THE primary objective of any herbal and natural therapy for peptic ulcer is to first of all reduce the irritating effects of the excess stomach (gastric) acid on the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal walls, to soothe and heal the ulcerated surfaces, to treat any possible infections (Helicobacter pylori) and to prevent complications and a relapse.With appropriate and adequate treatment regimen, most peptic ulcers will be healed within 6 - 8 weeks. However, the condition may relapse, especially if the causative organism(s) and stressful life-styles are not sufficiently addressed.There are many simple home remedies which when combined with good eating habits and wholesome life-styles, will help immensely in preventing and healing peptic ulcer and the complications that may result due to the prolonged irritation of the stomach linings.To reduce the excessive gastric acid, patients with peptic ulcer should avoid or cut down all foods that can cause hyperacidity such as:All white flour products, refined carbohydrates, white sugar, artificial sweeteners, fizzy and carbonated drinks, oily food, animal fat and red meat (beef), eggs, strong spices foods, soda, coffee, tea, strong alcohols, cigarette smoking and medications like aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.The following foods are recommended:Plenty of fresh dark green, leafy vegetables and tree-ripen fruits, especially when they are in their due seasons.Wheat, rice, corn, millet, beans, yam, plantain, cassava, seafood like fish, stockfish, shrimps, crabs and snails.Birds: chicken, turkey, guinea fowls, etc. These foods are high in fibers, which slow down the movement of food and gastric juice to the intestine. A delayed gastric emptying time helps patients with duodenal ulcers.Ulcer patients are usually advised to:Drink up to 6-8 glasses of plain water daily.Drink 2 spoons of fresh palm oil very early in the morning on empty stomach to help soothe the discomfort of peptic ulcer.Exercise at least 20-30 minutes daily.-Drink a glass of any of the followings juices twice or thrice daily:- Carrot and Beet root juice.- Carrot and Potato juice.- Cucumber juice.- Cabbage juice.- Pineapple and Pawpaw juices.- Diluted warm lemon juice sweetened with honey. Lemon juice is a natural antacid.Taking a teaspoon of charcoal powder mixed with a glass of warm water or milk daily will help in neutralizing excessive gastric secretion and reduce the pain or discomfort of peptic ulcers.Herbal Therapies for Peptic Ulcer:A wide range of herbs are available in herbal medicines that are useful in the treatment of peptic ulcers. These herbs include:Aloe vera gel which relieves pain and speed up ulcer healing. Two spoonfuls of Fresh Aloe vera gel is usually taken orally 3times a daily.A teacup of Ginger tea is taken twice daily as a natural antacid. Studies have shown that Ginger contains 11 compounds with anti-ulcer activity.Hibiscus flower (Hibiscus rosa ' sinensis )Chickweed (Stellaria media)Fleabane (Conyza canadensis)Marigold (Calendula officinalis)Balsam pear (Momordica charantia)Vervain ( Stachytarpheta jamaicensis )Most natural medicine practitioners will in addition to the above mention herbs, add those that have anti-microbial activities especially if the peptic ulcer is suspected to be due to Helicobacter pylori infections. Such herbs include:Cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutenses):Garlic (Allium sativum) which contains anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities.Other herbs that have been found very useful in the treatment peptic ulcers are:Goldenseal Root powder,ChamomileMarshmallow rootSlippery elm,AlfalfaSageRed raspberryMyrrhIf the peptic ulcer is stress related, other herbs that soothe nerve e.g. Rose flower petals, Mistletoe, Catnip, Passion flower, Basil and St. John's wort are added in together any of the above mentioned herbs.Treating Peptic Ulcer with Cayenne PepperPeptic ulcer patients are usually advised not to take pepper or cayenne with their foods, because, the capsaicin content of pepper which may initially irritates the ulcer especially, when the pepper is cooked with food. Even when this happens, eating the food cooked with cayenne pepper has never been known to worsen any case of peptic ulcers.For therapeutic purposes, however, cayenne pepper should not be boiled or cooked, because the healing properties may change in the process. It has been rediscovered that cayenne pepper is one of most effective agents available in nature for the treatment of many problems associated with the entire gastrointestinal tract including peptic ulcers.In the treatment of peptic ulcers, a patient may begin with the oral ingestion of a glass of milk or diluted lemon juice, paw-paw juice or fresh potato and carrot juice into whichtoa teaspoon of the pepper has stirred into. Also, the cayenne pepper could be sprinkled on any cooked food. The dosage may be increased gradually day-by-day until the desired result is achieved.Helicobacter pylori are microorganisms, which has been implicated as a causative agent in some cases of peptic ulcers. Apart from having healing and protective functions along the entire digestive tract, cayenne with its active ingredient also possess a very high anti-microbial effects against any potentially harmful bacteria (including the so-called helicobacter pylori), found along the tract.Expectedly, the initial reaction will be that of stimulating or that of irritation that causes pain ' just like when iodine is applied first on a fresh open wound. With subsequent intake of the cayenne for a few days, the initial pain gradually decreases and finally stops as the healing of the ulcers commences. Except in exceptionally severe cases, the peptic ulcers usually heal without relapsing later.Mobile phone no: 08033065263,E-mail: ihesie84@yahoo.com.
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