Condition

Dog Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea in dogs — the most common reason for veterinary visits — ranges from dietary indiscretion to infectious causes (giardia, parvovirus), parasites, antibiotic dysbiosis, IBD, or stress colitis. Acute diarrhoea lasting under 3 days in a healthy adult dog can often be managed with a bland diet and gut-soothing herbs. Red flags requiring urgent care: blood in stool (especially with a foul odour — haemorrhagic gastroenteritis), systemic illness, diarrhoea in puppies, or persistent diarrhoea beyond 48–72 hours. Holistic treatment rebalances the gut microbiome, soothes intestinal inflammation, and normalises stool consistency.

Safety notice — MEDIUM

Sunaras provides educational wellness content only. This is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual responses to herbs vary. Always consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for personalised guidance.

High-dose garlic supplements inhibit platelet aggregation and thin the blood. Use with caution alongside warfarin, aspirin, or other antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs. Discontinue 7 days before surgery.

Slippery Elm Bark

Slippery elm creates a gel-like coating over the entire GI tract mucosa, absorbing irritants, protecting inflamed epithelium from further damage, and normalising the fluid balance in the colon. It acts as both an antidiarrheal (by absorbing excess water in the colon through its mucilage) and a gut healer. One of the safest and most effective natural antidiarrheals for dogs.

⚠️ Space 2+ hours away from medications. Do not use as sole treatment for diarrhoea with blood, systemic illness, or diarrhoea in puppies — these require immediate veterinary assessment. Safe for long-term use.

Native American Medicine

Plantain Leaf (Plantago major) — not banana plantain

Plantain leaf (the garden herb, not the banana) contains aucubin (iridoid with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties) and tannins that exert astringent effects on the intestinal mucosa — reducing secretory diarrhoea by decreasing fluid secretion into the lumen. Aucubin has documented antimicrobial activity against common diarrheal pathogens. Plantain is excellent for both secretory diarrhoea and the colitis-type diarrhoea with fresh blood or mucus.

⚠️ Plantain leaf (Plantago major or lanceolata) not banana plantain. Avoid at high doses during pregnancy. Generally very safe for dogs. Not for cats — insufficient safety data.

Western Herbalism

Pumpkin Puree (plain 100%)

Plain pumpkin puree is the most reliable and widely used natural antidiarrheal in dogs. Its soluble fibre (pectin) absorbs excess water from the colon, bulking loose stools. Pectin is also fermented by colonic bacteria to produce short-chain fatty acids including butyrate — the primary fuel for colonocytes, reducing colonic inflammation. Pumpkin addresses diarrhoea without the constipation side effect of some antidiarrheals.

⚠️ Plain 100% pumpkin only — pie filling contains sugar, spice, and xylitol which are harmful. Pumpkin normalises stool consistency bidirectionally — safe for both diarrhoea and constipation. If diarrhoea is accompanied by blood, lethargy, or vomiting, seek veterinary attention.

Integrative Veterinary Medicine

Bland Boiled Chicken and White Rice

The gold standard bland diet for dogs with diarrhoea — highly digestible, minimal gastric/intestinal stimulation, and almost completely absorbed in the small intestine with minimal colonic fermentation. White rice provides soluble starch that slows intestinal transit; chicken provides easily digested protein for mucosal repair.

Preparation:

  • Boil plain chicken breast (no salt, seasoning, or bones).
  • Cook white rice until very well done.
  • Mix 1:3 (1 part chicken to 3 parts rice).
  • Offer in small amounts every 3–4 hours rather than large meals.
  • Serve at room temperature.

Dosage:

  • Small amounts every 3–4 hours for 2–3 days, then gradually mix regular food back in over 4–5 days

Dogs

Plain Pumpkin Puree

Soluble pectin fibre from pumpkin absorbs excess colonic water, normalising stool consistency without causing constipation. Pumpkin also provides potassium and beta-carotene to replace nutrients lost during diarrhoea, and its prebiotic fibre feeds beneficial probiotic bacteria that support microbiome recovery.

Preparation:

  • 100% plain tinned pumpkin (not pie filling).
  • Add 1 tsp (small dogs) to 2 tbsp (large dogs) to each bland meal.
  • Can be given alongside chicken-rice diet from day 1 of the bland feeding protocol.

