Traveller’s Diarrhoea - When the Journey Suddenly Stops

By: Kester Wong www.kester-and-homeopathy.com | Instagram: @kesterwong @homeopathyinpractice

Traveller’s diarrhoea can begin without much warning. Abdominal rumbling, cramping, urgency, nausea and repeated watery stools can suddenly take over the journey.

Most cases improve within a few days. The main concern is losing too much water and salt, especially when diarrhoea and vomiting happen together.

Why Does It Happen?

Traveller’s diarrhoea is commonly caused by food or water contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites.

Common risks include:

• Unsafe drinking water or ice

• Raw or undercooked food

• Salads or fruit washed in unsafe water

• Food left uncovered or kept warm for too long

• Poor refrigeration

• Unclean hands, utensils or cooking surfaces

• Flies landing on food

• Sudden changes in diet

Rich meals, unfamiliar food, excessive alcohol and large amounts of fruit may also disturb the bowels. Bacteria are the most common infectious cause of traveller’s diarrhoea.

What Happens Biologically?

When an infection or toxin irritates the intestinal lining, the bowel absorbs less water and releases more fluid. It also moves its contents through more quickly.

Diarrhoea may help the body clear irritating material, but it also removes water and important salts. Preventing dehydration is therefore the first priority.

General Care

• Take frequent small sips of safe water.

• Rest as much as possible.

• Eat small amounts of simple food when hungry.

• Avoid alcohol, fatty food, spicy meals and very sweet drinks.

• Continue breastfeeding babies.

• Wash hands carefully.

• Avoid preparing food for other people while unwell.

For emergency rehydration, the World Health Organization recommends mixing:

1 litre of safe drinking water

6 level teaspoons of sugar

½ level teaspoon of salt

The measurements must be accurate, especially the salt. Encourage frequent small sips rather than drinking a large amount at once.

Do not rush to stop the diarrhoea. In many mild cases, it settles naturally as the bowel clears the irritation.

Medicine that slows the bowel should only be considered when absolutely necessary, such as during unavoidable travel. It should not be used when there is blood in the stool, a high temperature or suspected dysentery, as it may make some infections worse.

Homeopathic Remedy Pictures

The following are traditional homeopathic indications. Choose according to the individual physical symptoms rather than simply using the same remedy for every case.

Arsenicum album

Burning, restless and exhausted

• Acute diarrhoea after spoiled or questionable food

• Watery and offensive stool

• Burning pain during or after passing stool

• Nausea and vomiting with the diarrhoea

• Great weakness after every stool

• Chilly and wants to be covered

• Restless despite feeling exhausted

• Thirst for frequent small sips

• Worse between midnight and 3 am

• Worse from cold drinks, watery fruit, or the sight and smell of food

The key combination is burning diarrhoea, restlessness, chilliness and exhaustion.

Nux vomica

Overindulgence and unfinished stools

• Diarrhoea after rich food, spicy meals, alcohol or coffee

• May follow overeating, late nights and lack of sleep

• Abdominal cramping before stool

• Frequent and urgent desire to pass stool

• Only a small amount may come out

• Stool feels incomplete or unfinished

• Diarrhoea may be followed by constipation

• Repeated urging may continue even when the bowel becomes constipated

• Nausea, retching and abdominal bloating

• Chilly, irritable and easily disturbed

Whether the traveller has diarrhoea or constipation, the important features are repeated urging, little result and the feeling that the bowel has not finished.

China officinalis

Weakness after losing fluid

• Diarrhoea after unsafe water or unfamiliar fruit

• Much fermentation, wind and abdominal bloating

• Abdomen feels full and stretched

• Passing wind may not bring relief

• Great weakness after repeated stools

• Pale, drained or trembling

• Poor appetite

• Offensive stool may occur

• Slow recovery after prolonged diarrhoea

The central feature is weakness and bloating after losing a large amount of fluid.

