Home Remedies for Loose Motion

What is Loose Motion?

Loose motion and diarrhoea are terms which are usually used interchangeably but have particular differences. Loose motion is the passing of loose, watery stools that happens occasionally for a number of reasons. However, when you experience this 3 or more times per day, it is called diarrhoea. It happens if the large intestine can not absorb fluids correctly as stool passes too fast through the intestinal tract, causing watery bowel movements.

The symptoms of Diarrhoea include regular loose stools, abdominal discomfort, dehydration and occasionally vomiting and nausea. It can interfere with your everyday life by making you weak and having to use the restroom often. Diarrhoea lasting two or more days is common but persistent or chronic diarrhoea lasting two or more weeks might signal a more serious condition.

What Causes Loose Motion?

It is important to understand the causes of loose motion and diarrhoea for prevention and management. These conditions may be caused by a variety of reasons which can disrupt your digestive tract's delicate balance.

Infections: A viral infection caused by norovirus or rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhoea. Bacterial infections due to organisms like E. coli, salmonella, and shigella as well as parasitic infections may also result in serious diarrhoea.
Food & water safety: Eating contaminated food or water is a significant risk factor, particularly in regions without proper sanitation. Food poisoning from spoiled or improperly prepared food might also cause loose motions.
Medications: Some medicines, like antibiotics, can harm your gut flora and trigger diarrhoea. Excess use of laxatives may also result in loose stools.
Digestive disorders: Persistent diarrhoea could also be caused by autoimmune illnesses including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis & celiac disease.
Diet & lifestyle: Alcohol or caffeine overuse can cause diarrhoea. A diet consisting of oily, spicy or fried food items can also result in loose motions in sensitive people.
Stress and anxiety: Emotional stress and anxiety could impact your gut health, typically resulting in diarrhoea or loose motion as a result.
Allergies & intolerances: Food allergies and intolerances, like milk (lactose intolerance) or gluten (celiac disease) may cause diarrhoea when the offending food is consumed.

Home Remedies and Tips

Managing loose motion and diarrhea effectively can be achieved with simple, natural remedies that you can prepare at home. Here are several easy home remedies for loose motion to relieve your symptoms:

Apple Cinnamon Mix: For a gentle remedy, boil half of a finely chopped apple with a quarter tablespoon cinnamon powder and 2 cardamom sticks in a cup of water for 15 minutes. Consume this applesauce twice daily to stabilise bowel movements and decrease the urgency & frequency of loose stools.
Fenugreek & Cumin Yogurt Mix: Roast one spoonful of fenugreek & cumin seeds, crush, and add into a small bowl of yogurt to relieve gastrointestinal inflammation. This nutrient mix assists with digestion and must be eaten two to three times each day to reduce symptoms.
Chamomile Lemon Tea: Boil half a spoonful of chamomile tea with half spoonful of sugar in a cup of water. Strain and put in half a fresh lemon juice. This calming tea can be taken several times daily to ease diarrhoea symptoms.
Lemon Electrolyte Drink: Add half a spoon of salt and sugar in a cup of water and squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. This simple hydrating drink rehydrates quickly and can be taken several times a day during loose motion.
Banana Tamarind Mix: Mash banana with salt along with one tablespoon of tamarind pulp. It's a home remedy high in nutrients which can normalise bowel movements and could be taken twice daily.
Cumin & Fennel Seed Water: Roast, mix & powder cumin and fennel seeds. Add this powder to a cup of water and drink two times everyday. This helps treat inflammation and infections to promote diarrhoea recovery.
Cardamom Sugar Water: Boil drinking water with a quarter spoon of cardamom powder and sugar to kill germs that trigger diarrhoea. Drink this flavorful remedy two to three times daily to detoxify your system.
Coriander Buttermilk: Soak coriander seeds overnight, grind to a paste and pour into a cup of buttermilk. This probiotic-enriched drink reduces loose motion and aids digestion when taken regularly.
Honey & Curry Leaves Paste: Make a paste of twenty curry leaves with a spoon of honey. Its antimicrobial qualities could be used to treat diarrhoea.
Banana Yogurt Smoothie: Mash a banana and blend it into a cup of yogurt. This makes a soothing, probiotic-rich treatment for diarrhoea symptoms. Consume it several times daily for relief.
Rice with Ghee and Yogurt: Serve cooked rice with warm yogurt and a tablespoonful of ghee. This satisfying meal restores normal bowel function and is gentle enough to be eaten during diarrhoea.
Black Tea with Lemon and Spices: Make a powerful black tea using lemon juice and a few freshly ground cardamom or nutmeg. This aromatic drink helps reduce digestive upset and must be taken as needed during loose motion episodes.
Apple Cooked with Spices and Ghee: Cook a sliced apple in ghee and top with cardamom and nutmeg before consuming. This home cure combines natural pectin in apples with spices and ghee to treat diarrhoea symptoms.

Lifestyle and Diet Recommendations

Managing loose motion and diarrhoea is not only about treating them as they occur but also about prevention through smart lifestyle and diet modifications. Here are some lifestyle recommendations & diet for loose motion:

Keep Hydrated: You must replace lost fluids whenever you have diarrhoea. Water, herbal teas and electrolyte-rich beverages can assist with hydration. Stay away from caffeine and alcohol as they'll further dehydrate your system.
Take Probiotic Rich Foods: Foods loaded with probiotics like yogurt can restore the good bacteria in your gut for immunity and digestion.
Eat Binders: Foods that are easy on the stomach and also help bind your stools are bananas, rice, applesauce and toast (the BRAT diet). These are your go-to foods during loose motion episodes.
Avoid Irritants: Avoid irritable foods and difficult to digest foods. These include spicy foods, high-fibre fruits & vegetables, artificial sweeteners and fried foods.
Cooked Over Raw: When diarrhoea strikes, use cooked vegetables rather than raw ones. Fibres are broken down during cooking and made easier to digest, which might ease diarrhoea symptoms.

Limit Dairy: Even though yogurt is probiotic, other dairy might not be as tolerable in case you're lactose intolerant. Try limiting milk, cheese along with other dairy products to see if your symptoms improve.