Diarrhea, or runny poop, usually comes with cramps and in some cases fever too. It can last anything from a day to a few days. People with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) may even experience it daily. It interferes with your life and can make you feel really weak as well as uncomfortable. No one likes cramps and frequent bathroom trips.
Diarrhea can be triggered by food sensitivities or food intolerance such as lactose in milk, getting a virus, food poisoning, harmful bacteria, stress, medical conditions like Crohn’s disease or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), certain medications and even indigestion in some people. Most people get diarrhea once a year on average, so it’s a very common issue (1).
If you have a food sensitivity or intolerance, avoiding that food will help to prevent further diarrhea. Seeing your doctor to get tests done if you get diarrhea regularly can help you pinpoint the cause and treat it. But if you get diarrhea as people do sometimes, it’s easy to treat at home. There are medications that you can get at the pharmacy to treat diarrhea, but they may come with side effects.
Try a home remedy like baking soda for diarrhea.
Does Baking Soda Help Diarrhea?
There isn’t a lot of scientific evidence that baking soda actually helps for diarrhea aside from this information supplied for a patent which claims that baking soda helps to stop diarrhea, but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that it does.
It’s not 100% clear how exactly baking soda helps but here are a few ways that it may help some people:
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Baking soda has an alkalizing effect in the body which is why it’s often used as a remedy for heartburn. If you have diarrhea following indigestion, baking soda could be a good remedy for you.
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An alkaline environment is also less hospitable to certain pathogens which may be helpful in the cases where your diarrhea is caused by germs.
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Baking soda is often added to rehydration mixes because baking soda contains the electrolyte, sodium, which is lost when diarrhea is excessive.
How to Make a Baking Soda Diarrhea Remedy
There are a few ways to use baking soda for diarrhea, you may find that some work better than others. You may need to drink these remedies a few times a day but some people have said they feel better within an hour or two.
1. Baking Soda and Lemon
This remedy is the most effective for a lot of people.
Here’s how to do it:
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Add 1/4 to 1/3 of a teaspoon of baking soda to a glass.
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Squeeze the juice of 2 lemons into the glass.
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You can add some raw honey to sweeten it as honey can help to get rid of diarrhea too.
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Drink it while it’s foaming.
Note: You can use less lemon, a half a lemon will also do and if the lemon is too acidic for you dilute this remedy in a half a glass of water. Rinse your mouth out with water afterward to prevent your teeth from becoming eroded.
2. Baking Soda and Water
This remedy is simple and cheap:
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Simply mix together 1/4 to 1/2 of a teaspoon of baking soda and half a glass of water (warm or cool water).
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Stir it well before drinking.
You can also add a little honey to this remedy.
3. Baking Soda and Vinegar
This remedy is the worst tasting but it’s also effective:
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Mix together half a teaspoon of baking soda and a glass of water.
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Add a teaspoon of vinegar (white, brown, or apple cider vinegar will be fine).
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There may be a lot of fizzing so wait for it to die down a little before drinking it all at once.
Note: If need be you can add a little honey but since you need to drink this remedy quickly, you may find that its okay to drink it without the honey.
4. Baking Soda and Tea
Certain types of tea help for diarrhea too and can be used in conjunction with baking soda. Just add 1/4 to 1/2 of a teaspoon of baking soda to one of the following types of tea:
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Chamomile
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Peppermint
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Rooibos
Tips and Precautions
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There have been cases that report that excessive amounts of baking soda can cause diarrhea so stick to the recommended doses. If your diarrhea is becoming worse you and you are sticking to the doses recommended, baking soda remedies may not be for you. Try one of these diarrhea remedies instead.
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Consuming more than 5 teaspoons of baking soda a day can cause a condition called alkalosis which means that your body has become too alkaline which is dangerous when untreated (2). Don’t use baking soda for too many days in a row. Once your diarrhea is gone, stop using it.
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If you are pregnant, have kidney problems, heart problems, or are on medication, you should first consult your doctor before using baking soda in medicinal quantities like these as baking soda can interact with medication and have an adverse effect on those struggling with health problems (2).
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Baking soda may not be suitable for babies and small children. Even just a pinch of baking soda can be too much for a baby.
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If your diarrhea lasts longer than 3-4 days, see your doctor. You may need medical treatment or have to run tests to see whether you react badly to certain foods. If you have severe diarrhea for more than two days and have a high fever, see your doctor (3).
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If you suspect you are reacting to a food, remove it from your diet for at least a week before adding it back in to see if your symptoms were resolved and then came back or not. You may need to try this with multiple foods one at a time. The most common culprits are dairy, wheat, gluten, spicy foods, sugary foods, fried and fatty foods, and alcohol.
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Stay well hydrated by drinking herbal tea and water. Eat foods that are easy to digest like white bread, rice, and broth. Fruit and vegetables, especially bananas may be helpful too since they provide you with nutrients and some fiber to add bulk to your stools. Don’t use any harsh spices and stay away from fatty foods and dairy.
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Keep your hands clean, especially after using the bathroom. If your baby has diarrhea, disinfect the surfaces that you have changed him or her on and wash your hands to prevent it from spreading to you.
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Be sure to get some bed rest if possible. Our bodies need rest to heal properly.
Please let us know whether baking soda has worked for you. If you have any questions you can ask them in the comments and we’ll get back to you!
