Using essential oils for diarrhea, you can get quick relief without suffering for long. In this article, find 7 best essential oils to use plus valuable recipes for different causes of diarrhea.
Using Essential Oils for Diarrhea Relief
Diarrhea is a condition that is characterized by abnormal watery stools that are frequent. It affects the digestive and excretory system and is mostly a symptom of another condition like food poisoning or a disease or stomach bug. A person suffering from diarrhea may pass watery or liquid stool more than 3 times a day, which leads to loss of water and important minerals. Don’t miss: How to Avoid Getting Stomach Flu When Your Whole Family Has It
There are three clinical types of diarrhea:
→ Acute diarrhea: In acute diarrhea, symptoms come on suddenly without you expecting it but clears up quickly, usually within 48 hours. In severe cases, it can last for two weeks maximum. This type of diarrhea is the most common illness in the US and may be brought about by bacterial/viral infections, parasites and contaminated food and drink.
→ Persistent diarrhea: Here, the diarrhea lasts anywhere from two days to four weeks and is brought about by conditions like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), ulcers, celiac disease, stomach surgery and Crohn’s disease.
→ Chronic diarrhea: Chronic diarrhea, is just like its name suggests – chronic or long-lasting. It goes on for more than 4 weeks and may be caused by digestive disorders and also bacterial/viral infections as well as parasites.
If you have food – related or mild diarrhea, it can be relieved fast using essential oils. But for severe symptoms like bleeding and severe dehydration, please seek professional help. You can also use essential oils in conjunction with conventional medicine.
Causes of Diarrhea
The most common causes of diarrhea include:
- Contaminated Food – Eating food that’s contaminated or spoiled can cause an upset stomach which leads to diarrhea.
- Bacterial & Viral Infections – Many bacterial or viral infections have a variety of symptoms including fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Parasites – A severe parasite infestation can lead to mild or acute diarrhea.
- Health Conditions – Health conditions such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, hyperthyroidism and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, among others can cause diarrhea.
- Anxiety – Nerves and anxiety related to stage fright, exams, work interviews and other life events can cause diarrhea, which can last for a day to a week. Home remedies including essential oils usually take care of this cause of diarrhea.
7 Essential Oils for Diarrhea & How they Work
Essential oils have healing properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antimicrobial, analgesic and other properties that make them good remedies for helping diarrhea. Here are the top 7 essential oils for diarrhea:
1. Peppermint Essential Oil
A cooling, invigorating and pain relieving essential oil, peppermint oil is great for relieving stomach cramps related to diarrhea. Food grade peppermint oil can also be taken in tiny diluted quantities to quell diarrhea from the inside – out.
2. Lemon Essential Oil
One of the best cleansing essential oils for diarrhea is lemon. Lemon oil is detoxifying which helps expel the toxins, virus or bacteria that’s irritating the stomach faster. It also has a clean and fresh scent that helps curb nausea when inhaled.
3. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender oil is soothing and calming in nature. When diffused, it promotes a sense of peace and tranquility which helps reduce anxiety – related diarrhea. Lavender oil massaged on the abdomen reduces inflammation and stomach cramps.
4. Ginger Essential Oil
A powerful anti-inflammatory agent, ginger is one of the best essential oils for diarrhea. It also has analgesic properties that reduce stomach pain due to diarrhea. The spicy warm scent of ginger is grounding and helps reduce queasiness and feeling lightheaded, both of which are associated with diarrhea.
5. Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense oil is an all – round healing oil in the world of aroma therapy. It fights infections and strengthens the immune system, which helps speed up the rate at which diarrhea heals.
6. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree is another great essential oil for diarrhea. A powerful antimicrobial, antiviral and antibacterial agent, tea tree oil is good for diarrhea caused by bacteria or viruses.
7. Chamomile Essential Oil
Just like lavender, chamomile oil is calming and popularly used for skin irritations. It can also work for diarrhea when used in a massage blend to calm the stomach, reduce inflammation, alleviate stomach cramps.
How to Use Essential Oils for Diarrhea
Below, you’ll find the different causes of diarrhea and essential oil recipes you can use for each of them:
1. Food – Related Diarrhea
Recipe #1: Stomach Rub Blend
What you need
- 3 drops peppermint oil
- 2 drops lavender
- 1 drop eucalyptus
- 1 tsp olive oil (where to get it)
Method
- Mix the above ingredients and massage the mixture deeply over your stomach for relief. The tingling sensation it will give you is cooling and alleviates stomach cramps.
- Lie down for at least 15 minutes after using this stomach rub blend.
Recipe #2: Diffuser Blend
What you need
- 3 drops peppermint oil
- 3 drops lemon oil
- Cold air diffuser (where to get it)
Method
Add the above essential oil blend to your diffuser, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Recipe #3: Peppermint Capsules
Note: Before ingesting an essential oil, please ensure that the essential oil is 100% pure with no additives, USDA certified organic, GMO-free and doesn’t contain heavy metals from distillation using metallic equipment. Consult your doctor before ingesting essential oils.
What you need
- 1 drop organic food grade peppermint essential oil (where to get it)
- 00 vegetable capsules (where to get it)
- Olive oil (where to get it)
Method
- Open one vegetable capsule and carefully drop in the peppermint oil.
- Fill up the rest of the capsule with olive oil.
- Take one every day for 3 days.
2. Diarrhea Caused by a Bacterial or Viral Infection
Recipe #1: Massage Oil
What you need
- Lavender essential oil – 1 drop
- Tea tree essential oil– 1 drop
- Lemon essential oil – 1 drop
- Ginger essential oil – 1 drop
- 1 tsp olive oil (where to get it)
Method
Mix the above ingredients in your palm and massage it on your abdomen going clockwise. Do this twice a day.
Recipe #3: Healing Bath
What you need
- ½ cup Epsom salts (where to get it)
- 10 drops lavender oil
- 7 drops ginger oil
- 10 drops frankincense
- ½ cup whole milk
Method
- While the warm bath water is running, throw in the Epsom salts and allow them to disperse.
- When the bath is drawn, mix up ½ cup whole milk with the essential oils and pour it into the bath.
- Stir the bath to mix up the ingredients then hop in immediately.
- Soak in the bath for as long as you want to. When you step out of the bath, you’ll feel relieved!
3. Nerves or Anxiety – Induced Diarrhea
Recipe #1: Reduce Anxiety Roll – on Blend
What you need
- Chamomile essential oil – 10 drops
- Lavender essential oil – 10 drops
- Lemon essential oil – 10 drops
- Fractionated coconut oil (where to get it)
- 10 ml roller bottle (where to get it)
Method
- Add the essential oils to the roll – on bottle and top with fractionated coconut oil.
- Roll onto the back of neck, behind ears, shoulders and wrists to reduce anxiety.
Recipe #2: Calming Diffuser Blend
What you need
- 3 drops lavender
- 3 drops chamomile
- Cold – air diffuser (where to get it)
Method
Add the essential oils to your cold – air diffuser, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Recipe #3: Room Spray Recipe
What you need
- 7 drops frankincense
- 5 drops lavender
- 5 drops peppermint
- 1/2 cup distilled water
- 4 oz amber spray bottle (where to get it)
Method
- Add all the essential oils to the spray bottle and fill it with water.
- Shake well to combine and spritz all around the room to quell anxiety and create feelings of positivity.
4. Diarrhea Caused by Parasites
Oil of Oregano Capsules
Oil of oregano is powerful against bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast and other microbes. When taken internally, it kills parasites, eliminating them completely. Purchase oil of oregano capsules and take one every day after meal until you see relief.
Have you used essential oils for diarrhea? What essential oil worked best? Please share below!