When diarrhea comes, it comes unannounced and usually at the oddest and most inconvenient moment. It can be embarrassing, there is no stopping it. That is why the title of this hubs is an oxymoron. When we have to go, we have to go. Can anyone tell me how they could stop the purge, the torrent, the avalanche or the rush, whatever you might want to call it politely. A liquid poo is a liquid poo, except this one is uncontrollable, smell foul, soils, and embarrasses the sufferer. So it is no laughing matter.

True, a diarrhea is our body reaction against toxic that is wittingly or unwittingly injested into our body. An example of willingly eating 'poison' is by consuming too much spicy curries, a favorite hub of mine. By the way, it is suppose to cure cancer, mind you, that aside, curries does help us 'cleanse' our system, albeit painfully. It is said we enjoy curries twice, once on the day you eat it and the second time, emm I leave you with the imagination here, for fear of offending those with lesser constitution.

Most people from the developed countries tend to fall ill, especially with diarrhea when they travel to third world countries. They get food poisoning or water poisoning because their stomach cannot stand the extra 'bacterial' flavours we third world dwellers seem to have been immune to. So yes I recommend that they be cautious and avoid all the delectable and tempting food of these countries when they travel or they have to arm themselves by bringing along some anti-diarrhea medicine. I am sure you can get if from any pharmacies, easily.

If you cannot stand the pain, don't keep it in. Rush to the toilet, put on the siren and go for it. Let nothing stop you on the way. Just do it as Nike would say. I am sure the ensuing sound of fury in the toilet is alarming enough.

I had diarrhea once when I was trekking up the mountain called Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest peak in South East Asia standing at 13,435 feet above sea level. What does one do in such rarify altitude? Go for it of course, behind bush, behind rocks, and when no coverage is available, eau naturale! As the saying goes, when you have to go, you have to go. That is what I did and managed to scale the heights and bore the depths of my pain and embarassment. There is no stopping nature. There is no remedy for that as I was not prepared or in the comfort of the city where pharmacies are available. However maybe I can claim the record of doing the runs up on the tallest mountain of Malaysia? Does the Guineas Book of Records have a category for having a poo or many poos in the highest altitude on land? Of course it must be on land because I am sure airline travellers and astronauts do their thing too.

For immediate effects (which I did not have during my mountain trip) is this Chinese wonder  pills call "Poh Chai Yin". I grew up with it and can give testimony of its efficasies. It is one of Asia's top brands:

Poh Chai Yin

This is the oriental version of the panadol. Comes in a bottle of 50 or so small tablets (to consume all!) It's been a favourite for many generations. Usually found in chinese medicine shops, this can now be purchased at the western pharmacies as well.

For slower gentler recovery, drink rice water. To do that, boil a handful of rice with lots of water. Do not add any thing else. Make sure the water is not all absorbed. If it does, add more water until you see a milky looking liquid. Don't eat the boiled rice, drink the liquid only. It is a gentle healer, as the starch will coat the stomach and prevent toxic from being absorb. During that time, try not to eat diary, spicy or oily food. Go for plain bread and biscuits.