Gentle Remedies for Diarrhea in Infants

Giving 4 to 5 teaspoons of the whey to the child every 10 to 15 minutes should stop the diarrhea. (The thick, solid part is a delicious fresh cheese called paneer, much used in Indian cooking. Another simple domestic remedy is to mix 1 teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoon A SIMPLE HERBAL REMEDY ghee, a pinch of nutmeg, and a pinch of saffron. You can also make your child a porridge of poppy seeds.

Bring ½ cup milk POPPYSEED PORRIDGE and ½ cup water to a boil, then add about 1 teaspoon poppy seeds. The seeds will swell and become soft; they will make a nice, easily digested porridge. It is a good food that helps to stop diarrhea. As a bonus, your child will also sleep soundly.

TIME TO SEE THE DOCTOR If your infant has diarrhea, watch him or her carefully. If bowel movements are becoming less frequent and are firmer and denser, your child is getting better. But if the stools continue to be watery and occur several times in a day, and if your baby’s eyes appear sunken, the lips are dry, and she or he looks drowsy, these are all warning signs of dehydration. This is a serious condition, and you need to consult a doctor.

Babies may also get diarrhea when they are teething. Teeth are a by- CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT product of asthi dhatu, or bone formation. When babies start growing teeth, especially the incisors or canine teeth, vata in the asthi dhatu gets provoked, their digestive fire becomes weak, and they may get diarrhea. At that time, they need more calcium.

You can give the child a simple calcium supplement in the correct dose for children. Dizziness See “Fainting and Dizziness” Dry Skin See also “Skin—Ayurvedic Care” Dry skin can have several causes. It may be due to a lack of sebaceous (oily) secretions; insufficient sweating; an excess of hot, sharp pitta; or too much vata. External causes of dry skin include sun, wind, hot dry air, excess washing, and excess use of soap or dishwashing soap.