If diseases and medical conditions were to be ranked by their levels of annoyance, diarrhea would certainly be among the top. Diarrhea is annoying because it doesn't announce its arrival; it just happens. It can make you totally uncomfortable, and it can ruin your day. Almost every human being suffers from diarrhea at some stage in his or her life. When it occurs, you better know how to treat it.

What Causes Diarrhea?

Diarrhea can be caused by two things. One is bacterial or amoebic illnesses that tamper with the gastrointestinal process of absorption. The second reason is the failure of the gastrointestinal tract in breaking and absorbing food. In both cases, food and fluids aren't absorbed properly and so they pass quickly through the digestive system. Waste products then lack time to join as one and hence they come out as loose and watery stool.

How Do You Treat Diarrhea?

One way of beating diarrhea is by drinking yoghurt. Two types of bacteria reside in your bowel: the harmful bacteria and the beneficial bacteria. These two are always competing against each other and when the harmful bacteria overpower the beneficial bacteria, diarrhea occurs. What you require at such a moment is food that will provide more of the beneficial bacteria. Yoghurt is one type of food that has been found to do so effectively. Half a cup of ordinary yoghurt should be able to do the job. Ordinary yoghurt is one that has a label saying the yoghurt has 'active cultures'. If the yoghurt is pasteurized, though, it means that the beneficial bacteria have been killed and it won't do you much good.

To soothe the irritated intestines, take carob powder. Take one tablespoon of the powder mixed with some honey and some applesauce; mixing the powder with honey and applesauce makes it palatable. Take the medication on an empty stomach.

The most common type of diarrhea (acute diarrhea) does not last for more than three days. In fact, this type of diarrhea usually clears after three days without treatment. Other types, though, can last for more than a month. These types are known as chronic, and they may prove resistant to home treatment methods or over-the-counter medication. If your diarrhea fails to respond to your medication within the first few days, or if the diarrhea is accompanied by more serious symptoms like blood in the stool, it is better to visit a medical center as soon as possible.