What is Peptic Ulcer
A peptic ulcer refers to an eroded lesion in the inner lining of the stomach and the adjoining intestinal tract called the duodenum. The ulcer located in the stomach is known as a gastric ulcer, and located in the duodenum is called a duodenal ulcer. Usually, both are grouped together and termed as peptic ulcer.
Peptic Ulcer Causes and Symptoms
TPeptic ulcer symptoms are sharp and severe pain and discomfort in the upper part of the abdomen. Gastric ulcer pain usually occurs an hour after meals and rarely at night. Duodenal ulcer pain usually occurs between meals when the stomach is empty. The pain is relieved by food, especially milk. As the disease progresses, there is distension of the stomach due to excessive flatulence, mental tension, insomnia, and gradual weakening of the body. Blood may also be detected in the stool.
A Peptic ulcer is the result of hyperacidity, which is caused by an increase in the hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This strong acid, secreted by the cells lining the stomach, erodes the inner lining of the stomach. Dietetic indiscretion such as overeating, taking of heavy meals or highly spiced foods, coffee, alcohol, and smoking are the main factors contributing to this condition. Other causes are the ingestion of certain drugs, food poisoning, certain infections, gout, emotional disturbances, stress, and nervous tension.
Home Remedies for Peptic Ulcer
Banana
Banana is one of the most effective home remedies fur the treatment of a peptic ulcer. This fruit is said to contain an unidentified compound, perhaps jokingly called vitamin U (against ulcers). 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 \\-ill 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.
Cabbage
Cabbage is regarded as another useful home remedy for a peptic ulcer: 250 gm should be boiled in 500 ml of water till it is reduced to half; this water should be allowed to cool, and taken twice daily. The juice extracted From raw cabbage is also a valuable medicine for a peptic ulcer. However, as this juice is very strong, it should be taken in combination with carrot juice, in quantities of 125 ml each.
Fenugreek Seeds
A tea made From fenugreek seeds is yet another useful remedy for peptic ulcers. The seeds, when moistened with water, are slightly mucilaginous. The tea helps in the healing of ulcers as the mild coating of mucilaginous material deposited by fenugreek, passes through the stomach and intestines, providing protective shell for the ulcers.
Drumstick
The leaves of the kalyana murangal tree, which is a variety of drumstick found in South India, have also proved helpful in the healing of ulcers. Ten grams of the leaves of this tree should be ground into a paste, mixed with half a cup of yogurt, and taken daily.
Vegetable Juices
The juices of raw vegetables, particularly carrot and cabbage, are beneficial in the treatment of peptic ulcers. Carrot juice may be taken either alone or in combination with spinach, or beet and cucumber. The formula proportions in case of the first combination are 300 ml of carrot juice and 200 ml of spinach juice; and in case of the second combination, 300 ml of carrot juice and 100 ml each of beet and cucumber juice to make 500 ml of juice.
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.
Goat’s Milk
Goat’s milk is also highly beneficial in the treatment of this disease. It actually helps to heal peptic ulcers. For better results, a glass of goat’s milk should be taken in a raw state, three times daily.
Mango Seeds
Mango seeds are an effective remedy for bleeding piles. The seeds should be collected during the mango season, dried in the shade, powdered, and kept stored for use as medicine. This powder should be given in doses of about one and a half to two grams with or without honey, twice daily.
Jambul Fruit
The jambul fruit is another effective remedy for bleeding piles. The fruit should be taken with salt every morning for two or three months during its season. The use of the fruit in this manner during every season will effect a complete care and save the user From bleeding piles for his entire life.
Radish
White radish is considered highly valuable in piles; 100 mg of grated radish mixed with a teaspoon of honey may be taken twice daily in treating this condition. This vegetable can also be taken in the form of juice mixed with a pinch of salt. It should be given in doses of 60 to 90 ml, morning and evening. White radish, well ground into a paste in milk, can also be applied over inflamed pile masses to relieve pain and swelling.
