Cautions About Natural Remedies For Ulcers
If a person does go on the herbal route, we would stress the need for re-evaluation following treatment. If the infection still persists after botanical agents have been wisely applied in conjunction with any other needed lifestyle measures, judicious use of antibiotics may prove helpful. Indeed, in certain cases the risk factors for stomach cancer may make antibiotics a necessity.
Note that probiotic supplementation such as that in lactobacillus- and bifidobacterium-containing yogurt can improve the antibiotic eradication rates of H. pylori in humans and/or decrease their adverse side effects. Probiotics also decrease mucosal inflammation, thus accelerating healing of the gastric mucosal barrier.3,4
Green Tea And Flavonoid
Emerging research from China shows the potential protective effects of green tea and other foods that are rich in flavonoids against chronic gastritis, H. pylori infection, and stomach cancer. Specifically, these foods seem to inhibit the growth of H. pylori.
In addition, one recent laboratory study of green, white, oolong, and black teas indicated that these teas inhibit the growth of H. pylori but cause no harm to beneficial types of bacteria normally found in the stomach, including L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, and B. lungum. However, this was an in vitro study, which means testing occurred directly between teas and bacteria in the laboratory, and we cannot draw direct conclusions as to what would happen inside the human body between these two substances. Beneficial effects in the laboratory were best when tea steeped for a full five minutes.
Flavonoid-rich foods include garlic, onions, and colourful fruits and vegetables such as cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, and snap peas.4,5
What Is Peptic Ulcer Disease
Peptic ulcer disease is a condition in which painful sores or ulcers develop in the lining of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine . Normally, a thick layer of mucus protects the stomach lining from the effect of its digestive juices. But many things can reduce this protective layer, allowing stomach acid to damage the tissue.
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What Causes Peptic Ulcers
Bacteria called Helicobacter pylori cause most peptic ulcers. Using common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen, also can cause a peptic ulcer. The ulcers form when the bacteria or the medicine weakens the mucus that coats the stomach and duodenum. This lets acid get through to the sensitive lining beneath. Both the acid and the bacteria can irritate the lining and cause an ulcer.
Some medical conditions also can play a role in ulcers. For example, illnesses that make it hard for the body to heal increase a childs risk of ulcers. This is also true for infants who become septic . In otherwise healthy kids, peptic ulcers are very unusual.
What Causes Would Make Me Choose An Peptic Ulcer Diet
Using pain-relieving drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the long term or being infected to bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori can induce peptic ulcers. Aspirin and NSAIDs will cause congestion, superficial ulcers, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and general ulcers. The cause of these injuries is the suppression of endogenous prostaglandins. Suppose the peptic ulcer disease does not be controlled. In that case, it will complicate gastric cancer, hole and perforation in stomach linings, bleeding, and the blockage of passes of food through the gastrointestinal digestion system tracts.
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Alternative And Complementary Therapies
Certain lifestyle changes can help you recover from an ulcer.
- Watch your diet. If you know that there are specific foods that make your ulcer feel worse, avoid them until your treatment is over. For many people, these include alcohol, caffeine, fatty foods, spicy foods, and chocolate.
- Stop smoking. If you smoke, you are already at increased risk of getting an ulcer. The data also shows that ulcers take longer to heal in smokers and that the ulcer medication you are taking may be less effective. Scientists don’t know exactly why smoking has these negative effects.
- Take pain medication carefully. NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and many other commonly taken drugs, are taken for pain and fever, but can cause an ulcer if used too often. NSAIDs can also prevent an ulcer from healing as quickly as you would like, so talk to your doctor about what you can take for your other aches and pains while you are waiting for your ulcer to heal. Acetaminophen does not cause ulcers, so it may be an effective substitute. Also, be sure to read all drug labels some cough and cold liquids have NSAID ingredients in them, and you should avoid them, too.
- Cut back on alcohol. Stop drinking alcohol if you want to completely reduce your risk of additional ulcers and help your body heal.
Herbal Remedies For Peptic Ulcer
Although it is sour but after digestion, it is converted into sweet. Therefore it is helpful in curing peptic ulcer and relieve heart burn quickly. Amla capsules can also be used if the juice is not available. Amalaki Rasayan is a fortified Amla berry fruit powder with Amla juice. So Amalaki Rasayan capsules are recommended.
Dosage:- 2 twice daily, 1 hr. after meals with plain water.
Contains dry pulp fruit of 3 fruits. Chebulic myrobalan . These 3 herbs are known as best healers for ulcers in the stomach and duodenum. The herbs work naturally to care the peptic ulcer From the root.
