How to Get Rid of Diarrhea Fast (24 Science-Backed Remedies)

You already have tons of things on your to-do list.

So few things are worse than feeling that dreaded gurgle in your stomach.

And of course, diarrhea is just plain embarrassing.

No one wants to run to the bathroom while they’re on a hot date or in an important meeting.

While you can’t always prevent a round of intestinal distress, knowing how to get rid of diarrhea fast will save you from potential embarrassment (along with uncomfortable symptoms, such as weakness and abdominal pain) that’ll ruin your day.

The next time you feel that telltale rumble, try one of these natural home remedies for diarrhea. Then you can get relief fast.

 

Ditch the Dairy

 

Life without cheese sounds bleak, but it’s only temporary.

Unfortunately, dairy products are known for irritating the digestive track, especially in individuals that are already prone to diarrhea (due to stomach sensitivity).

It’s also important to watch out for hidden sources of dairy (such as certain types of bread and desserts).

When you  temporarily ditch the dairy, include these foods and beverages on your list:

• Milk
• Butter
• Coffee creamer
• Milk-based soups
• Cheese
• Whipped cream

Remember, you can add dairy back into your diet once diarrhea has passed but do it slowly.

 

Bananas

 

Figuring out what to eat when you have diarrhea is challenging, but a banana is always a good place to start.

It fills your tummy without causing further irritation. For a special diarrhea diet, bananas can be included with other products.

But they can also be used alone because they contain a large amount of pectin (which has stomach-soothing properties).

Keep in mind that the banana needs to be ripe to work, but an overripe banana can cause further tummy troubles.

Hint: you can mix your banana with other soothing foods (such as yogurt) to improve the taste.

 

Reduce Stress

 

Diarrhea can sometimes pop up due to anxiety.

Or the stress of being sick can cause your body to increase its production of stomach acids (which makes it worse).

For these reasons, it helps to find ways to reduce your stress (such as listening to music or talking to a close friend about things that may be bothering you).

Although exercise (such as yoga and walking) are therapeutic for stress, you’ll want to avoid any workouts that involve harsh movements.

When stress is contributing to your diarrhea, you should quickly see relief after you start to relax.

 

Get Some Rest

 

When stomach troubles strike, sometimes the best thing you can do is take a break.

Too much movement irritates the stomach lining by stirring up acids.

For this reason, people who know how to stop diarrhea fast will tell you to find a quiet place to lie down.

How long should you rest?

That’ll greatly depend on your schedule, but even 30 minutes will give your body enough time to rejuvenate itself and bolster your immune system.

Hint: even if you don’t have time to take a nap, skipping your workout for the duration of your diarrhea will shorten its timespan by decreasing the stress on your digestive track.

 

Black Seed Oil

 

Black seed oil has minimal side effects.

It’s known as one of the best ways to get rid of diarrhea fast.

It helps boost your immune system, and it works for other related ailments (such as anxiety and stomach aches).

To take black seed oil, simply follow these simple directions:

• Thoroughly mix a small amount of black seed oil with one cup of yogurt.
• Take it twice a day until the worst of your symptoms subside.

 

Liquid Foods

 

At first glance, it seems as though adding more liquid to your diet would simply increase the runniness of your stools.

However, a liquid diet stops abdominal cramping by allowing your digestive system to rest.

It’s also important to note that when your stomach is acting up, sticking to a liquid diet allows more nutrients to be absorbed.

The increased nutrition will help your body fight off potential bacteria.

And the viruses that are making you sick will give you more energy.

Directions:

If you following a liquid diet, it doesn’t mean that you’re confined to drinks.

Instead, grab a food processor and break up harder foods (such as steamed carrots and berries).

If you need to add liquid, stick to broth, juice, or water. Any dairy will contribute to more diarrhea.

 

Yogurt

 

Yogurt is an exception to the no-dairy rule. It contains healthy bacteria, which will help balance out your struggling gut flora.

Note: when shopping for yogurt, skip the pre-flavored versions.

They tend to contain lots of sugar, which weakens your immune system.

Instead, choose a plain flavor that contains live cultures. Then mix in your own fruit for added flavor.

 

Quit Bad Habits

 

When diarrhea disrupts your work day, you might look forward to having a stiff drink at home.

However, alcohol and smoking wreak havoc on your digestion. Nothing brings on diarrhea faster than a hangover.

Therefore, you’ll need to abstain from drinking alcohol and smoking until you feel better.

However, it should also be said that ditching them both altogether would be healthier in the long run.

 

Blueberry Soup

 

Dark berries contain tannins, which help with diarrhea.

This delicious soup is full of antioxidants, and it can serve as a stand-in for breakfast or dessert until you start feeling better.

To make this soup, gather these ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1/3 ounce of dried blueberries
• 3 T sugar (may be reduced if you love blueberries)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 t lemon juice
• Pinch of salt

Directions: fill up a pot with the ingredients, and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.

