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Pau d Arco
In most cases, diarrhea does not require any medical attention. Sometimes, though, it can be a sign of a possibly serious illness. Diarrhea itself can be a dangerous threat to young children, theelderly and those with serious health conditions. It is commonly caused by bacterial toxins or viral infection. When treating diarrhea, one of the most important things is to drink plenty of water to replenish what is lost due to the disease and prevent the risk of dehydration. It is even better to take water mixed with electrolytes to fill in essential minerals and salts flushed out from the body. However, fluid replacement may not be enough to alleviate persistent diarrhea. Oftentimes, taking antibiotic treatment is needed to fight off underlying bacteria. The use of herbal remedies such as Pau d’Arco for diarrhea may help in alleviating persistent diarrhea. Apart from its antibacterial properties, it is also high in tannin content, which is known to protect the small intestine from irritation.
Depending on the cause of diarrhea, diarrhea may be either acute or chronic. Food poisoning commonly causes acute diarrhea but it can also be caused by allergies, flu, intestinal parasites and other medications. When these circumstances occur, the body often attempts to get rid of certain irritants, toxins or infections in the gut, which results to diarrhea.
Pau d’Arco for diarrhea has been in effect since time immemorial as a traditional herbal remedy for a common ailment. It was even a common treatment for diarrhea before it was found to be an herbal remedy for cancer and diabetes. The bark extract has lapachol, beta-lapachone and iso-lapachone, which all help with the ailment, although many herbal experts attribute the healing power of the herb to its high tannin content.
The inner bark of Pau d’Arco is a rich source of condensed tannins or ‘catechins’, a known type of flavonol. Water-soluble and colorless, catechins are astringent, causing contraction on the tissues. Tannins have been conventionally used as treatment for diarrhea. Oftentimes, in remote areas, diarrhea is caused due to intestinal irritation or enteritis. Although diarrhea originally affects the large intestine, it may cause reflex action of eliminating harmful material in the body as early as possible.
Diarrhea may be a healthy indication as it helps in removing disturbing or unwanted substances inside the system but in the long run, it may also lead to nausea, dehydration and eventually, death. Thus, for you to regulate the severity of diarrhea, it is suggested to take an effective form of astringent medicine. An effective astringent, such as Pau d’Arco for diarrhea, does not hinder the flow of unwanted substances in the digestive system but instead helps in alleviating irritation in the small intestine. In this way, the fierceness of diarrhea will be reduced and the frequency of bowel movement will be controlled.
You can take Pau d’Arco tea, capsule or tincture when treating diarrhea. Just as you would with cat’s claw, mix Pau d’Arco tincture with water and add a little amount of lemon juice to facilitate tannin absorption through the colon. Remember that taking Pau d’Arco for diarrhea is not enough to successfully alleviate the symptoms. Incorporating fluid replacement in the therapeutic management is important to prevent dehydration and electrolyte loss.