Dosage:

  • With every bland meal throughout the diarrhoea episode and for 2–3 days after normal stools resume

Dogs

Plain Live Kefir or Probiotic Yogurt (small amounts)

Natural probiotic foods provide live Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium cultures that directly restore the colonic microbiome, produce bacteriocins that inhibit pathogenic bacteria, and support colonocyte tight junction integrity. The prebiotic oligosaccharides in kefir further feed probiotic bacteria during recovery.

Preparation:

  • Plain, unsweetened live-culture kefir or plain live yogurt — no flavourings, fruit, or sweeteners, no xylitol.
  • Add 1 tsp (small dogs) to 2 tbsp (large dogs) to food twice daily.
  • Introduce gradually — begin with ½ the amount on day 1 to avoid worsening loose stools from lactose.

Dosage:

  • Add to bland diet from day 2, once vomiting has ceased and bland food is being tolerated

Dogs

Canine Diarrhoea Recovery Protocol

Dogs

  • A step-by-step dietary protocol for dogs with acute or recurrent diarrhoea from dietary indiscretion, stress colitis, or mild infectious gastroenteritis.
  • Seek immediate veterinary care for: bloody diarrhoea, diarrhoea with vomiting, systemic illness, puppies, or diarrhoea persisting beyond 48–72 hours without improvement.

Foods:

  • Water and bone broth (electrolyte replacement, always available)
  • Slippery elm gruel (intestinal mucosa protection)
  • Bland boiled chicken and white rice
  • Plain pumpkin puree
  • Plain live kefir (probiotic)
  • Plantain leaf tea (astringent support)
  • Canine-specific probiotic supplement

Timing:

  • Day 1: 12-hr fast, then slippery elm gruel + bone broth freely available. Small bland meals (chicken:rice 1:3) from afternoon.
  • Day 2–3: Bland chicken-rice + pumpkin puree 1–2 tsp per meal + slippery elm gruel between meals + probiotic kefir 1–2 tsp.
  • Day 4–5: Progress to 1:1 chicken:rice ratio. Add probiotic supplement. Stools should be improving significantly.
  • Day 6–7: Begin mixing 25% regular food into bland diet. Increase by 25% each day over 4 days.

16:8 Intermittent Fasting Protocol

Western Integrative Medicine

  • The most researched fasting protocol — eating within an 8-hour window and fasting for 16 hours daily.
  • During the fasting window, the body depletes glycogen and switches to fat oxidation, increasing AMPK activity, insulin sensitivity, and autophagy.
  • Benefits include reduced fasting insulin, improved metabolic flexibility, reduced inflammation markers (CRP, IL-6), and weight management.
  • The eating window is typically 10 am–6 pm or 12 pm–8 pm depending on lifestyle.

Foods:

  • Fasting window (16 hours): water only, black coffee, plain herbal tea, sparkling water
  • Breaking the fast: start with protein and fat — not carbohydrates (blunts the insulin spike after fasting)
  • Eating window (8 hours): normal anti-inflammatory whole foods
  • Avoid: fruit juice, BCAA supplements, bone broth with calories during fasting window — these partially break the fast
  • Electrolytes during fasting window: pinch of sea salt + a few drops of lemon juice if hunger is severe

Timing:

  • 12 pm (break fast): Wild salmon + 2 eggs + spinach + avocado — protein-fat first meal
  • 3 pm: Main nourishing meal — baked chicken + sweet potato + roasted vegetables
  • 6 pm (final meal): Light protein dinner — fish or chicken + non-starchy vegetables only

12 pm — Breaking the Fast

Salmon & Egg Break-Fast Plate

  1. Break your fast with protein and fat — not carbohydrates. This prevents the sharp insulin spike from carbohydrates after a 16-hour fast, maintaining the metabolic benefits.
  2. Scramble eggs slowly in butter on low heat until creamy.
  3. Sauté spinach in olive oil 1–2 minutes. Plate everything with sliced avocado.
  4. Eat slowly. After 16 hours of fasting, the digestive system needs gentle reintroduction — avoid large portions immediately.

