Drink Water as much as you can
suggested by Rohit on Sunday, January 11, 2009
A peptic ulcer develops when the lining and tissue of the digestive system has been worn away or corroded by an excess of stomach acids and gastric juices. The mucous membrane lining wears down and this creates an erosion or hole in the lining or tissue that can cause considerable pain no matter what the size may be. Peptic ulcers can be formed in the stomach (gastric ulcers), duodenum or upper part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcers) or the esophagus (esophageal ulcer). One in ten people suffer from peptic ulcers in the country today and more worryingly almost 6,000 people die from complications that arise due to peptic ulcers. The cost of medications and treatments towards ulcers runs into billions of dollars every year.
Peptic ulcers should therefore be treated very seriously. Better awareness and obtaining medical attention promptly can help to control the condition effectively, significantly reducing the risk of complications or fatalities. Fortunately research and medical technology has led to a better understanding of why these types of ulcers occur and this has resulted in more effective methods to treat and cure peptic ulcers.
Peptic ulcer symptoms can run the gamut from mild discomfort to acute abdominal pain. Most bouts of pain occur a few hours after eating, or during the middle of the night when sleeping. Indigestion, acidity, and even hunger pangs are associated with the symptoms of peptic ulcers. Depending on the severity of the erosion or the size of the ulcer, patients may complain of chronic or sporadic episodes of pain and discomfort. Even after treating an ulcer, there is a tendency for the symptoms to reappear. In some cases, patients may not even be aware of the existence of an ulcer and experience no pain at all. Ulcers also tend to appear and disappear on their own accord and many times and patients may have periods of pain interspersed with periods of normalcy. In severe cases, bleeding and perforation of the ulcer may occur and may require immediate medical attention. General symptoms indicating the existence of a peptic ulcer include:
Severe ulcers can cause bleeding which manifests itself in the form of vomiting of blood or blood in the stools. If either of these symptoms are observed, get yourself to an emergency room immediately as you require immediate medical attention. In some cases, ulcers could lead to slow bleeding that is detected with symptoms such as fatigue, anemia, lethargy, tiredness and a pale pallor, resulting from the gradual but steady loss of blood.
If you suspect that you have an ulcer, consult with your doctor who will recommend either a barium upper GI x-ray or an EGD or an upper endoscopy. A blood test to check for anemia and a stool test may be necessary as well. In the worst-case scenario, a biopsy may be required to rule out the possibility of cancer.
The cause of peptic ulcers has always been attributed to an excessive buildup of stomach acids. For years now, the treatment of ulcers was based on this theory and while too much gastric acid is still a contributing factor, recent research shows other factors that may cause peptic ulcers as well.
Before you decide to try out any home remedies for peptic ulcers, do keep in mind that most home remedies are classified as alternative medicine as they have not been tested and their results are unverified. While some home remedies for stomach ulcers can help, either by facilitating recovery or providing relief from the symptoms, it should be pointed out that the results can vary greatly. Most remedies for ulcers in the stomach are based on balancing out the levels of gastric acids. While this will help with recovery it does not address the problem, particularly when the cause is bacterial infection. Make it a point to seek medical treatment and home remedies and home treatments can be used as complimentary treatments:
Patients suffering from peptic ulcers should change their diet to reduce excessive secretions of acids in the stomach, prevent irritation to the stomach lining and provide some rest to the digestive system so that it can heal properly. To this effect, an ideal diet for peptic ulcers should include:
Here are some tips and suggestions that could help in the treatment of peptic ulcers:
Drink Cayenne tea... Mix a little cayenne pepper with hot or cold water three times a day. It's important to swish the water in your mouth, this gives the stomach a fair warning of what's coming, and it also helps heal crevices in the mouth where bacteria thrive. Although seemingly contrary to ulcers, the cayenne actually soothes the ulcer, allowing it to heal. There is a lot of evidence out there for this, so don't dismiss it without researching it.
Have lots of cold milk with some added flavor. Avoid having spicy food and stick to light cereals along with curd daily.
Slippery elm bark capsules have proven to be very effective for consistently relieving the pain I'm experiencing from numerous stomach and intestinal ulcers. I take a dosage of 1 capsule 1 hour before meals and a dosage of 1 capsule 2 hours after meals, as well as a dosage of 1 capsule at bedtime. If I have pain at any other time, I will take another capsule, which brings relief every time. There are no known drug interactions with, or toxicity in Slippery Elm (inner) bark, and therefore it can be taken along with prescription medications, but ALWAYS check with your doctor first anyway if you do take other meds, just to be absolutely sure of your safety. The capsules contain dried and powdered Slippery elm (inner) bark, which when mixed with the water in the stomach that was swallowed to wash the capsule down, produces a thick coating of mucilage that coats the intestinal tract within approximately 15-30 minutes, giving the ulcers protection from food and acidity. The Slippery Elm's inner bark contains valuable nutrients, and has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antibiotic properties which help to heal the ulcers as well as relieve the pain. If preferred, the capsules can be opened, and the powdered contents mixed with milk or other ulcer compatible liquids to make a gruel, which is helpful for people who can't swallow capsules. Slippery Elm has been used for centuries for healing many ailments, and is one excellent remedy for ulcer pain.
Drink at least 6 to 8 glass of fresh water in a day.