Diarrhea can be caused by different factors, which may include:

• A parasite infestation. A parasite is any organism that lives as a guest in your body and that contributes nothing to your well-being. Parasites can include fungus, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and worms. Any of these can be contracted through contaminated food, commonly reffered to as food poisoning.
• Stress and anxiety. The bowel is intimately connected with your nervous system and can react negatively to nervousness.
• Intestinal infections or inflammation can be brought on by other diseases, such as Chrone's disease.

Knowing what might be causing your diarrhea will help you treat it with the best remedy and to eliminate the source of your irritation. If you catch a bug (whether a parasite or bacteria) foreign to your body, your body reacts to eliminate the invader by stimulating peristaltic action of the bowel.

This creates a forceful movement of the bowels, which can manifest itself as diarrhea. In this case, diarrhea is really a protective mechanism your body is activating to rid itself of a toxin. Due to the loss of fluid, salts, and nutrients that accompany diarrhea, dehydration is a concern, severe dehydration can cause brain damage or death if not treated.

Therefore, it is important, especially for the elderly and children to counteract the dehydrating effects of diarrhea through the intake of plenty of liquids. Make sure that the water supplied is filtered water and is not the source of possible contamination that could be causing the problem.

For diarrhea caused by any condition, an astringent herb can be used to contract tissues and slow things down. A good single herb used to combat the problem is bayberry (Myrica cerifera), not to be confused with barberry (Berberis vulgaris). For its best use againts diarrhea, bay berry should be made into a decoction or tea.

If bayberry connot be found, blackberry tea also works very well. Taking either of these herbs in a capsule form is helpful as well; however, the results may take longer in a pill form because the capsules require digestion.

Bayberry has special properties that act as germicides and that can destroy harmful bacteria and help the body get rid of mucus and toxins. It contains a rich amount of vitamin C and calcium, which makes it a very nourishing herb.

Bayberry has also been used to stop profuse menstruation and bleeding gums, and it has been useful in helping fight infections, cholera, colitis, dysentery, hemorrhoids, and jaundice. For prevention of diarrhea caused by food poisoning, bacterial infections, or parasites, food enzymes with hydrochloric acid supplements should be used before every meal, especially when dining out or traveling.

Hydrochloric acid (HCI) is an acid normally produced by the stomach to kill of parasites when we consume foods that are contaminated. As we age, our stomach produces less and less of this acid, which can leave us more vulnerable to infections caused by ingested foods, drinks, or anything that enters through the mouth.

Supplementing with these can help protect us from getting diarrhea in the first place. Acidophilus is the good bacteria normally present in our digestive tract. These bacteria keep other harmful bacteria and viruses in our body at bay. They also eat up other foreign substances that enter through our digestive tract and serve as another form of protection againts invaders.

Substances such as caffeine, carbonated beverages, and antibiotics can kill off these bacteria. Take four to six capsules on an empty stomach every day for best protection againts picking up bugs and to stop diarrhea. Acidophilus will fight against any existing bacterial infection going on in your system.

Other herbs that can help slow things down include psyllium hulls or oat bran. Psyllium acts like a bulking agent in the colon and will help absorb excess water. For children suffering from diarrhea, red raspberry in a liquid extract is an excellent remedy.