Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Commission E approves the medicinal use of dried bilberry to treat any type of diarrhea. It is generally believed that its healing action is due to the natural astringency of the pigments (anthocyanosides) that the berry contains.
It is assumed that these properties also apply to dried blueberries, which contain the same type of pigments.
Dosage: make a decoction by immersing 30 to 60 g of dried fruit in 1 liter of cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Strain while the mixture is still hot. Let cool and keep in the fridge. Drink up to 6 cups a day as needed. Note that unlike dried berries, blueberries and fresh blueberries have a laxative action if consumed in large quantities.
Cassis (juice or fresh berries)
Blackcurrant berries contain tannins and a very dark blue pigment. The presence of these substances could explain certain traditional medicinal uses of blackcurrant juice, such as the treatment of diarrhea33.
Dosage: take a glass of blackcurrant juice during each meal or consume the fresh berries.
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
The roots and rhizomes of goldenseal are traditionally used to treat infectious diarrhea.
This is probably due to their content of berberine, a substance with antimicrobial properties whose effectiveness in treating gastrointestinal infections has been demonstrated by clinical studies in humans and by animal trials20,21.
However, these trials were not always well controlled.
Dosage: consult our Goldenseal sheet for its dosage.
Contraindications: pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Naturopathy
According to the American naturopath JE Pizzorno, it can be interesting to discover the factors that make a person more susceptible to infectious diarrhea23.
According to him, people with difficult digestion, due to a lack of acidity in the stomach or an insufficient amount of digestive enzymes, are more at risk. In these cases, taking hydrochloric acid and digestive enzyme supplements can be beneficial, he says. This type of approach must be undertaken under the supervision of a duly trained naturopath.
See our Naturopathy sheet.
Chinese pharmacopoeia
The preparation Bao Ji Wan (Po Chai) is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea.
A few simple remedies
German chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita)
Make an infusion with 1 tbsp. tablespoons (= table) (3 g) of dried flowers of German chamomile in 150 ml of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes. Drink 3 to 4 times a day.
Ginger tea (Zingiber officinale)
Ginger can be taken as an infusion, drinking 2 to 4 cups a day. Infuse 0.5 g to 1 g of powdered ginger or about 5 g of grated fresh ginger in 150 ml of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes.
Tea (Camellia simensis)
According to traditional usage, the tannins in tea have an antidiarrheal effect. We recommend 6 to 8 cups of tea per day. Note, however, that tea is a diuretic and contains caffeine, also called theine.
It is not recommended for children as well as pregnant or breastfeeding women.