3 pm — Main Meal

Herb-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potato & Vegetables

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Toss sweet potato and vegetables with 2 tbsp olive oil, garlic, and herbs.
  2. Rub chicken with remaining olive oil and herbs. Place on tray with vegetables.
  3. Roast 22–25 minutes until chicken is cooked and vegetables have caramelised edges.
  4. Squeeze lemon over everything before serving.

6 pm — Final Meal (fasting window begins after this)

Light Fish Dinner with Green Vegetables

  1. Pan-sear fish in olive oil 3–4 minutes per side over medium heat.
  2. Steam or roast asparagus and courgette alongside. Wilt spinach in the pan.
  3. Plate and squeeze lemon over everything. Keep the meal light — you want digestion complete before sleep for better overnight autophagy.
  4. Drink herbal tea 30 minutes after. After this, fasting window begins — water, black tea, and herbal tea only until 12 pm tomorrow.

5:2 Modified Fasting Protocol

Western Integrative Medicine

  • Five days of normal eating and two non-consecutive restricted days (500 kcal for women, 600 kcal for men) per week.
  • The calorie-restricted days trigger the same metabolic benefits as full fasting — AMPK activation, reduced IGF-1, increased autophagy — but are more sustainable for most people.
  • The two fasting days should not be consecutive (e.g.
  • Monday and Thursday).
  • On fasting days, the goal is maximum nutrient density within the calorie limit.

Foods:

  • Fasting days: 500–600 total calories divided between 2 small meals
  • Fasting day proteins: eggs (70 kcal each), white fish (120 kcal per 150g), tofu (80 kcal per 100g)
  • Fasting day vegetables: unlimited non-starchy — broccoli, spinach, courgette, cucumber, celery
  • Non-fasting days: normal anti-inflammatory Mediterranean eating — no restriction
  • All days: minimum 2L water, black coffee and herbal tea allowed without breaking fast
  • Avoid: fasting on consecutive days, exercising strenuously on fasting days

Timing:

  • Fasting day breakfast (~150 kcal): 2 eggs any style (140 kcal) + unlimited herbal tea
  • Fasting day dinner (~350–450 kcal): white fish + steamed broccoli + leafy salad with lemon dressing
  • Normal day template: full Mediterranean anti-inflammatory meals without calorie restriction

Fasting Day — Breakfast (~150 kcal)

Two-Egg Fasting Breakfast

  1. Boil, poach, or scramble eggs without added oil or butter on a fasting day.
  2. Season lightly with sea salt. Drink plenty of water.
  3. Black coffee can be taken before this meal — it extends the fasting window's metabolic benefit.
  4. Total: approximately 140–150 kcal. Remaining 350–450 kcal budget is for dinner.

Fasting Day — Dinner (~400 kcal)

Fasting Day White Fish Plate

  1. Steam or bake fish in foil with lemon, herbs, and a tiny amount of olive oil. 15 minutes at 180°C.
  2. Steam broccoli and courgette 5–7 minutes until tender but not mushy.
  3. Dress salad with lemon juice only (no oil) to keep calories low.
  4. Total plate: approximately 335–370 kcal. Well within the 500 kcal fasting day budget.

Non-Fasting Day — Dinner (unrestricted)

Mediterranean Salmon with Legumes

  1. Roast vegetables with 2 tbsp olive oil at 200°C for 20 minutes.
  2. Pan-sear salmon in remaining olive oil 3–4 minutes per side.
  3. Toss chickpeas or lentils through the roasted vegetables.
  4. Plate and squeeze lemon over. Normal day — eat to comfortable fullness.

Circadian Rhythm Eating (Solar Fasting Protocol)

Ayurveda

  • Aligned with Ayurvedic principles of Agni (digestive fire) and modern circadian biology — the digestive system is strongest between 10 am and 2 pm (peak sun, peak metabolic enzyme activity) and weakest after sunset.
  • Eating after dark suppresses melatonin, increases insulin resistance by 20–30%, and disrupts circadian-regulated metabolic processes.
  • This protocol concentrates the largest meal at midday, uses a light early breakfast (or skips it), and ends all eating by 6–7 pm for a 14–16 hour overnight fast.

