“Driver, please pull over,” a passenger in a commercial bus I was in, begged. “I am about to poo…. I am purging,” he screamed.
We were heading for work that early morning when this sudden incident happened.
“Driver, please, stop and let him find a way to poo,” most passengers in the bus chorused.
The moment the bus pulled over, the passenger ran across the road to the other side and headed straight into a nearby bush.
After few minutes the once sweating and troubled passenger came out smiling.
It was an unforgettable experience, but several passengers in the bus knew what that feeling was like.
If you have had this experience before, you will understand how it feels.
The poo just keeps pushing out, despite how hard you try to hold it back.
Some persons in Nigeria will advise you to add saliva in your naval, but often times this remedy does not work. That watery poo will begin to wet your dress in no time the more you try to hold it back.
What will you do if you find your self in a precarious situation, requiring that you just have to let go of the poo or mess yourself?
Most times caution is thrown to the wind when you are purging, You just don’t care who is watching.
Causes Of Purging Or Stomach Upset
Often, purging starts as a result of contamination, either from the water or food you have eaten.
The World Health Organization identified food as one of the causes of purging or diarrhoea.
It says when food is prepared or stored in unhygienic conditions.
Unsafe domestic water storage and handling is also an important risk factor.
Fish and seafood from polluted water may also contribute to the disease (1).
Other causes are virus, bacteria, food sensitivity, artificial sweeteners, spices allergy and others.
How To Stop Purging
If you are purging or having stomach upset, here are some of the things you can try immediately to get relief.
1. Take Food Low In Fibre
If you are not at home, find bread or any other food that is a little low in fibre. It will help reduce the effect and how much of loose poo you pass.
If you are at home, you can chew some spoons of ‘garri‘.
Avoid foods that are high in fibre. They can aggravate the stomach more as you poo and even help clear out the digestive tract.
2. Take Probiotics To Stop Purging
Bacterial infection is one of the reasons people purge. This is a reflection of the imbalance of bacteria in your system.
Probiotics will help restore the amount of good bacteria in your system needs and end the negative activities of the bad bacteria.
Basically, it helps restore the normal function of your bowel and also reduce how long the purging will last.
You will find probiotics in yoghurts with culture or Greek yoghurt.
3. Take Some Bitter Kola
Sometimes, stomach issues and purging are caused by bacteria or viruses (stomach flu). When this is the case, this can help.
Bitter kola is also known to have some antibacterial properties that can help when you are purging.
According to a study, analysis of results show that the benefits derived from ingesting bitter kola were rated high for cough, bacterial or viral infection and anticancer (2).
4. Eat Banana, Rice, Apple, And Toasts
If you can find banana or apple, you can quickly munch some of it. You can also add apple to it.
These fruits will bind to the walls of your digestive tract and make your stool bulkier.
Also Read: Celery: Why Ulcer Healing Is In This Plant
When this happens, it reduces how often you visit the toilet.
Also, if you at home, you can eat rice or toast bread. These foods will help make your stool bulkier and reduce chances of going to the toilet.
5. Rice Water
Another solution with a binding effect on your digestive tract is rice water.
It can stop purging by making your stool bulkier.
If you at home, parboil half cup of rice and drain the water. It will come out starchy and thick.
Save it and drink it when it is cool enough for consumption.
According to a study rice water can be tried as a more practical alternative to oral electrolyte solutions since there are problems with providing oral elecrolyte solutions to all babies with diarrhea in the developing countries and ensuring sterility (3).
6. Take Water To Stay Hydrated
You will wonder how someone who is purging will need to take water. The stool is already watery, you will say.
The truth is, when you are purging, you get dehydrated and taking a glass or water at intervals helps you rehydrate.
These remedies are easy to access and trying them out will help bring quick relief.
If you find this useful, kindly share with your friends and loved ones.