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Suffering from a burning sensation in your abdomen especially after you’ve eaten? Or perhaps you’re experiencing acid reflux and nausea? It could be that you’re suffering from a stomach ulcer.
Stomach ulcer is generally accompanied by immense excruciating pain that can strike at any time; even in the middle of the night. This distractive pain isn’t only able to affect your academics and work, but it can also adversely affect your relationships. Apart from stomach ache, you might also experience weight loss, bloating, and vomiting; all of which makes the person continuously irritated and cranky.
You’ll be surprised to know how common stomach ulcers are in Canadians, not to mention the global population. The good news is that stomach ulcers can be treated and you’ll be back to feeling good about yourself in no time if you familiarize yourself with natural remedies and their effectives.
You’ll no longer have sleepless, painful nights. Instead, you’ll be back in good health, that too without having to spend a lot of money if you follow the natural remedies! With some common ingredients that we come across every day, you can bid farewell to your stomach ulcer for good.
H. Pylori - The Culprit!
The primary cause of stomach ulcer is a bacterium named Helicobacter Pylori, which is more commonly known as H. Pylori. If the ulcer is left untreated, it can drastically increase the chances of developing stomach cancer.
Moreover, untreated ulcers can also lead to deadly digestive conditions like leaky gut and inflammation, both of which lead to the development of anemia.
The Statistics Don’t Lie – Be Weary
According to the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation, 1.3 million Canadians suffer from gastric ulcers alone, with an additional 850,000 people suffering from duodenal ulcers. Furthermore, data reveals that one out of every eight Canadians will develop an ulcer during their lifetime, and 1 in 20 of those will suffer from a fatal bleeding ulcer.
Research data shows that while men are more likely to develop ulcers, women are more likely to die from ulcer-related complications, with 26.5 deaths reported per 100,000 individuals. The mortality rate for men has been recorded to be 24.3 per 100,000.
Also, ulcers have been observed to be deadlier for both men and women as they grow older, with individuals aged 80 or older more likely to die. The lowest risk of mortality for men is between ages 25 and 29, and between 30 and 34 for women.
Turning to Nature is Always the Best Way
With Helicobacter Pylori being resistant to a number of antibiotics, many people have successfully been able to get rid of the bacteria with the help of a mixture of some natural treatments and prescription medications.
A significant amount of research has been conducted, and all of them have come to the same conclusion that natural home remedies not only help in treating stomach ulcers but also decrease the risk of such an ailment.
Mentioned below are 5 scientifically proven remedies that are effective against stomach ulcers:
1. Drinking Cabbage Juice
Cabbage is one of the most popular natural remedies for treating ulcers. In fact, doctors used to rely on cabbage juice for years before antibiotics had been made available for stomach ulcers.
Cabbage juice is rich in vitamin C and vitamin U which are antioxidants that help to prevent, as well as treat infections caused by H. Pylori. A number animal studies have shown that cabbage juice can’t only help prevent but also treat a range of digestive ulcers including stomach ulcers.
A study using 42 male rats showed that cabbage juice showed better results against peptic ulcer when compared to conventional medication. Furthermore, similar results were observed in human studies, with regular consumption of cabbage juice helping to heal stomach ulcers more efficiently than some of the conventional methods.
In a particular study, 13 participants that were suffering from the digestive tract and stomach ulcers were given approximately 950 ml of cabbage juice throughout the whole day. At an average, the ulcers of the treatment healed within 10 days of treatment. This rate is around 6 times faster than the healing time taken by those who followed conventional treatment methods. In another case, 950 ml of cabbage juice was given to 100 patients of stomach ulcers. Just within one week, 81% of them were free from all symptoms!
2. The Power of Garlic
Garlic is also well known for its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Studies in animals have shown that garlic extracts can speed up the recovery from stomach ulcers. Moreover, garlic extracts can also reduce the chances of developing the ulcer in the first place!
Lab research, as well as human studies and animal studies, prove that extracts from garlic can prevent the growth of H. pylori, which is the primary cause of stomach ulcers.
According to a recent study, eating only two cloves of raw garlic on a daily basis just for three days can help to significantly reduce the bacterial activity that occurs in the stomach lining of those suffering from H. Pylori infection.
Adding garlic cloves to your salads or daily meals is a good way for you to consume it and keep yourself safe from stomach ulcers. You can also add it to certain smoothies if that’s something you’re interested in.
3. Adding Turmeric
This is a South Asian spice which is commonly used in Indian dishes. It can be easily distinguished due to the rich yellow color it has. One active ingredient present in turmeric is curcumin, which has been known to have numerous medicinal properties. Curcumin can not only improve blood vessel inflammation but can also reduce inflammation as well as lower the risk of developing a heart disease.
Studies have been conducted in animals to find the anti-ulcer potential of curcumin. The study concluded that curcumin has immense therapeutic potential and can prevent the damage caused by infections of H. pylori. Moreover, it can also help to increase the mucus secretion which can protect the lining of the stomach against various irritants.
In one human study, 25 participants were given 600 mg of turmeric 5 times in a day. After a month, the ulcer had completely healed in 48% of the participants. Then, after twelve weeks, 76% of the participants were free from the ulcer.
Another study observed the effects of curcumin against H. pylori mediated gastric carcinogenesis. This natural compound’s showed characteristics of being an effective chemo preventive agent as well play a role in treating stomach ulcers.
4. Helping through Licorice
Licorice, apart from killing the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, also aids in repairing the damage that has been done to the intestines, stomach, and esophagus because of the overproduction of stomach acid.
According to a study conducted at Toho University in Japan, licorice extract is the most useful against H. pylori infections that are resistant to clarithromycin and amoxicillin. Similarly, German researchers also came to the conclusion that extract from licorice was highly effective against various strains of H. pylori that were resistant to clarithromycin.
Research has also shown oral administration of licorice to be effective against stomach ulcers as it’s able to increase the gastric mucosal defensive factors, further supporting licorice’s ability to act as the basis of an alternative therapeutic agent that can be useful against H. pylori infections.
5. Opting for Probiotics
Probiotics are basically live organisms like bacteria and yeast that you can consume in various forms such as fermented vegetables and yogurts. They can also be taken as a food supplement that promotes healthy digestion and good health. Probiotics have been deemed as effective and safe for controlling the H. pylori infection in children.
A study conducted in China at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University concluded that probiotics help to improve the rate of eradication of H. pylori in those children that were going through traditional triple antibiotic therapy. The study also found that probiotics were also helpful against the side effects of treatments like diarrhea.
Similarly, researchers in China at the Kaohsiung Municipal University Hospital found that Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus found in yogurt has the ability to inhibit the growth of infections caused by H. pylori in humans. A 2017 study showed probiotics to be effective against H. pylori that showed antibiotic resistance.
Wrapping it Up
If you’re someone who is suffering from a stomach ulcer, know someone who is, or want to prevent it from occurring, you can make use of the 5 scientifically proven remedies for treating stomach ulcer that’ve been discussed above.
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Arslan Butt currently works for CanadianPharmacyWorld.com, has a passion for keeping up-to-date regarding the latest health and lifestyle trends. He likes going on long walks, trying out new healthy eating regimes, and working out.
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