Dosage:- 1 teaspoonful twice daily, 1 hr. after meals, with plain water.
This is a wonderful herb actually used for memory and improving microcirculation but it is a cooling, soothing herb and helps in regulating the acid releasing mechanisms of the stomach. This helps a lot in relieving acidity and also relieves stress. Stress has an important role in causing peptic ulcers. There are certain saponnins in this herb which cause quicker healing of the ulcer.
Dosage:- 2 twice daily, 1 hr. after meals with plain water.
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What Causes Stomach Ulcers
- Helicobacter pylori a type of bacteria
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen
People are more at risk of developing a stomach ulcer if they smoke or drink alcohol, or have a family history of ulcer disease.
Spicy foods do not cause stomach ulcers, but they can worsen the symptoms.
What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor
If you have stomach ulcers, you may want to ask your doctor:
- What pain reliever can I use instead of an NSAID?
- How will I know if the H. pylori infection is gone?
- How do we find out if the ulcer has healed?
- What can I do relieve symptoms at home during treatment?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Contrary to commonly held beliefs, ulcers arent caused by stress or foods you eat. Most of time, bacteria causes them. Doctors can treat the bacteria with antibiotics and other medications.
If youve been popping a lot of antacids lately, youre constantly snacking to get rid of a gnawing pain in your stomach or you have any other signs of an ulcer, the best thing you can do for your health is talk to your provider. Treatment can heal an ulcer in a matter of weeks.
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Who Is More Likely To Get Ulcers
One in 10 people develops an ulcer. Risk factors that make ulcers more likely include:
- Frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , a group of common pain relievers that includes ibuprofen .
- A family history of ulcers.
- Illness such as liver, kidney or lung disease.
- Regularly drinking alcohol.
What Are Peptic Ulcers
Peptic ulcers, also called as stomach ulcers, are characterized by the occurrence of an open sore on the inner lining of the stomach. The sore may be on the proximal, middle or distal part of the stomach or in the duodenum, the initial part of small intestine, following the stomach.
Diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract such as peptic ulcers and dyspepsia are quite common among the urban population today due to improper eating habits and erratic lifestyle adopted due to the influence of technology. People today have chosen jobs involving prolonged hours of sitting in front of the PC and often skipping meals, which is quite common due to busy working hours.
Irregular meal timings combined with having large meals at a time all play a role in disturbing the functioning of the normal digestive system. Paying proper attention to regularizing meal timings & minding the portion size of meals can help reverse gut disorders such as peptic ulcers.
Ulcers are often the result of inadequate presence of the bicarbonate ions in the stomach lining. Hence, on account of inadequate bicarbonate ions to neutralize the H+ ions in the acidic secretions of the gut, the stomach acid has the capacity of corroding the stomach lining. This gives rise to ulcers.
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Dont Forget The Psyche
As previously mentioned, but worthy of further discussion, stress affects the gastrointestinal tract. Fear can decrease blood flow to the stomach, while anger causes the capillaries in the stomach to become engorged, more friable, and susceptible to bleeding. Chronic anxiety can increase acid production. The following true account from the 1950s poignantly illustrates the critical role of emotional health and the power of forgiveness.
Maria was from a wealthy family in Europe. She had come to the United States many years ago and experienced two unfortunate marriages. Now her current marriage was in deep trouble, as well. A bleeding stomach ulcer brought her to Wildwood Lifestyle Center & Hospital. She did not want surgery.
With her physicians help, she worked through the problems in her marriage, as well as many others. However even with all the treatments, counseling, and her own persistence, she was still no better physically and continued to bleed. Maria, her doctor said, you have worked so hard on your problems. Is there anything else that might be troubling you? I cant think of a single thing. Her doctor was ready to schedule her for surgery when, in the middle of the night, she was urgently called to Marias room. Maria was pacing violently back and forth, hands clenched, hissing repeatedly, I hate her! I hate her!
How Can I Prevent Ulcers
You may be able to prevent ulcers from forming if you:
- Talk to your doctor about alternatives to NSAID medications to relieve pain.
- Discuss protective measures with your doctor, if you cant stop taking an NSAID.
- Opt for the lowest effective dose of NSAID and take it with a meal.
- Quit smoking.
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
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Assess Your Individual Tolerance
No evidence suggests that spicy or citrus foods affect ulcer disease, although some individuals do report worsening of symptoms after eating these types of foods. It is important to find out what works for you. If you notice that your symptoms get worse after eating certain foods, then limit or avoid them so you can feel your best, making sure that you dont eliminate an entire food group.
Peptic Ulcer Facts And Picture
- Peptic ulcer are sores in the lining of the esophagus, stomach or duodenum.