Foods:

  • Morning (optional, light): small amount of soaked nuts or fruit — never a heavy meal before 9 am when Agni is still awakening
  • Midday (main meal, 11 am–2 pm): largest meal of the day — all food groups, full nutrition
  • Evening (before 6 pm, very light): easily digestible — soup, cooked vegetables, small amount of protein
  • After 6–7 pm: only herbal tea, water — fasting window begins with sunset
  • Avoid: eating after 7 pm (reverses circadian metabolic benefits), heavy breakfast
  • Turmeric
  • Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
  • Licorice Root (Yashtimadhu)
  • Pippali (Long Pepper)
  • Cardamom
  • Bitter Melon

Timing:

  • Morning 8 am (optional, very light): 30g soaked almonds + 1 small banana + ginger herbal tea
  • Midday 12–1 pm (main meal): Substantial kitchari or grilled fish + rice + roasted vegetables + ghee
  • Evening before 6 pm (light): Clear vegetable soup or congee — never a heavy meal

Morning (8 am) — Optional Light Breakfast

Soaked Almond & Ginger Awakening

  1. The night before: place almonds in a bowl, cover with water, soak overnight at room temperature.
  2. In the morning: drain almonds and peel the skins off (they slide off easily after soaking — peel is astringent).
  3. Eat almonds slowly and chew thoroughly. Digestive enzyme activity is still low at 8 am.
  4. Drink ginger tea alongside — ginger gently awakens Agni without overstimulating digestion.
  5. Keep this meal very small — the purpose is to gently start digestion, not to fully feed.

Midday (12–1 pm) — Main Meal at Peak Agni

Golden Kitchari — Ayurvedic Complete Meal

  1. Rinse mung dal and rice until water runs clear.
  2. Heat ghee in a pot over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add ginger, turmeric, and coriander. Stir 30 seconds.
  4. Add dal and rice, stir to coat in ghee and spices. Pour in water or broth.
  5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook 25–30 minutes until dal breaks down into a thick, porridge-like consistency.
  6. Stir in cooked vegetables 5 minutes before end. Season with sea salt.
  7. Eat this as the main meal of the day, mindfully, sitting down, without screens. Agni is strongest now.

Evening (before 6 pm) — Light Closing Meal

Light Vegetable Broth Soup

  1. Simmer vegetables in broth with spices 15–20 minutes until very soft.
  2. Blend half or all for a smooth soup if desired. Stir in ghee at the end.
  3. Eat before 6 pm. This should be light and easy to digest — the digestive system is slowing down.
  4. After this meal: only herbal tea and water. The 14–16 hour overnight fast begins here.

72-Hour Autophagy Reset Fast

Western Integrative Medicine

  • An extended 72-hour fast activates deep cellular autophagy (cellular self-cleaning) — the process in which cells break down and recycle damaged organelles, misfolded proteins, and dysfunctional mitochondria.
  • The first 16–24 hours triggers glycogen depletion and ketogenesis; hours 24–72 see peak autophagy and a significant reduction in circulating IGF-1 and inflammatory cytokines.
  • After 72 hours, the immune system undergoes partial renewal (Valter Longo stem cell research).
  • This is an intensive protocol — not for weekly use.
  • Once per month or per quarter for immune reset is appropriate.

Foods:

  • During fast (72 hours): water only, electrolytes (sea salt + potassium from lemon), plain black coffee, plain herbal tea
  • No calories during the fast — bone broth, BCAA supplements, and sweetened teas partially break autophagy
  • Electrolyte maintenance: ½ tsp sea salt + squeeze of lemon in 1L water each day prevents low sodium, headache, and heart palpitation
  • Breaking the fast correctly is critical — refeeding syndrome is a risk after extended fasting. Start with bone broth, not a large meal
  • Not appropriate for: pregnant women, diabetics on insulin, anyone underweight, or anyone with a history of eating disorders

Timing:

  • Evening before Day 1 (pre-fast final meal): high-fat, high-protein — sustains energy into the fast
  • During fast (Days 1–3): water + herbal teas + black coffee + sea salt electrolyte water
  • Breaking the fast (end of Day 3): bone broth first, then 2 hours later soft scrambled eggs and avocado

Evening Before the Fast — Final Pre-Fast Meal

High-Fat, High-Protein Pre-Fast Plate

  1. This meal should be substantial but not overly large. Eat until satisfied, not stuffed.
  2. Roast salmon and vegetables at 200°C for 20 minutes with olive oil.
  3. Scramble eggs in remaining olive oil. Serve everything together.
  4. After this meal: stop eating. The fast begins now. Last coffee or herbal tea allowed until bedtime.

