This article was co-authored by Claudia Carberry, RD, MS and by How.com.vn staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian specializing in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2010.
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Oral Rehydration Salts or an Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is a special drink made with clean water, sugar, and salt that can help replace fluid loss from severe diarrhea and/or vomiting. While medical professionals officially recommend using premade ORS packets and drinks, it is possible to make a homemade version with just 3 simple ingredients. We’ll walk you through the recipe for an ORS (including some homemade alternatives), and even provide some guidance on how much adults, kids, and toddlers should drink.
Things You Should Know
- Prepare a homemade ORS drink with 4 1⁄4 c (1.0 L) water, ½ tsp (3 g) of table salt, and 2 tbsp (25 g) of sugar.
- Alternatively, stir ¾ tsp (4.5 g) of table salt into 4 c (0.95 L) of a sports drink.
- Sip 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) of an ORS every 5 minutes. The total amount of an ORS you need (in mL) is your weight (in kg) multiplied by 75.
Steps
How to Make and Use an ORS
- Mix clean water, salt, and sugar together to make a homemade ORS. Stir ½ tsp (3 g) of table salt and 2 tbsp (25 g) of sugar into 4 1⁄4 c (1.0 L) of water. To improve the flavor, mix in some water flavoring.[1]
- If you have a premade ORS packet: Stir a packet of premade ORS into 1 L (34 fl oz) of water.[2]
- Warning: Medical experts advise against using a homemade ORS solution unless there are no other options available. Premade solutions are your best bet at fighting dehydration.[3]
- Drink 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) of your ORS about every 5 minutes. Multiply your weight (in kg) by 75—this is the amount of an ORS you need to drink over 4 hours (in mL). Continue to sip your ORS every few minutes, or until you no longer show signs of dehydration (for example, being able to pass urine, no longer feeling thirsty, and having a strong pulse).[4]
- Examine your symptoms after drinking your ORS for 1 hour, then continue checking once every 1-2 hours as you rehydrate.[5]
- Alternative dosage: Babies under 2 years old can drink 1⁄2 L (17 fl oz) of ORS per day; children under 10 years old can drink 1 L (34 fl oz) of ORS per day; and children over 10 years old and adults can drink 3 L (100 fl oz) of ORS per day.[6]
Expert Q&A
Tips
- Medical professionals officially recommend using ORS packets (like Trioral or DripDrop).[14] You can also purchase premade ORS drinks (like Pedialyte).Thanks
- The BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) can help individuals rebound from bouts of diarrhea and vomiting since these foods are nutritious and easy on your stomach.[15]Thanks
Warnings
- Be sure to use clean water when preparing an ORS drink.[16]Thanks
- Don’t give a child with diarrhea medication unless your doctor recommends or prescribes it.[17]Thanks
- Call your doctor right away if your child experiences any serious symptoms like bloody stool, abdominal pain, a lack of tears, infrequent urination, high fever, intense thirst, weight loss, and/or frequent vomiting.[18]Thanks
- A typical case of diarrhea goes away within a week. Call your doctor if you experience diarrhea for longer than this.[19]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2021/01/Homemade-Oral-Rehydration-Solutions-9-2018-1.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/treatment/rehydration-therapy.html
- ↑ https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/rehydration
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/treatment/rehydration-therapy.html
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/treatment/rehydration-therapy.html
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/global/posters/11_229310-j_ors_print-africa.pdf
- ↑ https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-ors-recipes.pdf
- ↑ https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2020/03/ORS-Parrish-March-2020.pdf
- ↑ https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-ors-recipes.pdf
- ↑ https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2021/01/Homemade-Oral-Rehydration-Solutions-9-2018-1.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/global/posters/11_229310-j_ors_print-africa.pdf
- ↑ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/food-poisoning/treatment
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/symptoms.html
- ↑ https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/rehydration
- ↑ https://familydoctor.org/brat-diet-recovering-from-an-upset-stomach/
- ↑ https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/rehydration
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/diarrhea.html
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diarrhea-in-children
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4108-diarrhea
About This Article
An oral rehydration salts drink, or ORS, is a special solution that you can use to rehydrate after severe diarrhea or vomiting. To make your own ORS drink, wash your hands with soap and water and grab a clean pitcher or bottle. Mix together ½ teaspoon (about 2 g) of table salt and 2 tablespoons (25 g) of granulated sugar in your container, then add 1 liter (about 4 cups) of clean drinking water. Stir the mixture vigorously for about 1 minute, or until all the salt and sugar are dissolved. Store any of the mixture that you don’t drink right away in the fridge for up to 24 hours. To learn how to prevent severe dehydration with an oral rehydration salt drink, scroll down!
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