Have you been suffering from abdominal pain that gets more severe when you are on an empty stomach? It is likely that you have contracted a peptic ulcer. A peptic ulcer even referred to as peptic ulcer disease (PUD), is an open sore ring in the gastrointestinal tract that is essentially acidic in nature and causes severe pain. It is a mucousal erosion that occurs on the inner lining of the esophagus, stomach or upper parts of the small intestinal tract and is characterized by abdominal pain. Homeopathic remedies for peptic ulcers help provide suitable relief from this painful condition since these remedies have practically no side-effects and are non-toxic.
Nearly 70–90% cases of such ulcers are linked to a spiral-shaped bacterium that thrives in the acidic environment of the stomach. The incidence of peptic ulcers occurring in the duodenum (the initial tract of the small intestine) is four times higher than those arising in the stomach.
I will discuss some remedies and myths of this disorder later in the article.
Homeopathic Remedies for Peptic Ulcers
There are a wide variety of medicines for Peptic Ulcers, ranging from Uranium Nitricum, Kali Bich and Graphites to Crotalus Horridus, Geranium and Graphites.
I find Uranium Nitricum to be the ideal remedy for gastric and duodenal ulcers characterized by boring pain in the pyloric region, a bloated abdomen, and a ravenous appetite followed by flatulence.
Kali Bich is best suited for round ulcers occurring in the stomach that lead to vomiting of bright yellow water and a load in the stomach immediately after eating, giving the patient the feeling that digestion has come to a standstill.
Crotalus Horridus is helpful in cases of ulceration in the stomach due to chronic alcoholism. Patients who are unable to retain anything, exhibit violent vomiting or vomit blood benefit from this medicine. Graphites is good for treating duodenal ulcers marked by a burning in the stomach and a feeling of hunger.
Kinds of Peptic Ulcers
Broadly speaking, peptic ulcers are classified into two main categories. The esophageal ulcers are those that occur in the esophagus, hollow tube through which food moves from your throat to your stomach. The duodenal ulcers are the ones that erupt inside of the upper portion of the duodenum, the small intestine.
The ulcers that are found in the stomach are termed as the gastric ulcers.
There is also a Meckel’s diverticulum ulcer, which is characterized by a lot of tenderness.
Symptoms of Peptic Ulcers
The primary symptom of a peptic ulcer is, of course, pain. The pain causes a burning sensation and gets more acute when the stomach acid passes over the sores. The pain can be experienced anywhere in the region of the navel, spreading to the breastbone.
The sensation of pain is worsened on an empty stomach and often gets more acute at night. The pattern of the pain is such that it may go away temporarily on consuming some non-acid producing foods but keeps returning from time to time.
The less common signs and symptoms of the peptic ulcers may include vomiting of blood that may look reddish or blackish in color, dark blood in stools or stools that are blackish, the feeling of nausea, a sudden drop in weight or appetite, etc.
Myths about Peptic Ulcers
The primary factor responsible for peptic ulcer is a chronic swelling caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
These ulcers can also be triggered by the use of NSAIDS. While the incidence of duodenal ulcers has fallen considerably during the past three decades or so, the number of cases of gastric ulcers have registered a rise, primarily due to the widespread use of NSAIDs.
The most common myth associated with peptic ulcers is that they are caused by highly spiced foods or a stress related job. It has also been believed that smoking, caffeine, coffee or alcohol consumption lead to this condition.
However, these are mostly myths and research has clearly shown that it is a bacterial infection or some medications which essentially trigger peptic ulcers.
Natural remedies for peptic ulcers not only provide permanent relief from pain and other related symptoms, they also treat the body’s inability to fight with helicobacter pylori . Thus once treated with natural remedies, peptic ulcers will be gone for good
