Burning pain is felt in the digestive tract, and the person may be thirsty for frequent small sips of tea or water. The stools may be watery and have a putrescent odor. Simultaneous diarrhea and vomiting is another strong indication. Arsenicum is often useful when diarrhea has been caused by spoiled or tainted food. It may also be helpful for diarrhea that occurs when a person gets overheated, then drinks a lot of cold water.
Symptoms often are worse in the morning.
The person's mouth may be very dry. Children who need this remedy will often seem extremely angry, and scream or hit. Adults are irritable and hypersensitive. Cutting and cramping pains in the abdomen precede the diarrhea when this remedy is indicated. The person feels relief from doubling over, or from putting hard pressure on the abdomen.