If you are suffering from prolonged bursts of diarrhea, you might be taking (or be recommended by your doctor to take) Loperamide.
This drug was designed to solve an all manner of problems with bowel movements, and is one of the most heavily prescribed drugs in America for these kinds of problems in patients.
However, using Imodium is not without its problems. For a start, as typical with man-made medicines, there is a large range of side effects that can effect anyone who takes the drug. For example, it really isn’t recommended to take the drug if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Furthermore, Imodium can actually cause different problems, with some patients actually experiencing constipation and stomach pain while on the drug.
Thankfully, taking a pill manufactured by Big Pharma isn’t your only option. There are plenty of all natural options that will allow you to solve your problems without needing to take Imodium. This article attempts to list the best so you, alongside with your doctor, can make the decision over which medication course is right for you.
Do not substitute this for actual advice from an expert as many cases require treatment that CAN NOT be remedied with natural options. These natural options may only be helpful in addition to treatments, again consult with a medical professional before self treating or self diagnosing.
Calcium
Taking in more of this essential mineral is one way to ensure that your stools and bowel movements remain the same.
Calcium isn’t just needed for healthy bones. Calcium is one of the essential minerals that is used to help your body absorb nutrients, and this lack of absorption might be one of the reasons that you are suffering from a condition that is causing you to consider taking unnatural Imodium.
Although you can buy calcium supplements in many food stores, there are also plenty of other sources where you can get your Calcium needs integrated neatly into your diet.
The pro-typical example is in dairy and cheese, but some people can not take this either due to dairy allergies or because of being Vegan or Vegetarian. However, many soy based products are now also fortified with extra calcium. It is also more than possible to get calcium from leafy vegetables. Seaweed is one particularly high source of calcium that is good for your body and the environment.
Slippery Elm Powder
This amazing natural plant, only really recently discovered by western medicine, is one amazing way to cure all of your bowel problems naturally without the use of Imodium. In fact, in some ways, the creation of Imodium was done to emulate this herbal source.
This supplements comes from the inner bark of a tree grown in North America. As well as treating any diarrhea problems, it has also been found to help to solve any problems with sore throats, as the bark contains natural substances that help to soothe throats as well as provide relief for any intestinal problems.
There are many different ways in which you can take Slippery Elm Powder. Many places will offer Slippery Elm in a powder or capsule format, making it easy to fit into your morning routine.
However, another option is to buy a herbal tea. This can also help you to reduce your coffee intake, which is good as drinking too much coffee can also increase your digestion problems.
Peppermint
Another tea-based way to help to cure your digestive problems naturally without taking Imodium is Peppermint tea, or taking a Peppermint supplement.
Peppermint has a naturally calming effect on the stomach. One of the best things about this natural remedy is that it is completely safe to use for both adults and children, meaning that if you are trying to treat a young adult, you really don’t have to worry about potential side effects.
Unlike other solutions, Peppermint can also help solve other stomach problems, such as wind and gas build up. This means that as well as solving your diarrhea problems without the need of Imodium, you can also help to relieve any other symptoms of stomach distress and embarrassment.
The best thing to do with Peppermint is to have a tea (or take a capsule) twice a day; once after waking up and once before falling asleep. The morning tea will also help to naturally give you a good day, as the pleasant aroma has been shown to promote wakefulness.
Bananas
Bananas are a great natural source that can help with almost all kinds of stomach problems, diarrhea included.
By eating Bananas, you can help to block up your digestive system just well enough to stop the spread of diarrhea, but without denying your body of the essential nutrients you need to carry on functioning.
The way bananas work is due to the potassium in them taking a slightly longer time to digest than other minerals. Because bananas are naturally mushy, they will then pass through your body as a solid mass, and the other natural minerals in the bananas will help to solidify your stools, leaving you with hassle free bowel movements without having to resort to unnatural Imodium.
It is best to simply commit yourself to eating at least one Banana a day. Some people don’t like the taste, however, and this can simply be remedied by slicing up the banana and using it as a topping on other food stuff, such as yogurt or in a oat or cereal based desert.
Eat more Fiber
Although it may seem weird, as Fiber is one of the things that is recommended to consume extra of if you are suffering from constipation, Fiber also helps to solve any diarrhea problems naturally without having to use Imodium.
This is because Fiber works to solidify the stools and help them pass out of the body naturally, which is why it can work for both of the two main symptoms of stomach distress.
Although you can simply use some Fiber supplements, it is always better to try and get your source of Fiber in a natural way. One of the best ways to do this is at breakfast time, to set you up for a healthy and natural day.
Many oatmeal and muesli based breakfasts are actually really high sources of Fiber. This means that as well as starting off your day on a delicious note, you can also easily set yourself up for a great day free from needing to carry around an Imodium pill.
If you struggle to eat breakfast in the morning, another way to increase your natural levels of fiber is to replace one of your snacks with Avocado. This fruit is naturally high in Fiber, as well as providing enough fuel to keep you going throughout the day.
Black Tea
Although shortly after drinking tea you may feel the need to go, over time, drinking a cup or two of black tea a day can help you herbally solve your diarrhea problems without having to go back onto the Imodium.
One great thing about black tea is that it will help to provide your body with hydration, which is something that your body might be lacking because of your Diarrhea problem. This is true even in the case of caffeinated black teas.
It is best to take your first cup of black tea at least an hour before you have to go out in the morning, to try and offset any problems that might come with the typical urge to go to the toilet after digesting your first cup
One way to try and migrate this effect is to seek out and drink only decaffeinated tea.
Conclusion
With all of these natural ways to solve diarrhea, there is almost no need for you to consider taking Imodium, unless under strict doctor orders to do so for a disease such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Crohn’s Disease.
One of the best strategies to take with herbaly and naturally curing your diarrhea problems without taking Imodium is to simply try as many of these natural remedies as possible. There is no reason why you can’t do more than one at once, so for example, increasing the amount of Calcium in your diet while also drinking black tea.
If your doctor is insistent on you carrying on your course of Imodium, you can always print off this list and take it to him or her, allowing you both to be informed about what course of treatment is right for you.
The post Natural Alternatives to Imodium appeared first on The Gazette Review.