How to Make ORS at Home: Salt and Sugar Solution Recipe

Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a simple mix of clean water, sugar and salt that replaces the fluid and salts your body loses through diarrhoea or vomiting. It is one of the most effective, low-cost treatments in medicine. Here is how to make ORS at home the right way, how much to give, and when to see a doctor instead.

How does ORS work?

When you have diarrhoea, your body loses water and salts (electrolytes) faster than normal. Sugar (glucose) helps your gut absorb salt, and salt pulls water in with it. That is why the right balance of sugar and salt rehydrates you far better than plain water. ORS does not stop diarrhoea, but it prevents dangerous dehydration while the illness passes.

How to make ORS at home (1 litre)

This is the recipe recommended by the World Health Organization and UNICEF:

• 1 litre of clean drinking water (about 5 cups, or 2 standard sachets of pure water)
• 6 level teaspoons of sugar
• Half a level teaspoon of salt

Steps:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. If you are not sure the water is safe, boil it and let it cool completely.
3. Pour the water into a clean container.
4. Add the sugar and salt and stir until fully dissolved.
5. Taste it: it should taste no saltier than tears. If it is saltier, add more water.

Use level teaspoons, not heaped ones. Too much salt can be harmful, especially for babies.

How to make 1 glass of ORS

Small amounts are hard to measure accurately, so it is safer to make a full litre and drink it through the day. If you only need one glass (about 250 ml), use 1½ level teaspoons of sugar and a small pinch of salt (about ⅛ of a teaspoon), and check that it tastes no saltier than tears.

Salt and sugar solution: dos and don’ts

• Do make a fresh batch every day. Throw away any left after 24 hours.
• Do keep it covered and clean.
• Don’t add extra salt or sugar “to make it stronger”.
• Don’t boil the solution after mixing in the sugar and salt.
• Don’t use soft drinks, energy drinks or undiluted fruit juice instead. They contain too much sugar and can make diarrhoea worse.

Ready-made ORS sachets

Pharmacy ORS sachets (low-osmolarity ORS) have the exact balance of salts and sugar and are the best option when available. Mix each sachet with the amount of water shown on the pack, no more and no less. Homemade ORS is a good stand-by when you can’t get sachets.

How much ORS to drink

• Children under 2: about ¼ to ½ cup after each loose stool
• Children 2 to 10: about ½ to 1 cup after each loose stool
• Older children and adults: as much as they want, at least 1 to 2 cups after each loose stool

Give small, frequent sips. If the person vomits, wait 10 minutes, then continue more slowly. Keep breastfeeding babies and keep giving food as normal. For children with diarrhoea, health workers also recommend zinc supplements for 10 to 14 days, which shorten the illness; ask a pharmacist or doctor.

Who should be careful with ORS

Speak to a doctor before using ORS if you have kidney disease, heart failure, or take medicines for blood pressure or heart conditions, as your salt and fluid intake may need to be controlled. People with diabetes can use ORS but should monitor their blood sugar.

When to see a doctor

Get medical help quickly if there is:

• Blood in the stool
• Vomiting that stops you keeping any fluid down
• Signs of dehydration: very little urine, sunken eyes, extreme thirst, dizziness or drowsiness
• A high fever, or diarrhoea lasting more than 2 days in adults or 24 hours in babies
• A baby under 6 months with diarrhoea

Read more about the signs you’re not drinking enough water.

Frequently asked questions

What is the ratio of salt and sugar in ORS?
Half a level teaspoon of salt and 6 level teaspoons of sugar in 1 litre of clean water.

Can I use glucose instead of sugar?
Ordinary table sugar works well. Stick to the recipe rather than adding glucose powder or extra sugar.

Can adults drink ORS?
Yes. ORS is safe and effective for adults with diarrhoea or vomiting, unless a doctor has told you to limit salt or fluids.

This article is for general information and does not replace advice from your doctor.

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