Black stool can be due to a condition called malena.The dark brown/black,tarry stool is called malena.

A black stool usually means that there is blood in stool that is coming from the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.The most common causes of such bleeding are:gastric ulcers or gastritis and /or GERD(gastro esophageal reflux disease).There can be other cause of upper gastric bleeding. Although this is not a serious disease but it is of concern and should be diagnosed & treated ASAP. You need following tests: -Upper Endoscopy, -Gastroscopy or EGD, -Ultrasound of lower abdomen, -Colonoscopy -Stool examination & culture, -Urinalysis -CT scan/MRI scan of whole abdomen, -Barium meal studies -Barium follow through(BFT)

Blood and mucous in stool is a symptom of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Please get checked by a gastroenterologist! all the tests (Endoscopy, Abdominal ultrasound, HIDA Scan, CAT Scan, colonoscopy, and small-bowel series) all showed up normal. The HIDA Scan showed a 30% gallbladder ejection fraction. My Dr. says I have IBS .. If stool is black, it can mean that you are bleeding internally, possibly as a result of an ulcer or cancer, he says. Stool that is black due to bleeding is also "sticky" (tarry) and smells bad. However, black stools are common when taking a vitamin that contains iron or medications that contain bismuth subsalicylate.

Stool Color Name

Stool Sample Color

What It Could Mean

Possible Health Causes

Possible Dietary Causes

Solutions And Suggestions

Black

Melena, Blood in stool (usually from upper GI tract)

Esophageal Variances, Mallory-Weiss tear, Bleeding stomach or duodenal ulcer,Gastritis, Trauma, Bowel ischemia, Vascular malformation

Black licorice, iron, lead, bismuth medicines (PeptoBismol), blueberries

Cleanse your liver & colon Digestive Health Multi-Vit 25-30 grams of fiber/day Reduce aspirin/Ibuprofen Reduce alcohol use

Tarry

Blood in stool which has been exposed to digestion

Esophageal Variances, Mallory-Weiss tear, Bleeding stomach or duodenal ulcer,Gastritis, Trauma, Bowel ischemia, Vascular malformation

Black licorice, iron, lead, bismuth medicines (PeptoBismol), blueberries, exposed to digestive juices

Cleanse your liver & colon Digestive Health Multi-Vit 25-30 grams of fiber/day Reduce aspirin/Ibuprofen Reduce alcohol use

Maroon

Hematochezi, Blood in stool (usually from lower GI tract)

Diverticulitis, Vascular malformation, Intestinal Infection (includingparasites), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Tumors, Polyps, Colon Cancer, Ulcers,Gastritis, Esophageal Variances

Red colored gelatin, popsicles, Kool-Aid, tomato juice, soup, beets.

Cleanse your liver & colon Digestive Health Multi-Vit 25-30 grams of fiber/day Reduce aspirin/Ibuprofen Reduce alcohol use

Red

Blood in stool from very late in GI tract

Hemorrhoids, Anal fissures, Ulcers, Polyps,

Red colored gelatin, popsicles, Kool-Aid, tomato juice, soup, beets.

Cleanse your liver & colon Digestive Health Multi-Vit 25-30 grams of fiber/day Reduce aspirin/Ibuprofen Reduce alcohol use

Orange

Transit time of stool is too fast, not sufficiently exposed to bile during digestion.

Low bile salt production, Consumption of medications containing beta-carotene or aluminum hydroxide, obstructed ordiseased liver

Carrots, Sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, turnip greens, winter squash, collard greens, cilantro, thyme, artificial orange food coloring

Cleanse your liver & colon Digestive Health Multi-Vit 25-30 grams of fiber/day Reduce aspirin/Ibuprofen Reduce alcohol use

Yellow

Possible malfunction of digestive system

Gilbert's Syndrome,malabsorption,parasite infection,pancreatic cancer

Carrots, Sweet potatoes, artificial yellow food coloring

Digestive Enzymes Cleanse your liver & colon Digestive Health Multi-Vit 25-30 grams of fiber/day Reduce aspirin/Ibuprofen Reduce alcohol use

Green

Transit time of stool is too fast, not sufficiently exposured to bile during digestion

Low bile salt production, Obstructed ordiseased liver

Green leafy vegetables, dark purple/green food coloring, foods containing chlorophyll

Digestive Enzymes Cleanse your liver & colon Digestive Health Multi-Vit 25-30 grams of fiber/day Reduce aspirin/Ibuprofen Reduce alcohol use

Clay

Stool is not being properly exposed to bile during digestion.

Malabsorption,Hepatitis,Gallbladder disorders

High amounts of fatty foods

Digestive Enzymes Cleanse your liver & colon Digestive Health Multi-Vit 25-30 grams of fiber/day Reduce aspirin/Ibuprofen Reduce alcohol use