11 Home Remedies For Loose Motion, Treatment, And Prevention

Loose motion is a prevalent ailment that affects people of all ages. It normally happens after eating, although it can happen at any time of day. Here, we will discuss the home remedies of loose motion. Loose motion can be extremely inconvenient and exhausting. It can obstruct your regular activities and may lead to fatigue and dehydration if ignored. Scroll down to learn how to manage its symptoms.

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 like gastroenteritis are one of the leading causes of loose motion in adults (2). Other causes include:

• Bacterial infections like dysentery
• Intestinal diseases, such as colitisⁱ  XA chronic digestive condition in which the colon is irritated or inflamed by a bacterial or viral infection. and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Allergy to certain foods
• Malabsorption of food
• Certain medicines that can have a laxative effect
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Food poisoning
• Stomach flu

Byron, a blogger, shared his experience about loose motion caused by antibiotics. He wrote, “As my diet has been the same for some time, the only factor of change is the taking of an antibiotic, which I finished on Friday. The pill basically can serve to get rid of the good bacteria in my small intestines, thus causing gas and loose bowel movements (i).”

Infants usually produce loose stools during stomach upset, 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.

You experience watery stools but are not sure which symptoms to look out for. We have got you covered! Let us find out in the next section.

Symptoms Of Loose Motion

People with frequent loose motion (or diarrhea) may have one or more of these symptoms (3):

• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Bloating

If it is caused due to bacteria, viruses, or parasites such as E.coli and norovirus, it may also have the following symptoms (3):

• Fever
• Chills
• Vomiting
• Light-headedness
• Dizziness
• Bloody stools

Loose motions may also lead to dehydration if you do not drink enough fluids during it, which may cause the following symptoms (3):

• Thirst
• Dry mouth
• Dark-colored urine
• Urinating less than usual
• Light-headedness
• Fainting
• Weakness

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is best to consult a healthcare expert. You may also try some natural remedies. 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 (4). However, it should not be used for patients who are severely dehydrated or have developed kidney issues.

You Will Need

1-2 glasses of coconut water

What You Have To Do

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 (5). Along with this, it was also found to help in the treatment and prevention of diarrhea (6).

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 (7).

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
• 1 glass of water 

What You Have To Do

• 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.

How Often You Should Do This

Consume this solution 3 to 4 times daily, preferably after every meal.

4. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile exhibits powerful antidiarrhoeal, antispasmodicⁱ  XA medication or other agent that treats, avoids, or lessens the incidence of muscle spasms, particularly those that affect smooth muscles. , and antisecretory properties (8). This may help relieve loose motion by relaxing the muscles of the gut.

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of dry chamomile flowers
• 1 cup of water
• 1 teaspoon honey

What You Have To Do

1. Add one or two teaspoons of chamomile herb to a cup of water and bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes and strain.
3. Allow it to cool for a while before adding honey to it.
4. Consume immediately. 

How Often You Should Do This

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 (9), (10). This may help fight the microbes that cause infections and loose motion.

You Will Need

• 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
• 1 glass of warm water
• Honey to taste 

What You Have To Do

1. Add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and mix well.
2. You can add a little honey for flavor and consume immediately. 

How Often You Should Do This

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 (11), (12). This may help soothe the gastric system and fight the infection causing loose motion.

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of freshly extracted ginger juice
• Honey to taste

What You Have To Do

1. Take two teaspoons of freshly extracted ginger juice and add some honey to it.
2. Consume this mixture directly.
3. If the flavor is too strong for you, you can mix the ginger extract with a cup of warm water before consuming it.

How Often You Should Do This

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 (13). 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

1. Mix a teaspoon each of fresh peppermint, lemon juice, and honey.
2. Add this mixture to a cup of warm water. Stir well.
3. Consume immediately.

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 (14).  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

1. Mix half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey with a glass of warm water.
2. Consume this solution while it is warm.

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 (15). 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 (16), (17).  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

1. Extract a teaspoon of fresh juice from moringa leaves.
2. Add some honey to it and consume immediately.
3. You can also consume dried moringa (drumstick) leaves by adding them to your daily diet.

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 (18), (19). These properties may help soothe inflammation in the digestive tract and fight off the pathogensⁱ  XAny organism or agent such as a virus or a bacterium that has the ability to produce an infectious disease. 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

1. Add a teaspoon of tea leaves to a cup of water and bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes and strain.
3. Wait for the tea to cool a bit before adding the honey and lemon juice.
4. Consume immediately.

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 (20).
• Bismuth subsalicylate (commonly sold as Pepto-Bismol) can have an antisecretory effect on the digestive system, thereby reducing frequent bowel movements (21).

Quick Tip

Eating thoroughly cooked food and washing vegetables and fruits before eating them helps prevent contagious stomach infections.

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 (22). 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 (23). BRAT stands for ‘bananas, rice, apples, toast.’ In this diet, you will limit your food intake to these foods (24).

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. (25).

Quick Tip

If you want to find out what foods you are allergic to, start keeping a food journal in which you track everything you eat. This way, you can figure out which foods are triggering unwanted reactions, which can in turn help you realize what foods you are allergic or sensitive to.

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.

Infographic: When To See A Doctor For Loose Motions

Loose motions are distressing, inconvenient, and exhausting. Home remedies like coconut water and over-the-counter medications can help manage this condition at home. However, home remedies may fail to provide relief, and the symptoms may worsen over time. Check out the infographic below to figure out when you must see a doctor.

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Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

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 (26).

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 (27).

Should I drink more water in loose motion?

Yes. You lose a significant amount of fluids when you have loose motions. Drinking plenty of water ensures you do not face dehydration.

How long should loose motion last?

According to anecdotal evidence, a loose motion may last a few days to a week. If it persists beyond one week, you must consult your healthcare provider, as it might be an underlying sign of a serious issue.

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

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Dr. Zeel GandhiBAMS

Dr. Zeel Gandhi is an Ayurvedic doctor with 7 years of experience and an expert at providing holistic solutions for health problems encompassing Internal medicine, Panchakarma, Yoga, Ayurvedic Nutrition, and formulations. She graduated as a top ranker from Dr. D.Y.Patil College of Ayurveda and Research Centre , Navi Mumbai, and is a specialist in Panchakarma therapies. She believes that Ayurveda...more

Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling. Her passion for writing and her educational background have assisted her substantially in writing quality content on topics related to health and wellness for over three years. In her free...more

Arshiya SyedaSenior Editor

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Dipti SharmaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications. She writes articles that provide guidance on natural remedies for common health concerns, empowering readers to embrace the healing power of...more