During the Fast (Days 1–3) — Fasting Drink Protocol

Electrolyte Fasting Water

  1. Mix electrolyte water each morning. Drink at least 2.5–3L of fluid daily during the fast.
  2. Sip throughout the day rather than drinking large volumes at once.
  3. Hunger peaks at hours 16–20 and again at hour 36 — these are temporary. After hour 48, many people experience a significant reduction in hunger.
  4. If feeling weak, dizzy, or experiencing heart palpitations: increase sea salt immediately — this is low sodium, not low blood sugar.
  5. Do not exercise intensely during hours 24–48 — light walking only. Light exercise is fine after hour 48.

Breaking the Fast (End of Hour 72) — Refeeding Protocol

Bone Broth Refeeding Sequence

  1. CRITICAL: Do not break an extended fast with a large meal. Refeeding syndrome is a medical risk with electrolyte imbalance.
  2. Start with 200ml warm bone broth. Sip slowly over 20 minutes.
  3. Wait at least 2 hours before eating anything else. Let the digestive system re-activate gently.
  4. First solid meal: 2 scrambled eggs + ¼ avocado + a little cooked spinach. Small portion.
  5. Wait 4 hours before eating a fuller meal. Eat only until moderately satisfied — do not eat a large meal to 'make up' for the fast.
  6. Day after the fast: normal eating resumes. The cells have completed their autophagy cycle.

OMAD — One Meal A Day Protocol

Western Integrative Medicine

  • The most condensed fasting protocol — all daily nutrition consumed within a single 1–2 hour eating window.
  • The 22–23 hour fasting window maximises autophagy, ketogenesis, and AMPK activation.
  • Requires careful nutritional planning to deliver complete macro and micronutrients in a single meal.
  • Best suited to people who have already adapted to 16:8 or 5:2 fasting.
  • Not recommended as a starting point — build up to it over several weeks.
  • Ideal eating window: 5–7 pm (dinner) to preserve social eating and performance throughout the day.

Foods:

  • The single meal must contain: 1.6–2g protein per kg bodyweight, 50–80g healthy fat, adequate fibre (25g minimum), all major micronutrients
  • Start with bone broth (10–15 minutes before the main meal) — re-engages digestive enzymes, provides collagen and electrolytes
  • Main protein: 250–350g salmon, chicken thighs, beef, or eggs
  • Healthy fat: 2–3 tbsp olive oil, ½ avocado, nuts/seeds
  • Complex carbohydrates (optional, especially for active people): 150–200g sweet potato, 1 cup legumes
  • Vegetables: minimum 400g — 4+ different colours
  • Finish: 20–30g dark chocolate + herbal tea

Timing:

  • Pre-meal (10–15 min before): 200ml bone broth — re-activates digestive enzymes, begins appetite signal
  • Main OMAD meal (5–7 pm): complete nutrient-dense plate — protein + fat + vegetables + optional complex carb
  • Post-meal: 20g dark chocolate + herbal tea — antioxidants + gentle digestive support

Pre-Meal (10 minutes before eating)

Digestive Activation Bone Broth

  1. Warm broth gently. Do not boil.
  2. Drink 10–15 minutes before the main OMAD meal.
  3. This re-activates the digestive enzyme cascade that has been dormant for 22+ hours, preventing the digestive distress that can come from eating a large meal after a long fast.

