Peptic ulcers may occur in the stomach--called a gastric ulcer--or in the small intestine--known as a duodenal ulcer. The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center states that in the U.S., there 500 thousand cases of new ulcers each year, and 16 percent are gastric ulcers. A gastric ulcer is a raw, eroded area in the stomach lining that produces symptoms of heartburn, nausea and gastrointestinal bleeding. Alternatively, ulcer symptoms may be vague. Natural and alternative medicine can provide treatment for gastric ulcers. Be aware that peptic ulcers can lead to dangerous complications, so consult a physician for proper diagnosis, a personalized treatment plan and advice on prevention.
Diet
Drs. Michael Murray and Peter Bongiorno, naturopathic physicians and contributors to the "Textbook of Natural Medicine," report that food allergy is a prime underlying cause of peptic ulcer. Food allergies vary by the individual, and testing is available though most licensed naturopathic physicians. A particularly allergenic food to avoid is milk. Drs. Murray and Bongiorno recommend a diet high in fiber and flavonoids and low in refined carbohydrates. Also, cabbage juice has been shown in studies to speed ulcer healing times.
Nutritional Supplementation
Vitamins A and E, as well as zinc, are involved with protecting the integrity of the stomach lining. Supplementation, then, may assist the body in building and maintaining its own inherent defense system against burning stomach acid. This approach is more in-tune with the body's natural functioning than the conventional approach of pharmaceutically diminishing the production of acid, as stomach acid is essential for digestion. Additionally, deglycyrrhizinated licorice--better known as DGL--helps gastrointestinal cells to regenerate, which is helpful after ulcer-induced injury. Also, it inhibits H. pylori, a bacteria found in many cases of peptic ulcer. DGL may be taken as chewable tablets before meals.
Botanical Medicine
Several botanicals demonstrate effectiveness or have historical use in treating peptic ulcers. The appropriate combination and dosage varies with the individual, so consult a health-care provider for personalized care. Commonly suggested herbs are licorice, rhubarb, plantain, ginger, artemisia and garlic. These botanicals work by diminishing gastrointestinal--GI--bleeding, stimulating repair of GI lining, enhancing protection of GI lining and inhibiting H. pylori.
Minimize Contributing Factors
An important aspect of ulcer treatment is to avoid the factors that caused the problem in the first place. The most common cause of gastric ulcers is the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Other contributors include tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. It is also widely believed that stress contributes to ulcer formation. Limiting all of these factors may help give the body the opportunity to repair its stomach lining.
References
- Medline Plus: Peptic Ulcer
- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical School: Gastric Ulcer
- "Textbook of Natural Medicine"; Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D., and Michael T. Murray, N.D.; 2006
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