When diarrhoea, vomiting or heat leaves you drained, a doctor or chemist will often suggest Electral. Electral powder is one of the best known brands of oral rehydration salts, or ORS, in India. It is cheap, easy to find and, when mixed correctly, very effective. This guide explains in simple words what Electral powder is, how ORS works, how to mix it, who should use it and when you need to see a doctor instead.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Always follow the instructions on the pack and speak to a doctor or pharmacist about your own health, especially for babies, older people, pregnant women and people with long term illnesses.
Table of Contents
What Is Electral Powder?
Electral is a brand of ORS made by the Indian company FDC Limited. It comes as a powder in sachets that you dissolve in clean drinking water. The drink replaces water and salts the body loses through loose motions, vomiting or heavy sweating. Electral follows the formula recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, so it works the same way as other proper ORS products.
What is in it?
The WHO formula for one litre of ORS contains:
| Ingredient | Amount per litre | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium chloride (salt) | 2.6 g | Replaces sodium lost in stools and sweat |
| Glucose (dextrose) | 13.5 g | Helps the gut absorb sodium and water |
| Potassium chloride | 1.5 g | Replaces potassium |
| Trisodium citrate | 2.9 g | Corrects acid build up in the blood |
This is called low osmolarity ORS. WHO and UNICEF have recommended it since 2003 because it reduces stool volume and vomiting compared with the older, stronger formula.
Signs of Dehydration
Knowing the early signs helps you start ORS in time. Mild to moderate dehydration often shows up as:
- Feeling thirsty and having a dry mouth or lips.
- Passing less urine than usual, or dark yellow urine.
- Tiredness, headache or feeling dizzy when standing up.
- In children, fewer wet nappies, crying without tears and being unusually cranky.
At this stage ORS at home usually helps. Severe dehydration is an emergency and needs a hospital, where fluids may be given through a drip.
How Does ORS Work?
When you have diarrhoea, your gut loses water and salts faster than you can replace them by drinking plain water. Plain water alone does not carry salts back in. The trick behind ORS is that glucose and sodium are absorbed together through the wall of the small intestine, and water follows them. The right balance of sugar and salt makes this work best. Too much sugar, as in many soft drinks and juices, can pull water into the gut and make diarrhoea worse.
ORS was first used in India by Dr Hemendra Nath Chatterjee, who reported results in cholera patients in 1953. Since then it has become one of the most important health tools in the world and has saved millions of lives, especially among young children.
Uses of Electral Powder
Doctors commonly suggest ORS for:
- Diarrhoea from infection, food poisoning or stomach bugs.
- Vomiting, in small sips once vomiting settles.
- Mild to moderate dehydration from heat, fever or heavy sweating.
- Recovery after illness, when you are not eating or drinking well.
ORS treats dehydration. It does not kill germs or stop diarrhoea by itself, but it keeps the body safe while the illness runs its course. Read more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of diarrhoea.
How to Mix Electral Powder Correctly
Mixing it right is the most important step. A solution that is too strong or too weak does not work as well, and a very strong one can be harmful.
- Wash your hands with soap.
- Read the pack to check how much water the sachet needs. Large sachets are usually made up to one litre; smaller ones need less.
- Use clean drinking water that has been boiled and cooled, or filtered.
- Pour the whole sachet into the measured water and stir until it dissolves.
- Do not add sugar, salt, juice or milk.
- Use the solution within 24 hours and throw away what is left.
How Much Should You Drink?
The amount depends on age, weight and how much fluid is being lost. Follow your doctor’s advice and the pack instructions. As a general rule, drink small sips often rather than large amounts at once, and give some after every loose stool. If someone vomits, wait about 10 minutes and then start again slowly with small sips.
For babies and children
Children get dehydrated quickly. Keep breastfeeding babies as usual and offer ORS from a spoon or cup. WHO also recommends zinc supplements for 10 to 14 days for children with diarrhoea, given as advised by a doctor. Zinc can make the illness shorter and less severe.
Side Effects and Safety
When mixed correctly, ORS is safe for most people. Possible problems include:
- Mild vomiting if drunk too fast.
- High salt or potassium levels in the blood if the mix is too strong or if the kidneys are not working well.
- Swelling of the face or feet in rare cases.
People with kidney disease, heart failure or high blood pressure, and those on medicines that affect potassium, should ask a doctor before using ORS.
Can people with diabetes take it?
ORS contains glucose, but the amount is small and is needed for it to work. People with diabetes can usually take it during illness, but should check their sugar more often and ask their doctor how much to drink.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using too little water. A stronger drink is not better. It can raise salt levels and make diarrhoea worse.
- Adding sugar to improve the taste. Extra sugar upsets the balance that makes ORS work.
- Stopping too early. Keep giving ORS until loose motions ease and the person is passing urine normally.
- Relying on fruit juice or cola. These have too much sugar and too little salt.
- Taking medicines to stop diarrhoea without advice. Some are not safe for children and can hide a serious infection.
ORS for Older People and Travellers
Older adults often feel less thirst and can become dehydrated without noticing, especially in hot weather or during illness. Family members should offer drinks often and watch for confusion or weakness. Travellers can carry a few sachets, since stomach upsets are common on long trips. Mix them only with safe bottled or boiled water.
When to See a Doctor
Get medical help quickly if there is:
- Blood in the stool or black stools.
- Very little or no urine for several hours.
- Drowsiness, confusion or fainting.
- Sunken eyes, a dry mouth or, in babies, a sunken soft spot on the head.
- High fever, or diarrhoea that lasts more than two days in adults or one day in young children.
- Repeated vomiting so that nothing stays down.
ORS vs Energy and Electrolyte Drinks
Many sweet drinks sold as “electrolyte” or “hydration” drinks contain much more sugar than ORS and too little salt. In October 2025, India’s food regulator FSSAI barred food and drink brands from using the word ORS on their labels unless the product meets the WHO formula. The move followed a long campaign by Hyderabad paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, who warned that parents were giving sugary drinks to sick children believing they were ORS. When you buy ORS, check that the pack says it follows the WHO formula.
Staying Hydrated in Summer
In Indian summers, heavy sweating can cause dehydration even without illness. Drink water through the day, eat water rich fruits, and keep a few ORS sachets at home for emergencies. Our tips on staying healthy in summer and foods to eat during summer can help.
Keeping ORS at Home
It is a good idea to keep a small stock of ORS sachets in your home first aid box, along with a clean measuring jug or bottle so you can measure water correctly. Check the expiry dates every few months and replace old packs. If a sachet is torn, damp or the powder has formed hard lumps, throw it away. Teach older children and other family members how to mix it, so anyone can help when someone falls ill.
Keep sachets in a cool, dry place and check the expiry date before use.
What We Changed From the Old Post
The old post linked to an online pharmacy and made broad claims such as ORS “instantly” fixing electrolyte balance. We removed the commercial link, added the WHO formula, clear mixing steps, safety warnings, warning signs that need a doctor and the 2025 FSSAI rule on ORS labels. All advice is now conservative and based on WHO guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink Electral every day?
Healthy people do not need ORS daily. Use it when you are losing fluids, and ask a doctor about regular use.
Can ORS cause weight gain?
No. The amount of sugar is small. Any weight change during illness is mostly water.
Can I make ORS at home?
Packets are best. If none are available, ask a health worker about a safe home mix.
Is Electral safe for pregnant women?
It is usually safe, but pregnant women should check with their doctor.