Veratrum album

Profuse diarrhoea with cold collapse

• Sudden and extremely profuse watery diarrhoea

• Violent vomiting together with diarrhoea

• Severe abdominal or leg cramps

• Pale or bluish appearance

• Icy-cold hands and feet

• Cold sweat, especially on the forehead

• Weak and rapid pulse

• Faintness, trembling or collapse

• Stool may be abundant but not very offensive

• Hiccoughing may follow

Looks like Arsenicum Album with vomiting together with diarrhoea, but more chill and cold sweat especially on the forehead. 

Alumina

Diarrhoea changing to constipation

• The person usually becomes constipated while travelling

• Diarrhoea aggravated during dry weather

• Better when the weather becomes wet

• Diarrhoea may be followed by constipation

• Difficulty passing stool may return after the acute diarrhoea

• The rectum may feel full, yet the person struggles to pass anything

The unusual feature is the change between diarrhoea and a bowel inactivity, particularly during travel.

E. coli

Watery diarrhoea without feeling feverish

Different strains of E. coli are common causes of traveller’s diarrhoea.

• Sudden watery diarrhoea

• Abdominal cramps and urgency

• Nausea or vomiting

• Symptoms after contaminated food or water

• The person may not feel feverish

• Weakness caused by fluid loss

• Some strains may cause bloody or inflammatory diarrhoea

By comparison, bacillary dysentery caused by Shigella is more likely to include blood in the stool, fever, stomach pain and repeated urging even when the bowel is empty. Some types of E. coli can also cause bloody diarrhoea, particularly in children, and may lead to serious kidney complications. These symptoms need prompt medical assessment.

Berberis vulgaris

Pale stool with burning and smarting

• Constant desire to pass stool

• Diarrhoea may be relatively painless

• Pale or clay-coloured stool

• Burning and smarting around the anus

• Burning may extend into the perineum

• Tearing or soreness around the anus

• Digestive symptoms with liver or gallbladder discomfort

• Urinary symptoms may also be present

Berberis vulgaris contains berberine, a compound studied for broad antibiotic-like and antimicrobial activity. Research has also found antisecretory effects in acute watery diarrhoea, including diarrhoea caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli.

The distinctive remedy picture is pale or clay-coloured diarrhoea with burning and smarting around the anus.

When to Seek Medical Help

Seek urgent medical help when:

• There is blood or black, tar-like stool.

• The person has a high or persistent temperature.

• Vomiting prevents them from keeping fluids down.

• There is severe or constant abdominal pain.

• Very little urine is passed or the urine becomes very dark.

• The person becomes faint, confused or unusually sleepy.

• The skin or lips appear pale, blue, grey or blotchy.

• A baby stops feeding or has noticeably fewer wet nappies.

• The person is becoming rapidly weaker.

• Diarrhoea continues for more than seven days.

• Symptoms continue or return after travelling, especially beyond two weeks.

• A fever develops after visiting a malaria-risk country.

Young children, older people, pregnant women and anyone with weakened immunity or significant chronic illness may become dehydrated more quickly and should seek help earlier.

For educational purposes only. Homeopathic support does not replace hydration, medical diagnosis or urgent treatment.

References

• Pitt, Richard. Essential Natural Health Guide for Travel and Home. “Diarrhea”, pp. 75–79.

• Grandgeorge, Didier. The Spirit of Homeopathic Medicines: Essential Insights to 300 Remedies.

• Murphy, Robin. Homeopathic Remedy Guide.

• Vermeulen, Frans. Monera: Kingdom of Bacteria and Viruses, Spectrum Materia Medica, Volume 1.

• Vermeulen, Frans. Synoptic Materia Medica, Volume 1.

• Vermeulen, Frans. Prisma: The Arcana of Materia Medica Illuminated.

• Ullman, Dana. Evidence Based Homeopathic Family Medicine.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Travellers’ Diarrhoea, CDC Yellow Book. (CDC)

• World Health Organization. Cholera Outbreaks: Home Rehydration Guidance. (World Health Organization)

• NHS. Diarrhoea and Vomiting. (nhs.uk)