Main OMAD Meal (5–7 pm) — Complete Nutrition in One Plate

Complete OMAD Nourishment Plate

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Bake sweet potato whole 40 minutes (or use pre-cooked from the day before).
  2. Toss broccoli and capsicum with 2 tbsp olive oil, garlic, herbs. Roast 20 minutes alongside the potato.
  3. Pan-sear salmon or chicken in remaining oil, 4 minutes per side for salmon, 6 minutes for chicken. Finish chicken in oven if needed.
  4. Wilt spinach/kale in the hot pan 1 minute.
  5. Assemble the full plate: protein, roasted vegetables, leafy greens, avocado, pumpkin seeds. Squeeze lemon over everything.
  6. Eat slowly over 45–60 minutes. Chew thoroughly — digestive enzyme activity needs this time after a 22-hour fast.
  7. Serve yoghurt or kefir alongside for probiotics.

Post-Meal (30 minutes after eating)

Dark Chocolate & Chamomile Digestive Close

  1. Wait 20–30 minutes after the main meal before eating chocolate — this is a digestive rest period, not an extended eating window.
  2. Eat chocolate slowly, letting it melt.
  3. Sip chamomile tea. The eating window closes after this.
  4. The 22–23 hour fasting window now begins again.
How to Make This

Slippery Elm & Plantain Gut Healing Tea (dogs)

A combined antidiarrheal infusion for dogs — slippery elm provides mucilaginous protection of the intestinal lining while plantain's tannins and aucubin reduce secretory diarrhoea and provide gentle antibacterial action against common diarrheal pathogens. Effective for both dietary-indiscretion diarrhoea and colitis-type presentations.

Preparation:

  • Mix ¼ tsp slippery elm powder into 200ml cool water.
  • Separately steep 1 tsp dried plantain leaf in 200ml just-boiled water for 10 min.
  • Cool.
  • Combine both preparations and stir.

Dosage:

  • Small dogs: 60ml added to food twice daily.
  • Medium dogs: 120ml twice daily.
  • Large dogs: 180ml twice daily.
  • Use for up to 1 week or until stools normalise.

Dogs

Bone Broth Rehydration Tea (dogs — no onion/garlic)

Diarrhoea causes rapid fluid and electrolyte loss in dogs. Low-sodium bone broth acts as a palatable oral rehydration solution, replacing fluid and electrolytes while providing glycine and glutamine for gut mucosal repair. Essential for maintaining hydration during diarrhoeal illness, particularly in smaller dogs.

Preparation:

  • Homemade or commercial bone broth with zero onion, garlic, leeks, or chives.
  • Offer at room temperature.
  • Replace some or all of the water bowl with broth during active diarrhoea.

Dosage:

  • Freely available throughout the day as an electrolyte replacement drink.
  • Additional water should also be available.
  • Do not restrict access to broth during active diarrhoea — fluid replacement is critical.

Dogs

How to Make This

Slippery Elm & Marshmallow Root Glycerite

A concentrated glycerite combining two of the most effective mucilaginous antidiarrheals — slippery elm and marshmallow root. The combined mucilage provides a more comprehensive intestinal coating than either herb alone, reducing fluid secretion and protecting the inflamed colonic mucosa.

⚠️ Space 2 hours from medications. If diarrhoea is severe, bloody, or accompanied by vomiting or systemic illness, seek veterinary care. Safe for long-term use in dogs.

Western Herbalism / Native American Medicine

Canine-Specific Probiotic (Enterococcus faecium or Lactobacillus)

Diarrhoea in dogs is almost always accompanied by disruption of the intestinal microbiome. Canine-specific probiotic strains directly restore the normal microbiome, produce bacteriocins that inhibit pathogenic bacteria, and produce short-chain fatty acids that normalise colonocyte function. Evidence supports faster resolution of diarrhoea with probiotic intervention.

⚠️ Use canine-specific products. Some dogs experience brief worsening of loose stools when probiotics are first introduced — reduce dose and build up slowly. Not a replacement for veterinary assessment in severe or bloody diarrhoea.

Veterinary Nutritional Medicine

How to Make This

Pumpkin-Elm Gut Restore Blend (dogs)

A practical digestive support blend combining pumpkin's soluble fibre with slippery elm's mucilage and bone broth's electrolytes and healing amino acids — the three most evidence-supported natural interventions for canine diarrhoea in one convenient blend.

Preparation:

  • Blend 2 tbsp plain pumpkin puree + ¼ tsp slippery elm powder + 250ml cooled no-onion/garlic bone broth.
  • Whisk smooth.
  • Serve at room temperature.

