Food is the way to our heart. Good food means good mood but what if eating becomes a challenge for someone. Stomach pain, bloating, discomfort, nausea, vomiting after meals, might make one hate food (I don’t know about you but being a foodie, this gives me nightmares). Ulcer is a pretty common disease. In the Western world, 1 in 10 people have ulcer. But don’t worry there are some natural remedies and home remedies that are very effective. Changes in lifestyle are also a big factor in preventing this disease.
Before we move on to remedies, I would like to give an insight on what Ulcer is. The muscular stomach contains hydrochloric acid and pepsin. Both of which are acidic in nature. Furthermore, these enzymes assist in digestion and kill the microbes that may be present in food. To protect the stomach muscles from these acidic enzymes, it is lined with a protective layer-called mucous membrane.
If the mucous membrane gets damaged, the muscular walls of stomach can be injured. Consequently, cause ulcer. Ulcers can be cured easily and not something to be worried about too much. However, if left untreated for a long period of time. They can become a problem.
Home Remedies for Ulcer
The types of ulcer include: gastric ulcer (affects stomach), esophageal ulcer (affects esophagus) and duodenal ulcer (affects small intestines). The cause of ulcers is mainly a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Ulcers are treated by medications that decrease acidity in the stomach. However, natural home remedies are also used to treat this condition.
These remedies have proved to benefit a lot of people. You just have to pick the one that’s best for you and keep working on it. The way home remedies work is that it takes some time to notice improvements. So, be consistent and hope for the best
- Probiotics:
There are two types of bacteria- good bacteria and bad bacteria. Probiotics can be defined as the bad bacteria that are useful for the especially digestive system. The way they work is that ulcers can increase the amount of bad bacteria in your gut. So, probiotics are used to replace the bad bacteria with good bacteria. This was proved by a review in 2014 that probiotics cannot kill bacteria but they decrease the number of bad bacteria. Hence decrease symptoms. Probiotics can be naturally found in
- Yogurt
- Buttermilk
- Probiotic supplements
Probiotics are sometimes combined with medication. This way they can make the recovery process from ulcers very fast
- Flavonoids:
Flavonoids are responsible for the color in some fruits. They protect the body again helicobacter pylori bacterium. Flavonoids protect the stomach by defending its mucous membrane and keeping it intact. They increase the amount of mucous in stomach which helps to keep the stomach lining intact. Some foods that contain flavonoids are
- Soybeans
- Apples
- Broccoli
You can also use flavonoid supplements.
- Licorice
Licorice is a spice that is found in Asia or the Mediterranean. Dried Licorice is also used as an herbal medicine. Studies have showed that dried licorice works by stimulating the stomach and intestines to increase the production of mucous. This excess mucous can compensate for the mucous that’s been affected. They help in restoring the protective layer, that’s been damaged. A study conducted in 2013, showed that licorice can be used to fight infections caused by H. pylori bacteria. It is important to note that, with certain medications, it can cause numbness. With excess use of licorice, heart problems can be caused too. It’s important to consult with your doctor before adding licorice to your diet
- Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is easily accessible to anyone. You can even grow an aloe vera plants at home and take use from it. Studies in rats, showed that Aloe vera has properties to cure ulcers. Furthermore, one study in rat, aloe vera’s effect on ulcers was equivalent to the effects caused by an anti-ulcer medication-omeprazole. However, there are not a lot of studies in humans. One study in humans showed that aloe vera was able to cure the ulcer of 12 people. The effects of Aloe Vera in treating ulcers in humans are yet to be discovered. However, there’s no harm in consuming Aloe Vera.
- Chillies
Theres a popular misconception that consuming chillies are responsible for stomach ulcers however, the opposite of this is true. Chillies are responsible to heal stomach ulcers. It’s important to note that, they should not be consumed in large quantities but they should not be avoided completely. A nutrient present in chillies called Capsaicin. A study has showed that it inhibits the growth of H.pylori bacteria. Furthermore, it helps to lower the amount of acid produced by the stomach. This helps to restore the mucous membrane as acid is responsible for the damage to it. They also increase the blood supply to stomach. These factors have proved to heal ulcers
- Honey
Honey is rich is anti-oxidants and it has a lot of health benefits. Honey is used to speed up the process of healing of wounds. A review from 2016 has proved that money can fight against H. pylori bacteria. It contains sulforaphane, a compound that helps to kill H.pylori bacteria. A few studies have also showed that it reduces the acid content. Hence it cures ulcers.
- Plantain bananas
Plantains are green banana like fruits. They contain a lot of starch. It has been advised to eat plantains unripe because that’s when they work best. They contain leucocyanidin- a flavonoid. As mentioned earlier flavonoids are useful in ulcers. They increase the production of mucous in stomach. More mucous means that the lining of stomach can be stored. This can protect the stomach from enzymes. Hence the acidity and their effect of the muscles of stomach are reduced. This helps to prevent the symptoms caused by ulcers
- Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice that is used in every household in South Asia. An active ingredient in turmeric- curcumin contains medicinal properties. Apart from their benefits for the heart, they contain anti-ulcer properties. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces the inflammation in the guts caused by ulcers. It also increases the secretion of mucous and keeps the lining intact.
There are not many studies for turmeric in humans. However, once 25 particpants were given turmeric five times a day. After four weeks 48% of them had healed. After twelve weeks, 76% of them healed.
- Cabbage juice:
Back in time, before antibiotics were introduced. Cabbage used to be the treatment for ulcers. It is the most used ulcer treatment. Cabbage juice contains high content of vitamin C. Vitamin C is effective in curing ulcer. A study conducted in San Francisco VA Medical centre, proved that the people with higher content of Vitamin C had lesser chances of developing Ulcers. Furthermore, scientists believe that the amino acid glutamine is what give cabbage its properties of healing ulcers. This compound defends the mucous lining in the gut and increases blood supply to it. This not only cures ulcers but make the healing process faster.
Conclusion:
Basically, Ulcers are sores in stomach or intestine. It caused great pain and discomfort. They are potentially harmless if necessary precaution or natural remedies are used. However, if left untreated, it can be a problem.
The above mentioned home remedies are very effective. They may help to reduce the symptoms and risks or ulcer. Some of them may even be successful in curing ulcers. It’s important to be consistent when using these remedies. However, if you don’t see improvements don’t hesitate to seek medical help. Alcohol and spicy foods should not be consumed as they worsen the situation. Food should be chewed properly, stomach should not be left empty and one should eat slowly. These changes will make the recovery process fast. Professional medical advice should be considered when dealing with ulcers along with the remedies.