subject: Stomach Ulcers And Natural Cures [print this page] There are two main types of stomach ulcerThere are two main types of stomach ulcer. A peptic ulcer is found in the stomach wall and a duodenal ulcer is found in the wall of the duodenum, the exit from the stomach into the upper intestine. Ulcers like these have two principal causes. Firstly, infection by a bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori). The second most common cause is erosion caused by the ingestion of certain drugs, e.g. aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac or naproxen, which are taken for arthritis, rheumatism, backache or period pain.
Symptoms of an ulcer include stomach pain, back pain, nausea and vomiting, the presence of blood in vomit, or vomit with the appearance of coffee grounds, dark or black stools, weight loss, irritability and headache. Not all stomach pain is caused by an ulcer, but early diagnosis is of paramount importance in dealing with this ailment. Your doctor will take blood samples, to detect antibodies to H. Pylori, a breath test for a similar outcome, and will also suggest a gastroscopy ( or upper GI endoscopy) where a mini camera is swallowed, under light anaesthetic, to examine you internals, and perhaps a small biopsy from the affected area. This procedure is not as invasive as it sounds, and the patient is able to resume normal life shortly after.
When diagnosis is confirmed, the most important factors are to give up smoking, and restrict consumption of alcohol. You will be prescribed antibiotics, a course of which may consist of, perhaps, clarythromycin, plus metronizadole or amoxicillin. You may also be given a proton pump inhibitor such as zoton (lansoprazol) or ranitidine, which will reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. These have proved to be most effective in reducing the ulcer, and the symptoms as the stomach has a chance to heal without an excess of acid to deal with. However, there will be restrictions placed on the foodstuffs that you will be able to digest, and these will help over the short term. Many patients report relapses, and a return of the ulcer. The other problem with these medications is that they will interfere with the normal digestive process, and can interfere with other vital body functions when used over the long term. This can lead to other diseases, which the body has a harder time to recover from as we age.
There are alternative therapies which will prevent the return of the ulcer. The big advantage of these is the cost, which is considerably less than the cost of medicines and prescription drugs. Many of these are time-honoured remedies which have been all but forgotten, and some are as a modern as today, with proven sources and medical approval. The next factor is availability, as many of these therapies can be resourced from your supermarket, or health food store, or even found in your own kitchen. A great starter is apple and raw cabbage! Both of these have compounds which are believed to have remarkable restorative effects on the digestive system.
