Dehydration Causes: Effects On The Body And Natural Treatments

What Causes Dehydration

Dehydration is caused by the loss of fluid from the body due to a variety of reasons. This condition is extremely dangerous and is symptomised by excessive thirst, the tongue becoming dry and white in colour, hollow cheeks and wrinkled skin, difficulty in breathing, headaches, dizziness, inability to concentrate, irritability, a fall in blood pressure and rapid pulse rate. Excessive vomiting and diarrhoea can cause the body to become dehydrated and is particularly fatal for children.

The lack of sufficient water in the body impairs its functioning as the body requires water for digesting food, lubricating the joints, increasing one’s endurance levels while undergoing prolonged exercise sessions, flushing out bacteria and thereby preventing bladder infections and bringing down the heat levels in the body through sweating. Dehydration can cause the skin to lose its vitality, making it pinched and wrinkled due to the lack of water in the cells. In a worsened state, the affected person may experience cold feet and hands, and a bluish color around the lips. The brain may get affected too and lead to confusion and extreme lethargy.

Remedies For Dehydration

Home remedies for dehydration include adding a little sugar and salt to water and drinking it to replenish the lost electrolytes in the body. Take a juicy lemon and grind it along with its seeds till you have a thick paste. Add some salt to it and consume two to three times a day. To replenish body fluids, drink buttermilk and yoghurt while consuming bananas, watermelons, pomegranates, papayas, carrots and potatoes. It would be advisable to avoid fruit juices as well as peas, peaches, plums, apricots and prunes. Citrus fruits, lentils, coconut milk and mangoes will help replenish the lost potassium in the body that is caused by diarrhoea and the afflicted person may also have frequent sips of water or alternatively suck on ice chips. Take a raw papaya and grate it. Put it into a sauce pan and add about three cups of water. Now boil on a medium flame and take off after ten minutes. Strain the mixture and drink the liquid over the course of the day. Make a concoction out of half a teaspoon of lemon juice, a quarter teaspoon of powdered pepper and half a teaspoon of freshly crushed ginger. Avoid tea, coffee, artificially flavored beverages and alcohol when dehydrated and keep away from smoking. If the dehydration is severe and the person begins to lose consciousness for brief periods, if the pulse rate changes, both increasing and decreasing and if s/he feels nauseous, it is essential to consult a medical practitioner immediately.