When you have an ulcer, all you want to know is how to stop the discomfort, pain, nausea and taste in your mouth. How to cure a stomach ulcer was my biggest preoccupation. This list is of three natural remedies that soothed my stomach ulcers without realizing it. After taking over the counter cold and flu meds, I found myself over the flu but riddled with a stomach ulcer(s). Not sure how many I had, it felt like a million.
What does an ulcer feel like
The beginning was harrowing in the upper stomach between the ribs. The pain had me in tears more than once. The second phase was more manageable; the pain changed to pressure, almost like a balloon blown up in my stomach that pressed the upper part of the stomach. Nausea remained consistent throughout the experience. As time went on, nausea came in waves. I knew I was getting better. It was slow going, however. For a variety of reasons, I did not take antibiotics. In the beginning, I couldn't keep anything down, which I attribute more to the flu.
How to cure a stomach ulcer
Three things made me feel better. Honey, in a teaspoon four times a day. Plain sugar-free yogurt before I ate. Fruit. I craved these three things and, with a quick internet search, realized I was instinctively curing myself. Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a medical professional of any kind. I simply listened to my body.
This is what I learned:
What is an Ulcer?
According to Live Strong, ulcers are open sores in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. They develop mostly in the stomach, esophagus or duodenum. Ulcers form when the environments of these surfaces are so acidic that their mucosal linings slowly erode. A popular belief suggests that spicy foods and stress are responsible for ulcers. Scientific evidence points to high acidity acid and long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, and the bacteria, Helicobacter pylori.
What helped me with my stomach ulcer:
Honey
Honey is far from just being a sweetener; this ancient condiment bears several medicinal benefits. It has been used in curing several gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory disorders, weight loss, including stomach ulcers. It worked for me.
Honey has a cleansing action on wounds, stimulates tissue regeneration and reduces inflammation. Wounds of the abdominal wall and perineum are found to be responsive to honey therapy. (1 Honey)
Yogurt
Health care professionals are increasingly acknowledging the effectiveness of the bacterial cultures present in yogurt in addressing numerous stomach disorders. Yogurt and other fermented foods, could beneficially affect the normal gut flora.
In order for yogurt to achieve its probiotic effects, you must consume varieties that contain live, active cultures. Some yogurts are pasteurized, a process that kills bacteria and renders the beneficial effects of probiotics null. Read the labels on yogurt products to determine whether they contain live bacterial cultures. (2 Yogurt)
The good news is that yogurt, honey and berries make a pretty amazing snack.
Fruit
Apples, berries, watermelon and bananas were my friends. I instinctively knew they would sooth the discomfort.
I later learned that apples, strawberries and blueberries have Polyphenols. Polyphenols are powerful micronutrients that our body needs. Polyphenols are one of the largest secondary plant metabolites ubiquitously present in fruits and vegetables considered an integral part of the human diet. (3,Polyphenols)
A number of different types of berries are rich in polyphenols. These include popular and easily accessible berries like:
blackberries, with 260 mg polyphenols
strawberries, with 235 mg polyphenols
red raspberries, with 215 mg polyphenol
Fruits you can eat while treating ulcer include apple, peach, berries, pear, banana, melon and kiwi fruit. While it is preferred to take these fruits in their raw forms, you could also steam or juice them. I happen to have had some organic apple juice frozen that I picked up at Le Verger Hudson. I sipped on this over water. Water on an empty stomach caused further nausea, the apple juice did not.
Wondering how to keep your produce fresher longer?
