Digestive upsets

One of the downsides of travelling can be the onset of a bout of diarrhea. A chronic case accompanied by fever and sharp pain should always be diagnosed by a medical expert as soon as possible. It may be due to a simple change of diet or a gastrointestinal virus but it may also be an underlying symptom of another ailment so if it keeps occuring you really need to have it checked out as soon as possible.

Diarrhea is a sign that your natural defences have kicked in and are obviously trying to flush out something that doesn't agree with the body. The old adage "better out than in" is fitting here - let the upset run its course for 6-12 hours. In this time drink plenty of fluid to rehydrate and try one of the following simple remedies below to help alleviate the symptoms. We are generally unprepared for this when it happens so I have kept suggestions to the easiest to get hold of or to carry with you. (The post on A natural First Aid Kit advises on some cures to pack before leaving)

Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or lemon to a glass of water and drink. 3 times a day.

Grate an apple and leave it to brown before eating it. The pectin will help tone the bowel and bulk the stool.

Those warming kitchen spices are great at providing relief. A pinch of Cayenne pepper (SP-pimienta roja, Ger-Cayennepfeffer, Fr- piment de Cayenne, hindu/urdu- Pisi hui lal murch )
and a pinch of Cinnamon (Bengali - darcheeli, Arabic- quefa, Sp- Canela, Fr_Cannelle, Ger- Zimt))-in 2 cups of water simmered for 20 minutes and drunk with a tablespoon of honey when cooled will really help to tone the bowel. Take a small glass of it every hour or so.

A clove of garlic (Lat-Allium sativum, Fr- l'ail, Sp- ajo, Ger-Knoblauch,) crushed or diced in to 4 tablespoons of honey and allowed to sit for 20 minutes before eating will combat the diarrhea as well as killing off bacteria that may have caused it in the first place. Not to be taken if you have problems digesting garlic. Capsules could be taken instead.

Drink a tea made from Goldenseal 3 times a day or take capsules (see post on First Aid Kit for language glossary)

Chamomile tea (see post on first aid kit for language glossary) will serve to soothe any abdominal cramps.

A teaspoon of turmeric (Lat-Curcuma longa,hindu/urdu/gujarati - Haldi, Fr&Sp-cúrcuma, Ger-Kurcuma)in warm water with honey will also alleviate symptoms.

As you start to feel better eat lightly - clear soups, bananas, oats and plain rice. Eat live yoghurt to reintroduce the intestinal flora that may have been lost.

Khichari is an indian dish that is a excellent in replenishing nutrients and soothing traumatised intestines. It uses many of the spices mentioned above.

1 cup Basmati rice
2/3 cups moong or toor dal
5 cups water

Bring the rice, dal and water to boil. Cover, reduce heat and summer until dal is tender, all water is absorbed and mixture resembles a thick porridge (about 30 minutes with converted rice, one hour with basmati.)

Masala

2 tablespoons ghee or oil
pinch of asofoetida (hing:heeng)
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1&1/2 teaspoons cumin powder
1/4 teaspoon ground fenugreek (Lat-Trigonella foenum-graecum, Sp-fenogreco, Fr-fenugrec,Ger-Bockshornklee )
1 teaspoon turmeric
salt to taste
sugar to taste
To spice it up: cayenne
Add chopped fresh parsley, green onions, minced garlic, shredded ginger.

Heat the spices in ghee or butter. Pour over the rice/dal mix and stir thoroughly. Add salt and sugar to taste.

Yoga for Diarrhea

Utthanpadasana (Raised Legs Pose)
Lie on your back on the floor with palms flat on the floor.
Keep your ankle straight and the heel in contact with the floor.

Inhale while raising your right leg as high as is comfortable
Keep your knees and the other leg straight and in contact with the floor.

Hold on for 5 seconds, count while retaining the breath.
Exhale slowly and bring down the leg gently back to floor.
This is one round
Do 5 rounds with each leg

Move the leg upward and downward along with the breath, if possible.

This simple movement will strengthen and massage the digestive tract.

Supta Pawanmuktasana (Leg Lock Pose)

Remain lying on the floor.
Bend your right knee and bring the thigh to the chest
Interlock the fingers of both hands and place it just below the shin of the right knee.
Bring the thigh to the chest.
Keep the left leg straight and on the ground
Inhale deeply and fill the lungs full of air.
Retain the breath
Raise the head and shoulders from the ground and try to touch the right knee with the nose.
Hold in this position for a while.
Exhale slowly and relax.
Return to base pose.
If possible, keep your eyes closed.
Repeat this with other leg also.
Do this exercise ten times.
Start with the right leg as it presses the ascending colon directly.
Follow with the left leg as it presses the descending colon directly.