Diarrhea

This condition is termed Atisara in Ayurveda. Diarrhoea could be caused by any of the following: intake of foods of any particular quality in excess; foods incompatible with your Prakriti or with seasonal variations; intake of foods that are not well cooked; contaminated water or other beverages etc. Further, in Ayurveda, diarrhoea is also described to be induced by mental causes and by toxins. Atisar is classified into 7 distinct types, namely Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Bhayaja (caused by fear), Tridoshaja, Shokaja (caused by grief) and Raktatisara (diarrhoea associated with bleeding).

Common Recipes:

• During diarrhoea, ensure that you are on a suitable diet to overcome dehydration, as advised by your physician. Home remedies are just supplementary approaches.
• Whey and buttermilk are considered effective remedies for diarrhoea. Whey is the liquid portion of curd while buttermilk is obtained by churning the curd after the fat has been removed. Take any one of them in small volumes at frequent intervals.
• Raw banana is an effective astringent and is recommended widely as a diet for treating diarrhoea. Cut one raw banana into three pieces and soften them in a pressure cooker using an adequate volume of water. Drain out the excess water. Separate the peel and mash the softened pulp well. In a skillet, roast a small volume of poppy seeds till they turn brown. Grind them to obtain a fine powder. Add this powder to the banana mash together with a pinch of salt. This delicious and nutritious recipe checks diarrhoea through its astringent properties.
• The dried rind of a pomegranate is an invaluable remedy for diarrhoea. A fine powder of this rind, 1 gm twice a day, taken with buttermilk helps check the frequency of loose motions.