Ulcers
An ulcer is an open sore caused by infection, poor circulation, or disease (people with diabetes often develop ulcers on their lower extremities). Within the digestive system, ulcers can occur in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine; other ulcers can appear in the colon. Ulcers in the GI tract are generally known as peptic ulcers (peptin is an enzyme produced in the stomach).
While the classic image of someone with an ulcer is a red-faced, stressed-out, middle-aged man eating a spicy meal and washing it down with a stiff drink, scientists now know that ulcers aren't caused by stress, foods, or alcohol. Ulcers can strike anyone — about one in ten people will develop one at some point — and are almost always caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which thrive in a highly acidic environment (as many as 80 percent of peptic ulcers are caused by H. pylori infection).
The GI system's natural defenses include microbes, known as gut flora, which can get a boost from probiotics (things that contain beneficial bacteria) or prebiotics (things that foster their growth). Many plants — including almonds (Prunus dulcis), garlic (Allium sativum), oats (Avena sativa), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) — contain prebiotics, which also might help prevent infections (including foodborne illness), ulcers, and cancer.
Symptoms of a peptic ulcer include abdominal pain (a gnawing or burning pain that comes on two or three hours after a meal or in the middle of the night) and bloating. Having a history of heartburn and GERD makes you more susceptible, as does taking certain pharmaceuticals, including NSAIDs and glucorticoids, which are steroids used to treat inflammation.
Treatment Options
If you've got a peptic ulcer, see your doctor right away. Left untreated, ulcers can cause potentially life-threatening internal bleeding. Conventional medicine generally treats peptic ulcers with antibiotics to kill the H. pylori infection (if it's present) and suppress stomach acid production. The drugs used to accomplish that are acid blockers and PPIs (see above).
Herbal remedies, which can be used in conjunction with conventional treatment, include these:
• Aloe (Aloe vera) |
Studies show that oral doses of aloe gel kill ulcer-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation, and promote healing of GI tissues. |
• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) |
This herb is famous for its soothing effects on the digestive tract. But it also has a tough side: Studies show it's lethal against ulcer-causing H. Pylori bacteria. |
• Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) |
This Ayurvedic herb is valued for its wound-healing abilities. Extracts have been shown effective in treating peptic ulcers and helping to protect the stomach and GI tissues against them. |
• Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) |
Marshmallow leaves are a traditional European and Asian remedy for all sorts of GI inflammation, including peptic ulcers. Marshmallow contains polysaccharides, which form a gelatinous layer that helps promote healing. |
• Neem (Azadirachta indica) |
This is a classic digestive and immunity-enhancing herb in Ayurvedic medicine, and modern research shows it can inhibit acid production and promote ulcer healing in the stomach. |
Because of their complex chemical structure, many herbs used traditionally to treat digestive and gastrointestinal problems actually address several problems at once. For example, licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a soothing demulcent, pain-killing analgesic, and antibacterial that can relieve the pain of ulcers, speed their healing, and prevent their return.
