Natural Remedies for Stomach Ulcers
Also known as gastric ulcers, stomach ulcers are essentially lesions in the mucous lining of the stomach. They usually occur in men over 50, though women can suffer from them too. Many people look for suitable treatments and in this article are several natural home remedies that can help to treat stomach ulcers.
What do we need to know about stomach ulcers?
Ulcers may not show any significant symptoms, however they can cause digestive problems, like discomfort in the digestive tract when you eat or drink. Problems that stomach ulcers cause can include poor digestion, weight loss, vomiting, heartburn, pain after eating and in very serious cases, hemorrhages.
There are various causes of stomach ulcers:
- A bacterial infection: Also known as known Helicobacter pylori, this bacteria gets into the body via the food you eat.
- Eating ‘bad’ foods: consuming too many spicy foods, fats and sauces, or eating too much.
- A high level of gastric acid: many people who suffer from heartburn are at risk of developing ulcers
- Drinking alcohol or smoking every day.
- Ingesting certain pharmaceutical drugs: those, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and ibuprofen and cortisone.
- Hereditary: those with a family history of ulcers are more likely to suffer.
If you suffer from stomach ulcers, you should see a doctor immediately in order to correctly diagnose you. You can prevent stomach ulcers from occuring by improving your diet and lifestyle. It has been suggested that you should reduce your intake of coffee, tea, tobacco and alcohol as these can prevent would healing from occuring properly. Also, it is advised to avoid consumption of medication that could cause addiction and therefore stomach ulcers. You should also reduce your stress levels by aiming to relax as much as possible.
What you should and should not eat
If you suffer from stomach ulcers, or there is a possibility that you may suffer from them in the future then take into consideration these recommended foods:
- Dairy, particularly milk (though not if you are healing from an ulcer).
- Grilled meat, fish, and eggs.
- Grains, vegetables, and pasta mixed with vegetables.
- Vegetables, though its best consumed as a puree.
- Ripe, fresh, roasted, pureed fruits that are not acidic.
- Drinks like water and infusions.
- Oils, like olive, sunflower, soy and vegetable margarine.
Foods that should be limited or avoided are:
- Strong or very ripe cheeses.
- Fatty meats, fried or hard-boiled eggs.
- Baked breads, chocolate, biscuits, sweets, whole grains.
- Vegetables cooked with bacon.
- Vegetables, such as cabbage, cauliflower, onions, raw peppers and artichokes.
- Acidic fruits, raw and unripe fruits.
- Tea, coffee, carbonated or alcoholic drinks.
- Butter, cream and fat.
- Honey, baked goods and cakes, fried foods, spicy sauces, ice cream, concentrated broths and dried fruits.
Natural remedies for ulcers
As well as taking into consideration foods you should eat and avoid, also take note of these natural remedies for stomach ulcers:
- Mix together two beaten egg whites and two tablespoons of olive oil in a glass and drink several times per day.
- Consumer fresh celery juice every day, including the stalk and the leaves. Drink between 2 to 5 glasses.
- Consume green bananas every day, either baked or boiled as they help to restore a layer or protection around the stomach lining from gastric juices.
- Eat/drink wheat germ as this helps to undo damage from gastric juices.
- Peel and cut carrots, blend with a white cabbage leaf and a glass of water. Sip this between meals to aid digestion.
- Peel and cut a potato then slice and extract the seeds from 3 tomatoes. Wash a cabbage leaf and place these ingredients together in a blender. Add a glass of water and strain. Drink this twice a day to help with healthy digestion.
- Mix half an eggplant with a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of seaweed. Blend together with half a glass of water and drink.
- Boil a cup of water with one tablespoon of molasses and one tablespoon of chamomile for around 5 minutes. Leave to set, strain and serve. Drink a cup of this in the evening before eating dinner.
Photos courtesy of Vinod Velayudhan, Bob Walker, Victor, net_efekt, Tamara Smith.