Turnip
The leaves of turnip have been found useful in this disease. The juice of these leaves should be extracted and 150 ml given to the patient. It is, however, necessary to take a proper diet of raw fruits and vegetables while taking this juice. For better results, 50 ml of the juice should be mixed with equal quantities of juices of watercress, spinach, and carrots.
Bitter Gourd
The juice of the fresh leaves of bitter gourd is also valuable in piles. Three teaspoons of the leaf juice, mixed with a glass of buttermilk, should be taken every morning for treating this condition. A paste of the roots of the bitter gourd plant can also be applied over piles with beneficial results.
Onion
Onions are valuable in bleeding piles. About thirty grams of this vegetable should be finely rubbed in water and sixty grams of sugar added to it. It should be taken twice daily by the patient It will bring relief within a few days. Onion is also useful in the treatment of dry piles. A crushed onion, skinned and roasted in aches, may be applied with beneficial results.
Rice
Rice has a very low fibre content and is, therefore, extremely soothing to the digestive system. A thick gruel of rice, mixed with a glass of buttermilk and a ripe banana, given twice a day, is a very nutritious diet for a patient with piles. Plain rice is not recommended as that may cause fermentation.
Wheat Grass
Wheat grass juice used as an enema helps detoxify the walls of the piles. The general procedure is to give an enema with lukewarm or neem water. After waiting for twenty minutes, 90 to 120 ml of the wheat grass juice enema is given. This should be retained for fifteen minutes.
Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are also valuable in piles. They can be taken in the form of a decoction by boiling twenty grams of seeds in 500 ml of water tin it is reduced by one-third, or as sweetmeats. Ground to paste with water, they can be given with butter for bleeding piles.
Chebulic Myroblan
The herb chebulic myroblan is a popular remedy for piles. It is very effective as a laxative and is highly astringent. The fruit should be roasted to a brown colour in cluster oil, and then powdered and stored. Half a teaspoon of this powder at bedtime will bring about normal bowel movements in the morning, and the astringent property of the fruit win heal the pile masses. A decoction of the herb prepared by boiling six to seven dry fruits in half a litre of water should be used for washing bleeding piles. The paste of the fruit mixed in a bland oil is good as an external application.
Coconut Water
It is extremely valuable for curing the peptic ulcer in a natural way.
Peptic Ulcer Diet
The diet of the patient suffering From a peptic ulcer should be so planned as to provide adequate nutrition, while affording rest to the disturbed organs, maintaining continuous neutralisation of the gastric acid, inhibiting the production of acid, and reducing mechanical and chemical irritation. Milk, cream, butter, fruits, fresh raw and boiled vegetables, natural foods, and natural vitamin supplements constitute the best diet for three or four weeks. The tiny seeds of the fruit possess an excellent quality of stimulating peristaltic movements of the intestines. This facilitates easy evacuation of faeces and keeps the alimentary canal clean. The pressure on the anus thus being relieved, the hemorrhoids also contract.
More Dietary Considerations
The treatment of the basic cause, namely, chronic constipation, is the only way to get rid of the trouble. To begin with, the entire digestive tract must be given a complete rest for a few days and the intestines thoroughly cleansed. For this purpose, the patient should remain on fruit diet for, at least, 3 days. Thereafter he may adopt a diet of natural foods aimed at securing soft stools.
Herbal Remedies for Peptic Ulcer
1. Amalaki Rasayan
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.
2. Vara Churna
Contains dry pulp fruit of 3 fruits. Chebulic myrobalan (As mentioned above, Indian Gooseberry pulp powder and Belleric myrobalan fruit). 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.
3. Gotukola Capsules
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.
4. Digestion Support
Digestion support capsules by Planet Ayurveda are wonderful combination of herbs to aid digestion, help in regulating the acid formation mechanisms in the stomach and duodenum. The ulcers get healed quickly within few days.
Dosage:- 2 twice daily, 1 hr. after meals with plain water.
Results of Using these Herbal Remedies
These herbal remedies helps in relieving heartburn, severe acidity and pain associated with Peptic Ulcer.
