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The miracle of oral rehydration therapy: How to make your own life-saving drink at home?
Diarrhea is a major public health problem in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries. According to reports, oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is widely used to reduce mortality due to dehydration. At the heart of this treatment is a simple yet effective drink made with water, the right amount of sugar, and electrolytes (usually sodium and potassium).
The effectiveness of oral rehydration therapy was established as early as the 1960s and it is estimated that this method can reduce the risk of death from diarrhea by up to 93%.
Therefore, knowing how to make this drink at home is not only a way to deal with the symptoms of diarrhea, but also a way to provide your family with necessary health protection in an emergency.
The principle of this method is relatively simple: when the body loses a lot of fluid, the sugar and salt provided by oral rehydration therapy help the intestines absorb water more effectively. Studies show that this type of rehydration not only helps replenish dehydrated water, but also reduces the duration of diarrhea.
Steps to make oral rehydration solution at home
To prepare your oral rehydration drink, you can follow these steps:
- Prepare clean water: Use clean drinking water, or commonly available water if conditions are limited.
- Mix ingredients: Add 8 teaspoons (about 40 grams) of sugar and half a teaspoon (about 2.5 grams) of salt to 1 liter of clean water.
- Stir well: Make sure the sugar and salt are completely dissolved to form a uniform solution.
- Drink in moderation: Control the amount of water you drink according to your age, weight, and degree of dehydration.
- If you don't have household supplies of salt or sugar, you can use homemade porridge, soup, etc. to maintain water.
Health experts warn that while it is possible to make your own oral rehydration drinks, the best alternative is to follow WHO recommendations or choose commercial products.
Historical Background of Oral Rehydration Therapy
The concept of oral rehydration therapy first emerged in the 1940s, when researchers discovered that sugar helps the intestines absorb sodium and water. After decades of development, this technology has gradually matured.
Oral rehydration therapy was first widely used to combat dehydration during a massive cholera outbreak in Bangladesh in 1968, and it significantly reduced mortality. Subsequently, WHO recognized the importance of this approach and began to promote it in 1980.
Effectiveness and side effects of treatment
The effectiveness of oral rehydration therapy is unquestionable, with studies showing it can effectively reduce water losses caused by diarrhea, and patients are required to maintain a diet during treatment. However, patients may also experience mild side effects when using oral rehydration solutions, such as vomiting or excess sodium and potassium.
Experts recommend that if patients experience vomiting, they should temporarily stop taking the medicine for 15 minutes and then slowly resume taking it to avoid more serious dehydration.
How to ensure home safety and effective use
When using oral rehydration therapy at home, parents must carefully monitor their children's responses to make sure they are drinking the fluids appropriately. To prevent cold water from affecting the reaction, it is recommended that drinks, whether hot or cold, should be consumed at room temperature.
Thinking about future possibilities
With the advancement of technology and medicine, oral rehydration therapy will become more and more popular. However, enabling every household in an increasing number of communities to identify and rapidly respond to dehydration remains one of the key public health challenges of the future. Are you ready to put this life-saving technology to good use when you need it?