Dosage:

  • Add over bland food: small dogs 60ml daily.
  • Medium dogs 120ml daily.
  • Large dogs 180ml daily.
  • Use throughout diarrhoea episode.

Dogs

How to Make This

Fennel & Peppermint Abdominal Massage Oil

A warming digestive massage oil using fennel's anethole (antispasmodic), peppermint's menthol (relaxes smooth muscle of the GI tract), and ginger's gingerols (prokinetic — speeds gastric emptying). Applied via clockwise abdominal massage, it directly stimulates peristalsis and reduces spasm and bloating.

How to make:

  1. Combine all carrier oils in a dark glass bottle.
  2. Add essential oils.
  3. Cap and shake well to blend.
  4. Label with date and ingredients.

Apply: Warm a small amount (about 1 tsp) in your palms. Apply to the abdomen and massage in slow, clockwise circular motions (following the direction of intestinal flow) for 5–10 minutes. Apply gentle firm pressure. Place a warm pack over the abdomen afterward for enhanced effect. — 1–2× daily, ideally 20–30 minutes after eating or when symptoms arise

Ayurveda / Western Herbalism

Frankincense & Rose Hip Regenerating Serum

A luxurious regenerating serum drawing on ancient Persian healing wisdom, combining frankincense resin's boswellic acids with rose hip's trans-retinoic acid to reduce inflammation, promote cellular renewal, and improve skin tone.

How to make:

  1. Combine rose hip and jojoba oils in a small dark glass bottle.
  2. Add vitamin E oil and swirl to mix.
  3. Add all essential oils.
  4. Cap tightly and shake well.
  5. Allow to rest for 24 hours before first use.

Apply: Apply 3–4 drops to clean, slightly damp skin. Press gently into skin using fingertips — do not drag. Allow to absorb for 2 minutes before applying moisturiser. — Morning and/or evening

Persian Medicine

  • Lymphatic drainage massage: gentle manual technique targeting neck, armpit, and groin lymph nodes to support immune clearance and detoxification — 20–30 min session, 2–3x/week or monthly with a trained therapist
  • Acupuncture: TCM needle therapy at condition-specific meridian points to restore Qi flow and reduce systemic inflammation — 6–12 weekly sessions recommended initially
  • Sauna therapy: infrared sauna at 50–60°C for 20–30 min, 3–4x/week — promotes detoxification through sweat, reduces inflammatory markers, and supports immune function
  • Cold plunge / contrast hydrotherapy: 30–60 seconds cold shower or cold plunge after sauna — activates the vagus nerve, reduces inflammation, and boosts circulation
  • Yoga: 30–45 min daily practice of poses suited to your condition — combines breathwork, stretching, and mindfulness to regulate the nervous system and reduce stress hormones
  • Meditation: 20 min daily — body scan, breath awareness, or loving-kindness practice to lower cortisol and support the mind-body healing response
  • Breathwork: diaphragmatic breathing or pranayama (e.g. alternate nostril, 4-7-8) for 10–15 min daily — regulates the autonomic nervous system and reduces systemic inflammation
  • Grounding / earthing: 20–30 min of barefoot contact with grass, soil, or sand daily — shown to reduce cortisol, normalise circadian rhythm, and lower inflammatory markers
  • Forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku): 60–90 min slow, mindful walk in a forested or green environment weekly — clinically shown to reduce stress hormones and blood pressure
  • Sleep hygiene: maintain a consistent sleep/wake time, keep bedroom dark and cool (18–20°C), avoid screens 1 hour before bed — 7–9 hours of quality sleep is foundational to all healing
  • Morning sunlight: 10–20 min of direct sunlight exposure before 10am daily — anchors circadian rhythm, boosts vitamin D synthesis, and regulates serotonin
  • Journaling: 10–15 min daily reflective writing — symptom tracking, emotional processing, and gratitude practice to reduce psychological stress load

When to see a doctor

Consult a healthcare provider if your symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, or before starting any herbal protocol.

Sunaras provides holistic health education. Always work with a qualified healthcare practitioner.

Related conditions may also be relevant — browse all conditions or search again.