Introduction
Diarrhoea is often caused by bacteria or viruses. Mostly they disappear again by themselves within a few days. There are numerous household remedies available to alleviate the symptoms. Black tea is an old household remedy for gastrointestinal diseases, including diarrhoea. It is also used for other health problems.
Does black tea help with diarrhoea?
Black tea is known as a home remedy for diarrhea and gastrointestinal diseases. Black tea contains tanning agents. These are said to have a calming effect on the intestines.
Furthermore, they are slightly antibacterial and pain-relieving. They are also said to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Tanning agents react with the protein on the upper layers of tissue, causing them to thicken.
A kind of protective membrane is formed over the irritated mucous membrane. As the irritated intestinal mucosa thickens, less water is released and the stool thickens. This is the basis for the pain-relieving, stuffing and calming effect of black tea.
This effect also works with the external application of black tea on the skin. There are rumors that black tea has a dehydrating effect, which would be counterproductive in case of diarrhea. This dehydrating effect has not been confirmed in scientific studies.
Simply by absorbing liquid, e.g. in the form of black tea, the loss of fluid during diarrhoea can be counteracted. In a few cases, diarrhoea can also hide a more serious cause, which cannot be cured simply by the use of well-tried household remedies, but requires treatment by a doctor. If the diarrhoea lasts longer than three days and the symptoms do not improve, a doctor should be consulted for clarification – even if the diarrhoea occurs regularly. A doctor should also be consulted if blood is added to the diarrhea or if other symptoms occur. In addition, one should be very careful with small children, as they cannot compensate for the loss of water through diarrhoea as easily as adults.
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