Natural and Home Remedies for Ulcers
Natural and Home Remedies for Ulcers
Ulcers are sores that can develop in different parts of the body.
Gastric ulcers, or stomach ulcers, develop in the lining of the stomach. They are very common, affecting between 2.4–6.1% of the population.
Various factors that disrupt the balance your stomach’s environment can cause them. The most common is an infection caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
Other common causes include stress, smoking, excess alcohol consumption and the overuse of anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
Conventional anti-ulcer treatment typically relies on medications that can cause negative side effects like headaches and diarrhea.
For this reason, interest in alternative remedies has steadily risen and been fueled by both medical professionals and individuals with ulcers alike.
This article lists 9 scientifically backed natural ulcer remedies.
1. Cabbage Juice
Cabbage is a popular natural ulcer remedy. Doctors reportedly used it decades before antibiotics were available to help heal stomach ulcers.
It’s rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant shown to help prevent and treat H. pylori infections. These infections are the most common cause of stomach ulcers.
In fact, several animal studies show that cabbage juice is effective at treating and preventing a wide range of digestive ulcers, including those affecting the stomach.
In humans, early studies observed that daily consumption of fresh cabbage juice appeared to help heal stomach ulcers more effectively than the conventional treatment used at the time.
In one study, 13 participants suffering from stomach and upper digestive tract ulcers were given around one quart (946 ml) of fresh cabbage juice throughout the day.
On average, these participants’ ulcers healed after 7–10 days of treatment. This is 3.5 to 6 times faster than the average healing time reported in previous studies in those who followed a conventional treatment.
In another study, the same quantity of fresh cabbage juice was given to 100 participants with stomach ulcers, most of whom had previously received conventional treatment with no success. 81% were symptom-free within a week.
2. Honey
Honey is an antioxidant-rich food linked to a variety of health benefits. These include improved eye health and a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and even certain types of cancer.
Honey also appears to prevent the formation and promote the healing of many wounds, including ulcers.
Moreover, scientists believe that honey’s antibacterial properties can help fight H. pylori, one of the most common causes of stomach ulcers.
3. Garlic
Garlic is another food with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
Animal studies observe that garlic extracts may speed up recovery from ulcers and even reduce the likelihood of them developing in the first place.
What’s more, lab, animal and human studies all report that garlic extracts may help prevent H. pylori growth — one of the most common causes of ulcers.
In a recent study, eating two cloves of raw garlic per day for three days helped significantly reduce bacterial activity in the stomach lining of patients suffering from H. Pylori infection.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric is a South Asian spice used in many Indian dishes. It’s easily recognizable by its rich yellow color.
Curcumin, turmeric’s active ingredient, has been attributed to medicinal properties.
These range from improved blood vessel function to reduced inflammation and heart disease risk.
What’s more, curcumin’s anti-ulcer potential has recently been studied in animals.
It appears to have immense therapeutic potential, especially in preventing damage caused by H. pylori infections. It may also help increase mucus secretion, effectively protecting the stomach’s lining against irritants.
Limited studies have been done in humans. One study gave 25 participants 600 mg of turmeric five times per day.
Four weeks later, ulcers had healed in 48% of participants. After twelve weeks, 76% of participants were ulcer-free.
In another, individuals who tested positive for H. pylori were given 500 mg of turmeric four times per day.
After four weeks of treatment, 63% of participants were ulcer-free. After eight weeks, this amount increased to 87%.
5. Probiotics
Probiotics are live micro-organisms that offer an array of health effects.
Their benefits range from improving the health of your mind to the health of your gut, including its ability to prevent and fight ulcers.
Although the way this works is still being investigated, probiotics seem to stimulate the production of mucus, which protects the stomach lining by coating it.
They may also promote the formation of new blood vessels, which eases transport of healing compounds to the site of the ulcer and speeds up the healing process.
Interestingly, probiotics may play a direct role in preventing H. pylori infections.
Moreover, these beneficial bacteria appear to enhance conventional treatment efficiency by around 150%, all while reducing diarrhea and other antibiotic-related side effects by up to 47%.
The dose required for maximum benefits is still being researched. That said, most of the studies above report benefits after taking 200 million to 2 billion colony-forming units (CFU) for 2–16 weeks.
Probiotic-rich foods tend to provide less colony-forming units per portion than supplements, but they are worth adding to your diet nonetheless.
Good sources include pickled vegetables, Yoghurt, tempeh, miso, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha.
Foods to Avoid
Just like some foods can help prevent ulcers from forming or help them heal faster, some have the exact opposite effect.
Those trying to heal their stomach ulcers or avoid developing them should consider minimizing their intake of the following foods:
- Milk: Although once recommended to help reduce stomach acidity and relieve pain, new research shows milk increases the secretion of stomach acid and should be avoided by those with ulcers.
- Alcohol: Alcohol consumption can cause damage to the stomach and digestive tract, increasing the likelihood of ulcers.
58 - Coffee and soft drinks: Coffee and soft drinks, even if they’re decaf, can increase production of stomach acid, which can irritate the stomach lining.
- Spicy and fatty foods: Extremely spicy or fatty foods can create feelings of irritation in some people. Chili peppers are an exception, based on personal tolerance.
In addition to avoiding the foods above, consuming small meals at regular times, snacking throughout the day, eating slowly and chewing your food well can help reduce pain and promote healing.
Moreover, avoiding smoking and reducing stress are two additional useful anti-ulcer strategies.
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