Rice decoction for diarrhea in a child and an adult

Rice water for diarrhea is an effective home remedy for treating intestinal disorders in adults and children.

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Indications for use

Indications for the use of rice broth include diarrhea of non-infectious etiology, gastroenteritis, intestinal disorders due to a decrease in natural microbiota (dysbacteriosis), persistent diarrhea.

How does rice water work against diarrhea?

100 g of raw white rice contains 80 g of carbohydrates in the form of starch, and starch consists of polysaccharides, including amylose (not to be confused with the digestive enzyme amylase). Amylose is more resistant to digestion and is an effective prebiotic, that is, it stimulates the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria that colonize the large intestine, and the number of which is significantly reduced during diarrhea.

In addition, the helical chains of amylose are able to bind water, and something like a gel is formed in the intestines, that is, liquid feces become thicker, and as a result, diarrhea stops.

Rice also contains almost all the B vitamins, and most of all vitamin B3 (PP or niacin), which helps neutralize toxins produced by bacteria Clostridium spp., Klebsiella spp., Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, etc., which can actively multiply in the intestines during diarrhea.

Rice also contains zinc (more than 2 mg per 100 g raw and 0.4 mg after cooking), which, as studies have shown, reduces the duration of acute intestinal disorders.

Method of application and dosage of the resulting decoction

The resulting decoction at room temperature is taken orally. Rice decoction for diarrhea for adults or teenagers should be drunk 60-70 ml (3-5 tablespoons) - up to four to five times a day (between meals). Some doctors do not limit the intake of rice decoction during diarrhea and believe that its overdose is simply impossible.

When rice broth is used for diarrhea in children, it is recommended to give it in slightly smaller quantities - one or two tablespoons 5-6 times a day. The duration of administration is regulated by the course of the intestinal disorder, but if diarrhea does not become less in two days (reviews indicate that this is how long diarrhea is treated with this remedy), then more decisive measures must be taken. Read also - What to do with diarrhea?

Recipes for rice water for diarrhea

It is better to prepare rice broth for diarrhea from long-grain rice, as it has a higher amylose content.

All recipes for rice broth for diarrhea come down to one method of its preparation, which is considered the most correct. First, you need to observe the proportion of rice and water: if for half a glass of dry cereal you should take three glasses of water, then for a whole glass - twice as much. Or for 0.5 liters of water two tablespoons of rice.

The cereal must be thoroughly washed, put into a saucepan and, having filled it with cold water, brought to a boil over high heat. Then the heat is reduced to a minimum, and cooking continues for 45 minutes (the saucepan is covered with a lid, the rice is stirred periodically). Without waiting for the broth to cool, it should be filtered (into a glass container) through a fine colander or gauze.

Use during pregnancy

Rice water can be used for diarrhea in pregnant women. For more information, see – Diarrhea During Pregnancy

Contraindications to the use of rice broth

Rice broth is not recommended for use in cases of diarrhea:

• if there is a history of colitis or Crohn's disease;
• when there is blood in the stool (which may occur with dysentery or salmonellosis);
• if diarrhea is aggravated by intense nausea with repeated vomiting, severe pain in the abdominal area, a significant increase in body temperature, rapid deterioration in health and progressive weakness.

Rice broth for diarrhea is not used for infants under six months: you need to fight dehydration and feed the child with breast milk, which contains antibodies and antibacterial proteins - lactoferrin and lysozyme. More details - What to do if a child has diarrhea?

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Side effects

Rice may contain spores of Bacillus cereus, a soil-dwelling bacterium. One of the intestinal toxins produced by these microorganisms is resistant to high temperatures (i.e., it is not neutralized during the cooking process) and causes vomiting and diarrhea in humans.

Storage conditions and shelf life

The prepared portion of rice broth should be used within a day, since its shelf life is limited to one day, that is, it is necessary to prepare a fresh broth every day and store it better in a cool place (in the refrigerator in summer).