Cabbage has been found to especially helpful in curing ulcers. Research done at San Quentin prison and published in the medical journal, California Medicine in 1949 showed that 92 percent of patients with ulcers who ate cabbage were cured in 3 weeks. In fact, there is a vitamin present in cabbage known as vitamin U, named after its ability to help ulcers. Find ways to include it in your diet 3 or 4 times a week.
Other foods that soothe ulcers include avocados, barley, buckwheat, chia seeds, oatmeal, cream of brown rice cereal, sweet potatoes, Irish moss, kudzu, tapioca pudding, bok choy, green leafy vegetables, blended carrots, okra, sea vegetables, turnips, apples, bananas, plantains, persimmons, yogurt, and fresh ground flax seeds.
Thrifty Cures!
Castor oil compresses applied over the abdominal region where the ulcer occurs can bring relief. (See page 18 for directions on how to make a compress.)
It is wise to eat small, frequent meals and avoid having the stomach either too full or empty. Be sure to chew food well to allow it to mix with digestive juices. This will help protect intestinal linings from erosion.
Drinking water between meals rather than with meals also improves digestion as this avoids diluting digestive secretions.
Skip This!
To heal an ulcer, it is wise to avoid coffee (even decaf), black tea, and cola drinks, which stimulate stomach acid production. Fried foods, sugar, acidic fruits like citrus, tomatoes, vinegar, alcohol, and carbonated drinks are all best eliminated. Avoid hot spicy foods if they bother you.
It was once believed that milk helped neutralize stomach acidity, yet it has been found that milk actually stimulates acid production. If you do consume dairy products, those of a cultured variety are the easiest to tolerate. Studies show that those who don’t smoke or who quit smoking, heal faster. Aspirin can have a damaging effect on the stomach lining.
Cures from Grandma’s Kitchen
Take 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of aloe vera juice 4 times a day before meals and bedtime to help restrict gastric juices and heal an ulcer. A teaspoon (5 ml) of olive oil taken with each meal helps to soothe the irritated mucosa. Or take 1 teaspoon (5 g) of umeboshi plum extract in 1 cup (235 ml) of hot water and sip slowly.
WHEN TO SEE YOUR M.D.
Bleeding ulcers occur when the ulcer corrodes a blood vessel. Excess bleeding can cause anemia, lower blood pressure, and leave you feeling in a weakened state. If you experience blood in the stool or the vomit or have severe abdominal pain, see a competent health professional.
KEEP IN MIND
Focusing on breathing more deeply and slowly will allow the life force to flow more evenly through your body. Acupuncture, hypnosis, and guided imagery have all provided relief to people who suffer from ulcers.
Yoga exercises also help to relax the mind and body. In a study of 40 ulcer patients who took up yoga, 90 percent of them claimed benefit.
It may take 2 to 6 weeks to improve an ulcer, though the symptoms may be relieved in a few days. Initially, bed rest, even for a couple of weeks, may be helpful.
Having an ulcer is an opportunity to find ways to nurture yourself, de-stress your lifestyle, and make the changes necessary for a healthier lifestyle! It Be sure to look at “what’s eating you” from the inside.
This Best foods for ulcers article is taken from :
The Country Almanac of Home Remedies - Brigitte Mars
