5 Simple and Effective Home Remedies for Ulcers

Ulcers are a type of wound or sores that may develop in many parts of the body but are usually associated with the stomach. Gastric ulcers, or stomach ulcers, are the most commonly occurring ulcers, originating in the lining of the stomach. Gastric ulcers end up affecting a significant percentage of the population. These are a type of peptic ulcers, meaning they are linked with acid. Due to a large amount of acid being present in the stomach, there is a lot of damage associated with peptic ulcers. They are also quite painful. The most common cause of stomach ulcers is the bacteria Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori. Apart from bacteria, ulcers can also be caused by overuse of pain relievers. It is possible to treat stomach ulcers with medications and antibiotics that help reduce and block the stomach acid. Research has also shown that there are some natural home remedies also that can help in the management of stomach ulcers. Here are some simple and effective home remedies for ulcers that might help manage the symptoms of a stomach ulcer.

Home Remedies are:

Honey is known for having many health benefits and is helpful in many medical conditions. Honey is a powerful anti-oxidant, and some of the many health benefits associated with honey include a decreased risk of heart disease, stroke, and many types of cancer, and improved eye health as well. ⁽¹⁾

Honey is also an excellent home remedy for preventing the formation and boosting the healing of many kinds of wounds, including ulcers. ⁽²⁾ Experts believe that the antibacterial properties of honey help in fighting off the bacteria that cause ulcers, that is, H. pylori. ⁽³⁾

Furthermore, many animal studies have also indicated that honey might indeed have the ability to decrease the risk of developing ulcers in the first place, and also boost the healing time of existing ulcers. However, there is still a need to have human studies to prove this. ⁽⁴⁾

Garlic is another food that is rich in both antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Animal studies have shown that garlic extract helps speed up recovery and healing time of ulcers and also decreases the chances of developing stomach ulcers in the first place. ^{(5) (6)}

Furthermore, human, animal, and laboratory studies have all shown that garlic extracts help prevent the growth of H. pylori, the most common cause of stomach ulcers making it a useful home remedy for ulcers. ⁽⁷⁾

In a survey carried out by the Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS) in Iran found that having two cloves of raw garlic every day for at least three days helped significantly in lowering bacterial activity in the lining of the stomach in patients who were suffering from H. Pylori infection. ⁽⁸⁾

However, while many of the studies found positive results, not all of them were able to reproduce these effective results, and as a result, more studies are needed to arrive at stronger conclusions.

Turmeric is a famous South Asian spice that is not just used in many dishes, but it is very popular these days for its many health benefits. It is a vibrant yellow in color and the active ingredient present in turmeric, known as curcumin, is known to have several medicinal properties.

Some of the medicinal benefits of curcumin include an improved function of the blood vessels, lowered risk of heart disease and inflammation, stroke, and many more. ^{(9) (10)}

Curcumin also has high anti-ulcer potential that has recently been researched in animals. Curcumin seems to have significant therapeutic potential, especially when it comes to preventing damage caused by H. pylori infections. Curcumin is also helpful in increasing mucus secretion in the stomach, which helps protect the lining of the stomach against irritants. ⁽¹¹⁾

While there have been little studies on this that have been carried out in humans, there has been one study by Chitwan Medical College (P) Ltd. in India that gave 25 participants 600 mg of turmeric powder five times in a day for a period of twelve weeks. After four weeks, there was significant healing in their ulcers. 48 percent of all participants experienced healing in ulcers, and after twelve weeks, 76 percent of all the participants emerged ulcer-free. ⁽¹²⁾

Another study published in the journal Plant Sciences Research in 2011, participants who were diagnosed for H. pylori were given 500 mg of turmeric powder to have four times a day. The treatment protocol continued for four weeks, after which 63 percent of the participants were found to be ulcer-free. After a period of eight weeks, the percentage increased to 87 percent. ⁽¹³⁾

However, the drawback to these studies is that neither of them used any placebo treatment, making it challenging to understand whether the turmeric caused the healing of the ulcers or some other factors. This is why more research is still required.

Typically found in the Mediterranean region and in Asia, licorice is derived from the dried roots of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra. It is a popular herbal remedy that is used for treating many types of conditions.

Studies have indicated that licorice root can be a very useful home remedy in the prevention of ulcers and also have ulcer-fighting abilities. For example, licorice is known to stimulate the intestines and stomach to increase the production of mucus, which helps protect the lining of the stomach. This extra mucus is also known to speed up the healing process and also decrease pain stemming from ulcers. ⁽¹⁴⁾

A researching team from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Toho University in Japan ⁽¹⁵⁾ and other studies have reported that there are certain compounds found in licorice that helps prevent the growth of the H. pylori bacteria. However, these studies have been focusing on the use of these compounds in the form of licorice supplements only. ⁽¹⁶⁾

This is why it is still unclear as to just how much-dried licorice root a person would need to take to experience the same benefits observed in these studies.

The critical thing to keep in mind is that dried licorice root is not the same thing as licorice-flavored candy or sweets. You will not experience any benefits by taking licorice candy, and not to mention, they will only increase the amount of sugar you are having.

Cabbage is one of the most popular home and natural remedies for treating ulcers. In fact, doctors have been recommending it for decades for ulcers, even before there were antibiotics available for healing stomach ulcers.

Cabbage juice is loaded up on vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that has shown in many studies not just to prevent, but also treat infections caused by H. pylori. These infections are known to be the number one cause of stomach ulcers. ⁽¹⁷⁾

There have also been several studies done on animals that have shown the effectiveness of cabbage juice in treating and preventing many types of digestive ulcers, including the ones that affect the stomach. ⁽¹⁸⁾

In fact, in many early human studies, it has been observed that the daily consumption of fresh cabbage juice helps heal stomach ulcers more efficiently as compared to the conventional treatments that are prescribed for stomach ulcers.

Cabbage juice contains many compounds that prevent and heal stomach ulcers. It is also rich in vitamin C, which is another compound that is known to have protective properties.

Stomach ulcers are a relatively common medical condition, and they can cause a lot of pain and disrupt your life as well. The home remedies that are discussed here are known to not only prevent the development of stomach ulcers in the first place but also boost their healing. In some cases, these remedies have also shown to improve the effectiveness of other conventional treatment and lower the severity of the side effects associated with treatment.

However, before you begin any alternative treatment, you should seek advice from your doctor.

References

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