One in ten people are likely to develop an ulcer at some time in their lives. You’re most susceptible if you suffer from stress or exhaustion, work day and night shifts, are exposed to noise from industrial jobs or traffic sounds, have type O blood, or have a history of ulcers in your family.
Type A personalities are likely candidates for ulcers. If you drink alcohol, smoke, use lots of aspirin (irritating to the stomach), consume rich foods, and are prone to stomach and intestinal infections, you are also a likely candidate.
Foods that are easy to digest because they tend to be nonallergenic and soothing include apricots, asparagus, avocadoes, bananas, beets, carrots, celery, fennel, fish, green leafy vegetables, kefir, millet, rice, sweet potatoes, wild rice, and yogurt. Eating a small amount of organic orange or grapefruit peel, which are both high in bitter compounds, will stimulate natural digestive secretions.
There are two main types of ulcers: Gastric ulcers make up about 20 percent of cases and occur in the upper stomach and its lining. Peptic ulcers are more common, less dangerous, and may affect the esophagus, duodenum, lower stomach, or small intestine. In general, food makes a gastric ulcer worse, whereas eating brings temporary relief to a peptic ulcer.
The bacteria Helicobacter pylori may also be a contributing factor. Symptoms of ulcers include gnawing pain that reoccurs day after day, nausea, retching, and black stools, which may indicate the ulcer is bleeding. In any case, ulcers are a wake-up call that something in our lifestyle must change! Here’s what to do.
SUPPLEMENTS THAT HEAL ULCERS
A number of vitamins can help heal an ulcer:
• Vitamin A (10,000 IU) daily helps to strengthen the mucous membranes, including that of the stomach and intestinal tract.
• Vitamin C (500 mg daily) in a buffered form (often with calcium) that makes the C less acidic helps to promote wound healing and reduce inflammation. When it also contains bioflavonoids, it can strengthen capillaries so they are less likely to ulcerate.
• Vitamin E (400 IU) daily helps promote healing and prevents scar tissue.
• Calcium (1,000 mg) and magnesium (500 mg) daily nourish the nervous system, helping one to be less likely to develop ulcers due to stress.
• Zinc (15 mg) daily speeds up healing time and inhibits infection.
• Essential fatty acids such as in fish oils can reduce ulcer inflammation and inhibit H. Pylori. Take 1 capsule three times daily.
• Probiotics can inhibit the growth of H. Pylori and promote beneficial intestinal flora. Take one capsule three times daily.
WHEN TO SEE YOUR M.D.
In cases of stomachache, get medical attention if pain is severe, is localized in one area, increases, is worse after eating, or if there is blood in the stool (other than slight streaks), there has been a recent abdominal injury, or feces are continuously black.
AROMATHERAPY FOR ULCERS
Add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil to 4 ounces (120 ml) of olive oil or coconut oil and gently massage over the abdominal region. Oils that are beneficial for ulcers include chamomile, coriander, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, lemon, marjoram, neroli, rose, and ylang-ylang. The aromas are calming and uplifting, and the massage is nurturing.
Take a relaxing warm bath to which a few drops of these essential oils have been added. Enjoy the beneficial fragrances and when done bathing and imagine all your tensions going down the drain.
Thrifty Cures!
Look to your spice rack to ease indigestion. Use fennel or anise seed, ginger, caraway, dill, spearmint, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, and cumin liberally in your cuisine to prevent digestive distress. These spices all contain essential oils that increase circulation to the digestive tract. They can even be made into a tea!
Herbs that heal ulcers
Best foods for ulcers
This Stomach Ulcer Treatment article is taken from :
The Country Almanac of Home Remedies - Brigitte Mars
