An Integrated Approach towards Diarrhoea

Abstract

Diarrhoea is both a local and a global concern. Diarrhoea is an important problem among the under-five children in India. Illness can range from mild to life-threatening epidemics. Diarrhoea is the frequent passing of loose or watery stools. Clinically, diarrhoea may result from disturbed bowel function, in which following may be the cause: impaired intestinal absorption, excessive intestinal secretion of water and electrolytes, or a rapid bowel transit. Diarrhoeal disorders in childhood account for a large proportion (18%) of childhood deaths, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths per year globally. Ayurveda has described remedies well known for their efficacy in treating diarrhoeal disorders of both chronic and acute origin. For centuries, herbs have been used in traditional medicine to treat many gastrointestinal disorders. People have customarily used the plants or plant derived preparations to combat diarrhoeal disorders. However, only few of them have been evaluated clinically, or have been studied chemically and biologically to identify their active constituents. The aim of this review is to make a summary of the most important herbs used in ailments associated with diarrhoeal disorders