Home Remedies For Ulcers: Procedure, Recovery, Risk & Complication

An ulcer refers to a lesion or sore that develops in your stomach’s lining. It can also occur in the upper portion of your intestine. The symptoms include a feeling of burning sensation between the chest and navel, indigestion, nausea, heartburn, weight loss, poor appetite and vomiting. There are several home remedies for treating your ulcer:

1. Cabbage:

   Cabbage produces amino acids that help to stimulate the blood flow to the lining of the stomach that strengthens the lining and thus treats the ulcer. The high vitamin C content in cabbages is also beneficial for ulcers. Cut half of cabbage and two carrots, extract the juice and have it daily before every meal. Have this juice for some days daily.

2. Bananas:

   Bananas both unripe and ripe, are very good for treating ulcer. They contain antibacterial compounds that prevent the ulcer-causing H. pylori (bacterium present in the stomach) from growing. Eat at least 3 bananas in a day. You can also have it as a milkshake if you do not like the taste of ripe bananas.

3. Coconut:

   It has antibacterial qualities that can kill the bacteria known for causing ulcers. You can either drink coconut water or coconut milk. The coconut’s kernel can also be beneficial if consumed. Ensure that you follow this routine daily for at least 7 days for positive results.

4. Raw honey:

   It contains an enzyme known as glucose oxidase that can produce hydrogen peroxide, which kills the harmful ulcer-causing bacteria. Have 2 teaspoons of raw honey every day on an empty stomach every morning.

5. Garlic:

   It has certain antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that keep the ulcer-causing bacterium in check. Every morning, crush two or three cloves of garlic and have it, and then drink a glass of water. Have it daily to ease the inflammation in your stomach.

6. Probiotics:

   Probiotics contain healthy gut bacteria which helps to fight against infection and reduce the unhealthy bacteria present in the gut. Probiotics can be taken in the form of yoghurt or fermented food.

7. Aloe vera:

   Aloe vera contains certain compounds that help in treating stomach ulcers. Ap per the researchers' aloe vera has antibacterial properties which help in fighting against ulcer infection.

8. Turmeric:

   Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties. Turmeric helps to prevent stomach ulcer.

Summary: Ulcer can be treated by taking cabbage, banana, honey, coconut water, aloe vera juice, turmeric milk, garlic and probiotics. Avoid smoking and drinking.

The side effects of these natural home remedies for ulcers may include:

• Consuming excess cabbage can lead to gastric or flatulence problems. If you are belching too much, you may have to stop eating cabbage. People suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can experience diarrhoea if they have excess cabbage.
• Eating bananas in excess may trigger headaches or a feeling of drowsiness in some people.
• Coconut milk can trigger allergies or cause constipation in some people. It can also result in weight gain and increases cholesterol levels.
• Having raw garlic can lead to a feeling of burning sensation in your throat or mouth, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, gas or diarrhoea. Apart from that, consuming raw garlic can also result in body odour or unpleasant breath.
• Excess honey can lead to constipation, bloating, diarrhoea and stomach cramping. Keep the amount in check if you are consuming it regularly.

Summary: Despite being effective, certain home remedies have some side effects which vary from person to person, so choose your home remedy only if you are not allergic or sensitive to the particular substance. Do not use any home remedies in excess as it may be harmful to health.

Ensure that you follow the below-mentioned post remedy guidelines after practicing these home remedies:

• Avoid spicy food, fatty food as well as citrus fruits as it can worsen your condition. Apart from that, if you experience a stomach upset after having a particular food, it is better to avoid it for the time being.
• Do not smoke or consume alcohol.
• Try not to stress yourself. You can opt for meditation to help you in this regard.
• The cabbage or the bananas that you consume for treating your ulcer needs to be fresh. If you are having the juice, make sure that you make it fresh every day.
• Do not store pre-made juices if you are having them daily.

Summary: Follow the guidelines. Avoid spicy food, smoking, alcohol consumption. Consume fresh food. Avoid stress.

Ulcers can be healed after the H. pylori bacterium that is causing it has been killed. It can take around 2 to 3 weeks before you start showing signs of improvement. This is because the natural remedies would take some time to show the effect. It may take another four to eight weeks for you to start healing gradually.

Summary: The time for recovery is generally 2-3 weeks. If you don't observe any improvement within 2-3 weeks, it's recommended to consult a doctor.

Most of the ulcers are caused by infections in your body. If the harmful bacteria are eliminated from the body that would mean that your ulcer can be cured permanently. However, in case you suffer from infection later, there can be a possibility that you get an ulcer once again.

Summary: No, the results are not permanent since it is caused by infection, it can reoccur again.

Generally, you will not require any training or expertise for practicing these home remedies. They are common household items that are easily available in the market. In case you are allergic to some specific kinds of food or have any health condition, you can consult your doctor before using any of the mentioned home remedies.

Summary: No, there is no need for training or expert assistance since these home remedies are easy to perform.