Fill up a pot with the ingredients, and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.

Reduce the temperature, and allow the mixture to simmer for approximately fifteen minutes.

You should find that the blueberries start softening, and the rest of the ingredients blend in with the berries.

Once the berries are ready, pour the mixture into a blender, and set it on puree.

Strain the solid parts out, and pour the liquid into a glass.

Drink it three times a day.

It’s possible to make enough for several days and store it in the fridge.

Just make sure to slightly warm up the soup before enjoying it, so that the cold temperature doesn’t contribute to cramping.

 

Heating Pad

 

In addition to runny stools, diarrhea generates painful cramps, which can increase the amount of time you spend in the bathroom.

To encourage your muscles to relax, place a heating pad on your abdomen.

As they relax, your intestines reduce the amount of stool that’s produced.

However, it’s important to note that heating pads should never be used when you’re sleeping.

But since heat can encourage the spread of bacteria, you may also need to skip this remedy if you believe your diarrhea is due to a bacterial illness.

 

The BRAT Diet

 

Right now, your stomach is acting bratty, but you can jumpstart its good behavior by following the BRAT diet.

This home remedy offers a few dietary options when you have diarrhea.

To follow this diet, you’ll need to gather the following foods, which each starts with a letter in the acronym BRAT:

• Bananas
• Rice (preferably white)
• Applesauce (unsweetened)
• Toast (only dry, so no butter or jelly)

Note: although these foods help add bulk to your stools, it’s important to eat them in small quantities.

Start with a few small bites, then wait a half hour. If you’re still hungry and haven’t had diarrhea, then you can eat again.

For curbing your symptoms, remember that several smaller meals are better than one large one.

 

Ginger

 

Ginger is often viewed as being a great way to relieve nasal congestion and sore throat pain.

Many people don’t know that ginger is one of the best home remedies for diarrhea.

It helps with nausea and stomach cramps, and it decreases the intestinal activity that causes diarrhea.

As you shop for supplies, grab these items:

• Grater
• Honey
• Ginger

Directions:

For diarrhea, ginger can be ingested in two ways.

First, you can use the grater to break the ginger up into fine pieces and mix them with honey.

Alternatively, you can choose to take ginger in powdered form. For the most effective results, avoid drinking water.

Although the ginger may taste strong, make sure you ingest it full-strength.

Then you can increase its ability to work.

Ginger tea can also work in a pinch, but it tends to be less effective than just eating freshly grated ginger.

 

Fenugreek Seeds

 

You probably aren’t familiar with the word mucilage.

But mucilage contains essential compounds that are beneficial for relieving diarrhea because they start bulking up the stool immediately.

For this reason, recommendations for stopping diarrhea fast should always include these instructions:

• Mix fenugreek seeds with yogurt.
• Add cumin to taste.

Note: you can chew on fenugreek seeds themselves, but most people prefer mixing them with yogurt to make them more palatable.

This same remedy can also be reversed by making cumin seeds the main herb in the mixture. It’s up to you.

 

Peppermint Tea

 

Sure, a peppermint candy may help with nausea, but brewing a tea from real mint leaves allows you to get the most out of this herb’s healing properties.

To make this soothing brew, grab a few sprigs of mint, and soak them in boiling water.

Once the water cools, slowly sip it, and you should find relief from your diarrhea in about half an hour.

Warning: before brewing your tea, make sure to thoroughly rinse your mint sprigs with water.

Mint naturally grows in dirt, and washing it first removes bacteria that could irritate your stomach.

 

Chamomile Tea

 

Although peppermint tea definitely helps with diarrhea, it does help add some variety when you’re stuck with a bland diet.

Chamomile is one of the most effective diarrhea remedies because it helps decrease inflammation throughout the irritated parts of your digestive track.

You can also find prepared packets of chamomile tea, which you can easily take with you.

Brew your chamomile tea according to the package instructions, and remember that you should only drink it after it’s reached a lukewarm temperature.

Anything too hot or cold could irritate your stomach.

Note: lemon may be added to improve the taste.

 

White Rice

 

Yep, this is probably one of the most boring ways to figure out how to make diarrhea stop, but it’s effective.

Plain, white rice increases the bulk of your stools, and a little bit can make you feel quite full.

At first, eat the rice in small amounts, but start eating a lot if it stops your diarrhea.

However, keep in mind that it’s critical to avoid adding things (such as butter or spices) for flavoring.

If you do, you’ll sabotage your efforts to feel better.

However, as you start feeling better, you could start mixing other foods with your rice (such as blended carrots or applesauce) to test how your body is handling solids.

 

Apple Cider Vinegar

 

There are tons of health reasons to consume apple cider vinegar.

By using this remedy, you’ll know that you’re benefiting from other conditions.

