Home Remedy for Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers are raw spots inside the lining of the stomach that are commonly caused by the bacterium H. pylori. They can be very painful when aggravated by the stomach acid used in digestion. Home remedies can ease the pain associated with stomach ulcers and help you manage your ulcers to live a healthier lifestyle.
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What You Eat
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Much of the pain from stomach ulcers is directly related to digestion. Certain types of foods should be avoided because they increase the production of stomach acid, which aggravates the ulcer.
Spicy foods are often a culprit in aggravating stomach ulcers, so talk to you doctor or nutritionist about cutting down on or eliminating spicy foods from your diet. Nutritionists also recommend avoiding fried foods or foods that are high in saturated fats because more stomach acid is required to break down and digest these foods.
How You Eat
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To cut down on pain associated with ulcers, it is important that you change the way you eat your meals. Because it is tougher to digest larger meals, nutritionists recommend that you eat smaller meals more frequently. Instead of three large meals per day, try five or six smaller meals. Nutritionists say it is better to chew and eat slowly, so that you are able to help your body digest without overworking it.
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Use Antacids
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Antacid use (Tums, Rolaids) is helpful for stomach ulcers and should be used after each meal to prevent painful symptoms from occurring. If you have trouble sleeping as a result of your ulcers, you might try a dose of antacid before bedtime.
Things to Avoid
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According to the Doctors Book of Home Remedies, a smoker is twice as likely to suffer from ulcers as a non-smoker. The ulcer also takes longer to heal for a smoker than it does for a non-smoker. Over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen (which are NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that can cause the stomach lining to break down) should be avoided. Opt for non-NSAID pain relief medication such as Tylenol instead.
Stress Relief Through Relaxation Techniques
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Deep breathing, meditation and listening to soothing music, such as classical or New Age recordings, can reduce your stress level. Medical studies show that stress is a contributing factor to the production of stomach acid, which will worsen the pain of ulcers.
Moderate exercise increases mood-enhancing endorphins in the bloodstream, which create a calming effect. This means regular trips to the gym or a daily walk of 20 minutes can improve your mood, cut down on your stress and lower the level of stomach acid produced by your digestive system.
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