To Prevent Traveler’s Diarrhea

Always follow the tips given below to prevent the risk of diarrhea while traveling.

• Drink only purified water, boiled tap water, and bottled water with intact seals.
• Steer clear of ice cubes unless you make them yourself with filtered water.
• Avoid swallowing water in the shower, and use purified water to brush your teeth.
• Steer clear of street sellers, buffets, and any food left out.
• Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands.

How To Prevent Bacterial And Viral Infections

What is the most effective method of avoiding illness? By following easy procedures like these, you can stop the spread of diseases and prevent many infections:

• Maintain distance from unhealthy people
• Cover sneezes and coughs
• Keep your hands off your face
• If you’re sick, stay at home

Additionally, you can avoid infections by:

• Washing your hands more often can quickly curb the spread of bacterial and viral infections. Cleaning them is highly recommended when your hands get in contact with foreign objects more easily. Always wash your hands with soap or hand wash for at least 20 seconds. You can also use hand sanitizers when hand washing is unavailable.
• Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing some diseases. The number of vaccines that prevent disease is increasing as scientists better understand the origins of disease.
• Certain medications provide temporary defense against specific pathogens. For instance, if you reside in or visit a high-risk location for malaria, taking an anti-parasitic medication may prevent you from contracting the disease.

Read More: How Travel Impacts Your Gut Health (And What You Can Do About It)

Conclusion

Diarrhea may disrupt your day and leave you drained. However, why not try nature before turning to over-the-counter drugs? Your kitchen holds potent therapies like probiotics, ginger tea, bananas, and hydration solutions that gently and successfully restore balance in your body. These tried-and-true home cures promote long-term gut health and promptly end diarrhea.

Pay attention to the messages your body sends you through symptoms. Before using harsh chemicals, try these natural remedies and see how they help your gut heal. Have you tried any of these treatments before? Which one did you find most effective? Share your experience in the comments section below!

• Jun 2017
  Written by Prajakt
• Mar 2025
  Edited by Ankita