Stomach Problems in Children

AYURVEDIC HOME REMEDIES

Stomach Problems in Children

Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Home Remedies for Children - 2

Stomach Problems in Children

Diarrhea is the frequent watery bowel movement caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Impure drinking water, spoiled food, improper digestion etc can lead to diarhhea. ‘Body heat’ can also induce diarrhea in small kids. Diarrhea causes depletion in body fluids leads to dehydration. There is loss of water, sodium and other essential salts.

Symptoms of diarrhea include headaches, decreased blood pressure, fainting, unconsciousness, swelling of tongue, delirium, decreased urine output, dark urine, thirst, lethargy, sleepiness etc. If left untreated, diarrhea can be life-threatening.

If there is vomiting along with diarrhea, this can lead to a rapid depletion of body fluids. The immediate step in treating this condition is to replace the lost fluids and salt. Oral rehydration therapy is the best course of treatment. Here the patient is given a solution of salts and sugars by mouth. Intravenous administration can be done in extreme cases.

In case of diarrhea and blood in stool in children, this can be due to amoebic infection. Chances of contracting diarrhea in little kids who are fed breast milk are very rare. Breast milk provides the much needed immunity to children to fight diarrhea and amoebic infections.

Given below are some herbal remedies for children with blood in stool.

Sweet flag or Calamus has been used extensively for ages in treating stomach disorders. It has a very distinctive smell, and its essential oil is used in perfume industry. It has been used in Chinese and Indian herbal traditions. Ayurveda uses Calamus for treating digestive disorders.

Dry sweet flag root is rubbed against a clean rough surface adding a few drops of water. The ensuing fine paste is collected. The paste is smeared onto the child’s tongue as a thin paste once.This can be done in the mornings and evenings to treat bloody watery stools in children.

Carom seeds or omam (Tamil) has been used in Indian traditional medicine for treating digestive disorders. Studies have shown that it arrests the growth of pathogens in stomach while leaving the beneficial flora unaffected. Pirandai (Cissus) is an herb that has gastroprotective properties.

Take a handful of pirandai leaves. Take a table spoon of carom seeds and powder it coarsely.Heat the leaves and powdered carom seeds mildly on a pan. Remove from heat and extract the juice from the leaves. This juice a spoonful can be given in the mornings and evenings. Make a fresh preparation each time. This is an effective remedy for diarrhea and bloody stool in children.

Vasambu (Sweet flag), omam (Carom seeds) chukku (dried ginger), turmeric, perungayam (asafoetida) are taken in equal quantities, fried and ground to a fine powder. A pinch of this powder is given in vilakennai (castor oil) in case of bloated stomach. Otherwise this powder can be given in honey. This powder is found to be effective in treating bloody stools and diarrhea in children.

Mint leaf (pudhina) is yet another herb used extensively in treating gastric disorders. It is found to relieve bloated stomach, and mint tea is found to help with stomach pain.

Take a handful of pudhina (mint) leaves in an earthen pot. Add a cup of water and heat it. Reduce it to quarter of a cup. Filter out the water with a sieve. This water or this mint decoction is given twice a day to treat diarrhea.