Learn about all-natural ulcer remedies that are easy and extremely effective
Stomach ulcers are painful open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach and small intestine. A great majority of ulcers are caused primarily by an infection of a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori for short. They also develop in response to many factors, including the use of certain medications, as well as lifestyle and dietary factors. The most common symptom of ulcers is burning pain that can be felt anywhere from the top of the sternum all the way down to the navel. Ulcers are treated through changes in lifestyle, medications, antibiotics and surgery, but this article will present you a natural alternative to treat stomach ulcers.
In simple i would say, ulcers can recur and become a chronic problem, or can lead to a number of serious complications including bleeding, it is important to treat them promptly. Instead of pursuing the most common conventional ulcer treatment option, which only leads to further digestive problems, I suggest few of the following all-natural ulcer remedies.
Vitamin E
Doctors at the Kiev Medical Institute reported that 300 mg of vitamin E daily effectively treated peptic ulcers of 28 patients. Ulcers were relieved in four to six days in the vitamin E group, while it took seven to ten days in those given conventional medication. Patients taking vitamin E also had increased protein repair in their intestinal linings and gained from 1.5 to 3 kg during the study, while the controls did not gain any weight.
Bananas
The sitoindosides in dried, unripe bananas increase mucus in the digestive tract, which provides a strong protective coating to help prevent and heal ulcers. Unripe bananas also promote cell growth in the intestinal tract. And bananas contain water-soluble polysaccharides, the same compounds found in the anti-ulcer prescription drug Carafate.
For ulcer treatment, unripe whole bananas will have some effect, but the best results are obtained with banana powder. To make banana powder, peel the bananas and cut them into thin slices. Put them in the sun, an oven, or a food dehydrator, and dry them slowly. When dry, grind them into a fine powder. Mix 2 tablespoons of the powder with 1 tablespoon of honey. Take this mixture three times a day: mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.
Honey
Honey possesses a number of curative powers and has been shown, in particular, to be an effective ulcer treatment for two reasons. First, glucose oxidase, an enzyme in honey, produces hydrogen peroxide, which kills harmful bacteria that can contribute to the development of ulcers. Then there are other floral antibacterial substances in honey, which come from flowers when bees collect pollen, that add to honey’s effectiveness in eliminating bacteria.
Certain varieties of honey, however, can be more effective than others at healing ulcers. I have reports from Saudi Arabia, where local honey was used to cure ulcers, and from doctors in Egypt and Russia who have had positive results using their local honeys.
The key to successful ulcer treatment appears to hinge on it being natural, unprocessed honey. Two tablespoons a day should be about right for most types of honey. When the problem has eased, 1 tablespoon daily will probably be enough.
Garlic
I've often written about the miraculous powers of garlic and highly recommend its use in cooking. Research on its preventive and therapeutic benefits continues to grow. It now appears that garlic can keep levels of the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterium in check. (An overgrowth of the H. pylori bacterium can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers.) Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle discovered that garlic exhibits specific antimicrobial activity against H. pylori without entirely eliminating the strain. The elimination of H. pylori can cause other digestive woes.
Cabbage
As long as you have enough beneficial bacteria in your body, it should keep the disease-causing bacteria that can lead to ulcers in check. And one of the best ways to fortify the good bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract is by regularly including cultured and lactic acid–fermented foods in your diet. Foods such as homemade sauerkraut, yogurt, buttermilk, and pickled vegetables are all excellent for helping to maintain a balance of beneficial bacteria in your bowels.
But when it comes to ulcer treatment in particular, one lactic acid food stands out above the rest: cabbage juice. Decades before antibiotics, cabbage juice was successfully used to prevent or heal peptic and duodenal ulcers. In one study, it was shown that cabbage juice alone had a cure rate of over 92 percent in the treatment of these ulcers. This compared to about a 32 percent cure rate in those using a placebo or other treatment.
The dosage in the study consisted of only 50 mL of raw cabbage juice derived from a quart of freshly pressed cabbage. Based on numerous studies and early clinical work, researchers have begun to refer to this unknown ulcer-healing factor in cabbage as vitamin U.
Although in the above studies the cabbage juice wasn’t fermented, keep in mind that vegetables that grow close to the soil are naturally rich in beneficial lactic acid bacteria. That's why "starter cultures" aren't needed to ferment these vegetables, only salt and water.
Cabbage is also a reliable source of vitamin C, which has been found to be lower in the gastric juice of ulcer patients. So if you have ulcers, cabbage juice is a safe, effective, and inexpensive remedy. If you "culture" it or give it a chance to ferment, you'll experience even more benefits.
Licorice
Several studies have suggested that deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) works as well as the drug cimetidine for treating and maintaining peptic and duodenal ulcers. It appears that DGL helps the stomach and intestines produce more protective mucus. This is extremely beneficial for anyone who takes ulcer-producing drugs like aspirin, cortisone derivatives, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories.
To be effective, however, DGL tablets must be chewed before swallowing. I recommend two 380-mg tablets three times a day between meals. Once ulcers have healed, the dosage can be reduced to two tablets a day (between meals). Enzymatic Therapy makes chewable DGL tablets. Look for them in health food stores.
Capsaicin
Contrary to what many people believe, eating hot chili peppers doesn't cause gastric ulcers. Instead, eating them actually prevents ulcer development. That's because peppers have been shown to trigger mechanisms that protect the lining of the stomach. Studies in Hungary found that consumption of capsaicin (the chemically active component in most peppers) actually decreased the acid output of the stomach, while at the same time increased protective secretions. In simple terms, peppers act as an antacid.
Capsaicin was also particularly effective at protecting the stomach from ulcerations caused by alcohol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. So if you've sworn off jalapenos and other hot peppers thinking they caused your ulcers, it's time to add them back into your diet as an effective ulcer treatment.
You also need to know few other things which is required: Zinc CarnosineThis form of zinc dissolves in the stomach and adheres to the wound (ulceration) on the stomach lining.
Zinc Carnosine helps to heal the wound and repair the tissues and thus improves ulcer symptoms, including heartburn. It is recommended to use it for 8 weeks to see result. Recommended dose is 75 mg daily in divided doses.
ProbioticsResearchers have identified a strain of probiotic bacteria that may be useful in treating ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori. The regular intake of
probiotic microoganisms has been demonstrated to prevent several disorders including diarrhoea and inflammatory bowel disease.
GlutamineOur lungs manufacture the amino acid glutamine and also store some of it. Taken as a
supplement, glutamine helps to reduce the amount of inflammation caused by an Helicobacter pylori infection.
Aloe Vera juiceAloe Vera has long been known as a powerfully soothing salve for the skin.
Aloe vera juice, when taken internally, can soothe the most irritated stomach conditions, including ulcers. You can also find aloe vera juice at your local health food store. Keep it refrigerated and follow the instructions on the bottle, or go with what your body tells you that it needs.
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) powderA special extract of licorice known as
DGL is a remarkable medicine for peptic ulcers. To protect the lining of your stomach and duodenum take deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which has excellent soothing and healing properties. Recommended dose is 200 to 400 mg daily dissolved in 200 ml warm water.
Dietary changes
Avoid all coffee and other sources of caffeine as well as alcohol and tobacco. Avoid milk and milk products as well, as they increase acid discharge. Eat smaller amounts of foods more frequently and don’t let your stomach go empty for long periods of time. For prevention, eat foods high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes, apples, asparagus, berries, broccoli, cabbage, melon, watermelon, cauliflower, kiwi, fortified foods (breads, grains, cereal), dark leafy greens (kale, spinach), peppers (especially red bell peppers) and potatoes.