Apple cider vinegar works on diarrhea by attacking the bacteria that’s contributing to the problem.

If you like the taste of apple cider vinegar, you can just swallow a spoonful and wash it down with water.

If you’ve never had it before or find it distasteful, then mix it into a glass of water before drinking it.

Ideally, you should take it twice a day.

If you find it relieves other symptoms, then you can keep taking it, even after your diarrhea has healed.

 

Lemon Water

 

While you may think that the citric acid in lemons would irritate your stomach lining, these citrusy fruits actually reduce diarrhea by cutting down the bacteria.

Making a glass of lemon water doesn’t take long, and you can easily take this drink anywhere you go.

Just squeeze a few drops of fresh lemon into a glass of water, and sip it throughout the day.

To make it even handier, you can use pre-squeezed juice from the store (as long as it only contains lemons).

 

Carrot Soup

 

Carrots are a rich source of nutrients (such as vitamin A) that your body needs for healing.

They’re also easy on your stomach when they’ve been steamed and broken into liquid form.

To make carrot soup, just follow these instructions:

• Wash and peel a couple of carrots.
• Cook in a small amount of water until soft.
• Mash or blend the carrots until it reaches a soupy texture.
• To replace lost nutrients in your body, eat it once a day (both during the bout of diarrhea and for a few days after).

 

Clear Liquids

 

When people aren’t feeling well, they tend to stop drinking water.

However, you need at least eight glasses of water when you’re not sick.

And to prevent dehydration, it’s recommended to increase your intake when you’re having diarrhea.

For this reason, you should drink clear liquids with any of the home remedies for diarrhea that you try.

If water gets boring, you can add diluted broths and clear soups to your clear- liquid list.

Just make sure to avoid things that you already know will irritate your digestive system.

 

Orange Concoction

 

Oranges contain vitamin C, which is a known immune-system booster.

They also contain just enough pulp to help add bulk to your diet — without causing too much stress to your system.

When you have diarrhea, you can consume oranges in several different ways.

So choose the one that you find easiest and most palatable.

• Brew Orange Peel Tea. Start by chopping up the peel of your orange. Then allow it to steep in boiling water for about five minutes. Strain out the peels, and allow the tea to cool. If you’d like, you can add a small amount of honey to increase the taste. Sip it slowly, and repeat again later in the day.
• Blend an Orange Drink. Grab three oranges, a tablespoon of sugar, and a dash of salt, and run them through your blender. To thin out the blend, add a cup and a half of water. Until your diarrhea has passed, drink this concoction three times a day.

 

Cinnamon and Cayenne

 

Diarrhea often strikes during the winter months — when intestinal viruses are making their rounds.

Fortunately, this brew tastes quite delicious, so you may actually look forward to eating it.

Directions:

Start by heating two cups of water until it reaches a rolling boil.

Then stir in 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne.

Don’t worry; the water will dilute the cayenne, so it won’t be too spicy.

Bring the tea down to a simmer, and keep it going for about five minutes.

Once it’s done, allow it to cool before pouring a glass.

For the best impact, drink about 1/4 cup of the tea every half hour (for the duration of your symptoms).

Both cinnamon and cayenne have soothing properties for your stomach, and the cayenne pepper helps improve your immune system functioning.

 

Slippery Elm Bark

 

Slippery elm bark has fiber that helps relieve abdominal cramping, while also thickening your stool.

It may be a new taste for you, but slippery elm bark is easy to get used to.

And it makes a soothing brew when you follow these steps:

• Boil one teaspoon of slippery elm bark and one cup of water.
• Reduce to a simmer for five minutes.
• Remove the brew from the heat source, and allow it to steep for about ten minutes.
• Drink at least three times a day, but avoid drinking more than five glasses (so that you don’t overload on fiber).

 

Raw Garlic

 

Like apple cider vinegar, garlic is known for its restorative properties, which help heal the entire body.

For diarrhea, garlic is an anti-inflammatory that soothes stomach irritation throughout your digestive track.

And it’s a favorite for people who like knowing how to get rid of diarrhea fast.

It’s also full of potassium, which eases cramping.

Cooking garlic does reduce some of its most beneficial aspects, so it’s best to eat it raw.

Just peel a few cloves, and gobble them up whenever you have the chance.

While your symptoms are severe, you should ideally eat at least one clove 3-5 times a day.

 

Conclusion

 

You should learn how to stop diarrhea fast, so you don’t have to spend days recovering.

Plus, you never know when you’ll need to help someone you love find prompt relief from disturbing symptoms.

All of these methods are effective.

But it’s important to remember that if diarrhea doesn’t respond to your efforts in three or four days, a physician should check for a different underlying cause.

It’s also important to avoid dehydration, so drink plenty of water until your symptoms clear.

If you have these tricks up your sleeve, you’ll feel back to your normal in no time at all.