Usually caused by a stomach virus, bowel infections can last from anywhere between 2 and 6 days, and can be pretty hard to handle depending on the severity of the condition. The condition is characterized by a viral infection that develops inside the gastrointestinal tract which usually results in the inflammation of the same.
Bowel infections can be very contagious and are usually self-limiting aka they tend to disappear on their own after a few days (except for a few severe cases that need medical intervention). The symptoms of a bowel infection however, can be unnerving and can be extremely taxing on the body. Some of these symptoms include diarrhea, bloody stools, nausea, vomiting, muscle pains, fatigue, headaches, sudden chills and even fever.
Effective Home Remedies For Bowel Infection
Bowel infections can be effectively treated with the help of certain home remedies, the more common of which are given below
1. Drink Only Liquids
The first few days of the infection would find your stomach purging out everything you eat. So try avoiding solid foods and switch to liquids instead.In addition to drinking plenty of water, try drinking plenty of fresh fruit and vegetable juices at regular intervals throughout the day. Doing so would soothe the stomach and the bowels, and bring down the inflammation in the same.
2. Eat More Fiber Rich Foods
After sticking to a liquid diet for the first few days, start including semi solid foods into your diet. And make it a point to eat foods that are rich in fiber.Fiber is easily digestible and can soften the stools so that the bowel can pass them easily, thereby bringing down the inflammation caused by the infection to a great extent.Opt for natural sources of fiber like apples, pears, raspberries, peas, broccoli, whole grains, beans, cereals, nuts and seeds etc.
3. Drink Plenty Of Water
One of the best things you can do during a bowel infection is drink lots and lots of water. Drinking water regularly during this period would keep your body hydrated, soften the stools and bring down the pain and inflammation in the bowel in addition to flushing out the virus causing that caused the infection in the first place.So make it a point to drink at least 10 glasses of water at regular intervals throughout the day in order to treat a bowel infection quickly and effectively.
4. Eat Ginger
Ginger has potent antibacterial and antiviral properties that are instrumental in dealing with a number of infections in the body, including a bowel infection. Ginger also regularizes the bowel movement and brings down the inflammation caused in the same due to bloating and other side effects caused by the infection.The best option would be to grind a piece of ginger and swallow the resultant paste at least thrice a day. Alternatively, you can extract the juice from a few ginger pieces, add a few drops of honey and a cup of water, and drink the resultant juice at least thrice a day for quick and effective results.
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5. Drink Peppermint Tea
Drinking peppermint tea can help relieve the pain and inflammation caused by a bowel infection. Peppermint contains antispasmodic properties that would help take care of conditions like acidity and stomach/intestinal cramps.The carminative properties present in peppermint would also help reduce bloating and abdominal gas. So make it a point to drink at least 2 glasses of peppermint tea every day.
6. Drink Saline Solution
A great way to stimulate the bowel movement first thing every morning is to mix a tbsp. of salt (preferably sea salt) in a glass of water and boil the solution for 10 minutes. Let the solution cool down until it is warm and drink it. Lie down on your back after a few minutes and start massaging your stomach, moving your hands in a straight line from the stomach to the intestines.This particular remedy would stimulate the bowel movement and remove harmful toxins, accumulated waste, bacteria, parasites and other impurities that might be blocking up the intestines and inhibiting bowel movement. Do this regularly every morning until the symptoms of the infection disappear.
7. Drink Lemon Juice
Lemon juice can act as a very good home remedy for bowel infections and can cleanse your colon off impurities and harmful organisms that might be blocking the intestines and causing the infection. The potent antioxidant properties of lemon would also stimulate the digestive tract and regulate the bowel movement, thereby reducing the symptoms of a bowel infection to a great extent.Squeeze a lemon to get its juice and add a few drops of honey to it. Sprinkle some salt as well and mix it in lukewarm water (one glass). Drink the resultant solution the first thing in the morning continuously for a few days until you feel better.
8. Eat Fresh Yogurt
Yogurt is loaded with plenty of good bacteria that can tackle the bad bacteria in your bowel, thereby treating a bowel infection quickly and effectively. The high calcium content of yogurt would also help bring down the inflammation caused by a bowel infection.Opt for a cup of fresh yogurt at least thrice a day. Avoid ones with sweeteners that can irritate the bowel. Alternatively, you can opt to add yogurt to your salads and snacks, and can even consume them with fruits like apples and bananas etc. Keep eating fresh yogurt every day until the symptoms of the infection recede completely.
9. Eat Flaxseed
One of the best ways to cleanse your colon and regulate your bowel movement, thereby treating a bowel infection is to add plenty of flax seed to the foods that you eat on a daily basis. Flax seed contains potent antioxidant properties that can flush out impurities and harmful blockages from the digestive tract.Flax seeds are also loaded with fiber which would aid in quick digestion and assimilation of the food, thereby preventing food accumulation that could lead to a bowel infection or aggravate an existing condition.
Finally, flax seeds are rich natural sources of omega 3 fatty acids that can help strengthen the cells in the digestive and intestinal tracts, thereby promoting quick recovery from a bowel infection.You can either opt to grind flax seeds to form a powder, mix them in water and drink the resultant solution every morning, noon and night (preferably before meals), or add powdered flax seeds to the foods that you eat on a daily basis.