- The main symptom of a stomach or duodenal ulcer is upper abdominal pain, which can be dull, sharp, or burning .
- Other associated symptoms may include:
- Acid reflux or heartburn
- Feeling satiated when eating
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Natural Remedies For H Pylori
Fortunately, other alternative therapies with less risk of resistance are available. Researchers OMahoney and associates found that certain herbs can kill the H. pylori bacteria. Listed in order of their effectiveness from greatest to least, turmeric, cumin, ginger, borage, black caraway, oregano, and licorice were all found to exert anti H. pylori activity.2 In addition, turmeric, borage, and parsley were also known to inhibit the adherence of H. pylori to the stomach lining. Apigenin, a flavonoid in chamomile, has also been demonstrated in test tubes to inhibit the growth of H. pylori. In vitro studies have found that garlic, as well, can inhibit the growth of some antibiotic-resistant strains of H. pylori. Even though herbs may be the more desirable method of cure, they do not yet prove always effective in eradicating H. pylori.
Natural Remedies For Peptic Ulcer
Banana: Banana is one of the most effective home remedies for the treatment of a peptic ulcer. This fruit is said to contain an unidentified compound, perhaps jokingly called vitamin U . Banana neutralises the over-acidity of the gastric juices and reduces the irritation of the ulcer by coating the lining of the stomach. Patients who are in an advanced state of the disease should take a diet consisting only of two bananas with a glass of milk, three or four times a day.
Wood Apple: An infusion of the leaves of wood apple is another effective remedy for this disease. Fifteen grams of leaves should be soaked overnight in 250 ml of water. In the morning this water should be strained and taken as a drink. The pain and discomfort will be relieved when this treatment is continued for a few weeks. Bael leaves are rich in tannins which reduce inflammation and help in the healing of ulcers. The bael fruit taken in the form of a beverage also has great healing properties on account of its mucilage content. This substance forms a coating on the stomach mucosa and thus helps in the healing of ulcers.
Lime: Lime is valuable in peptic ulcers. The citric acid in this fruit, together with the mineral salts present in the juice, help in digestion.
Almond Milk: Milk prepared from blanched almonds in a blender is very useful as a treatment for peptic ulcers. It binds the excess of acid in the stomach and supplies high quality protein.
Dietary Considerations
Other Measures
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Complications Of Peptic Ulcers
Left untreated, peptic ulcers can result in severe complications and emergencies.
- Internal bleeding You can have bleeding in your stomach, esophagus, or duodenum when the ulcer opens a blood vessel. Ulcers can cause bleeding that occurs slowly over time or quickly, possibly resulting in hemorrhaging that can be life-threatening due to shock. Sometimes you may not notice a bleeding ulcer until you become anemic, a condition in which your body lacks red blood cells because of inadequate iron. This occurs when ulcers cause chronic, low-grade blood loss.
- A hole, or perforation, in the stomach wall You can develop a perforated ulcer, which means it has eaten through your stomach or intestinal wall.
- Obstruction This is when you have swelling or scarring related to your ulcer that is preventing your food from being digested properly.
The signs that you are having an ulcer emergency are:
- Blood in stool
- Blood in vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Increasing pain
- Mental confusion
- Severe abdominal distension
If you think you or someone you know is having an ulcer emergency, seek immediate medical attention.
Best Foods To Eat When You Have A Stomach Ulcer
Stomach ulcers may require lifestyle and dietary changes to manage them while they are healing. Acid reducing medications may also be beneficial. Previously, a bland diet was recommended for stomach ulcers but current research does not support that idea.
Dietary modifications can help, but spicy foods arent necessarily an irritant. Doctors now emphasize a diet rich in vegetables and fruits. The best foods to eat when you have a stomach ulcer include:
Dietary fiber
This includes oats, legumes, flax seeds, nuts, oranges, apples, and carrots. These foods are good for you because they can help prevent ulcers from developing.
Vitamin A rich foods
Foods like broccoli, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, and collard greens contain vitamin A. These foods increase the mucus production in your gastrointestinal tract, which some believe can help prevent ulcers.
Green tea
Emerging research indicates that green tea can help fight off H. pylori.
Flavonoid-rich foods
This includes garlic, onions, cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, and snap peas. Research suggests that these foods can help protect your gut against chronic gastritis, H. pylori infection, and stomach cancer. These foods help inhibit H. pylori growth.
Cranberry juice
This tart juice can potentially reduce the risk of H. pylori overgrowth in your stomach and prevent inflammation.
There are certain foods that could irritate your stomach ulcer, and it might be a good idea to limit them. Those foods include:
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