Diarrhoea, a condition which involves having three or more loose and watery stool, occurs for various reasons ranging from food allergy, infections, consumption of spoiled food or toxic chemicals in food, food poisoning to over dosage of antibiotics.
Although diarrhoea causes discomfort and at times stomach aches, it is one condition that should not be taken for granted as it can cause death, especially when dehydration occurs.
Oral rehydration therapy has been the key strategy for effective diarrhoea. However, it often fails when the frequency of stooling is high. Moreover, the use of drugs that prevent passage of stool (antimotility agents) is not advisable for diarrhoea caused by an infection.
Various attempts for developing vaccines against diarrhoea causing organisms have been made. However, the responses to vaccines in developing countries have not been encouraging.
In the recent past, there were advances towards developing cost effective alternative approaches for treatment of diarrhoea using medicinal plants. These plants have recently gained popularity as prospective agents for the treatment of diarrhoea. In fact, there has been over 200 studies on plants used in the treatment of diarrhoea.
Whilst a few studies have reported treating diarrhoea by killing the germ responsible for the condition, majority of the studies focused on the effect of the plants reducing the frequency of passage of watery stool in laboratory animals.
In the recent past, many people have resorted to herbal remedies to treat common illnesses like cold, back pain, diarrhoea or other more serious health problems. Of course, some of these non conventional remedies for diarrhoea indeed have scientific basis for their effectiveness in ameliorating diarrhoea. Prominent on the list is guava leaves. Guava leaves works on diarrhoea through four mechanisms.
Among other things, the water extract of the guava leaves kills the germ responsible for the problem, slows down the movement of wastes passing through the intestine and inhibits increased water secretion, so strengthening the ethnomedical usage of guava leaf in different forms of diarrhoea.
Interestingly, the water extract of guava leaves equally subdued watery stool caused by the germ that causes cholera.
Meanwhile, guava is used widely in traditional medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, gastroenteritis, stomach aches, and indigestion in many countries, including Latin America, the Caribbean, China, Philippines, Senegal and USA.
Recent ethnopharmacological studies have shown various medicinal uses of guava to include its traditional use in skin problems, diabetes, hypertension, caries, wounds, pain relief, and reducing fever. Although all parts of this plant are known to possess several medicinal properties, the leaves and fruits, in particular have been widely studied and attributed with various pharmacological properties.
What are the common uses of guava leaves? The young leaves of the guava tree are chewed to treat bleeding gums and foul breath. The tender guava leaves are chewed before taking intoxicating drinks to alleviate hangover. Indians native to the Amazon region habitually use a decoction prepared with the leaves of guava to cure mouth sores, bleeding gums or prepare a douche with guava leaves for treating vaginal discharge as well as to tone up the vaginal walls, especially following childbirth.
People suffering from painful eye conditions like conjunctivitis, eye injuries as well as sun strains may get relief if they apply the mashed guava flowers on the affected area.
Herbal medical practitioners also prescribe a decoction prepared with guava leaves as a gargle to treat aching throats, coughs, laryngitis, as well as the swelling of the mouth. While the mashed guava leaves are applied externally on injuries, ulcers and painful places of the body, the young leaves of the tree are chewed to alleviate toothaches as well as cure bleeding gums.
A quick bout of diarrhoea doesn’t have to become a dangerous digestive health concern. Other home remedies that are helpful include tea leaves, frozen yoghurt, apple, ginger tea, nutmeg and toast bread.
Source:tribune
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