The parts of the body such as the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and duodenum are the common areas where ulcers mostly erupt. In such cases, they are known as peptic ulcers. Reports say that 5 million people in the United States suffer from this condition, at some point in their lives. Earlier it was assumed that stressful life or the wrong kind of diet contributed to the development of ulcers. However, with improvisations in medical research, doctors claim that it is some kind of bacterial infection or medicinal side effects which actually bring about the occurrence of ulcers.
Ulcers Causes and Symptoms
As mentioned earlier, contrary to the supposition not so long ago, ulcers are not caused by stress or spicy food, but they are a repercussion of an infection caused by the corkscrew-shaped bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Besides this microorganisms other causes include regular use of pain killers, smoking and alcohol abuse. Also, although stress is not a direct causes, it does contribute in aggravating the symptoms and heightening the severity of ulcers.
About the ulcer symptoms, they all relate to a burning pain that is felt from the navel up to the breastbone and the pain may last from a few minutes to several hours. This pain becomes worse when the stomach is empty at night. One more symptom which may be noticed is that this pain seems to subside by eating food or taking an acid-reducing medication. Also, the pain may disappear completely and reoccur after a few days or weeks.
Medical Treatment of Ulcer
Medical treatment aims at eliminating the pathogen and reduce the level of acid in the digestive system in order to relieve the symptoms and encourage healing. So in order to do this, doctors prescribe medications such as antibiotics, acid blockers and antacids. Proton pump inhibitors and cytoprotective agents are also included.
Home Remedies for Ulcer
One effective home remedy for ulcers is associated to the banana. This fruit comprises a certain compound which is known to fight ulcers. It coats the lining of the stomach and reduces the irritation of the ulcer. Including two bananas with a glass of milk is known to be beneficial in healing ulcers, when taken three to four times a day.
Get 4 - 5 leaves of the holy basil plant and chew them with water in the morning and evening, as well. Do this every morning and evening. This would not only hasten the healing process but would also reduce the foul breath. Also, if you massage your gum with coconut oil and honey, it does good as a treatment.
Dice a cabbage and boil it in water (500 ml). Let the water cool down and then you can take a sip of it twice daily. Even the juice of a raw cabbage is extremely beneficial.
Prepare some tea made from fenugreek seeds. The benefit with the seeds is that when the seeds are soaked they become mucilaginous. So once the tea makes its way in the body and passes through the stomach and intestines, it provides a protective shell over the site of ulcers.
Almond milk helps keep a check on the level of acid in the stomach and moreover, it also serves as a fine source of protein.
Goat's milk when consumed three times daily, provides great deal of help in healing ulcers. Better, if it is taken in as raw milk.
Make a natural ointment by mixing turmeric powder (a pinch) with glycerin (1 tsp) and apply it to the affected area. Alternatively, you may also prepare a solution hydrogen peroxide (2 oz.) , water (2 oz.), salt and baking soda (1 tsp each). Use this solution to rinse you mouth in the morning, and before going to bed to get rid of this ulcer which is mainly caused by infection of herpes zoster. However, take care not to swallow.
To conclude with one last tip, gargle with hot and cold water. It provides great relief from the irritation and pain from mouth ulcers.