Peptic Ulcer

Peptic Ulcer refers to an eroded lesion in the gastric intestinal mucosa. An ulcer may form in any part of thedigestive tract which is exposed to acid gastric juice, but is usually found in the stomach and the duodenum.The ulcer located in the stomach is known as gastric ulcer and that located in the duodenum is called adeudenal ulcer. Usually both are grouped together and termed peptic ulcer.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of peptic ulcer are sharp and severe pain and discomfort in the upper centralabdomen. The pain is commonly described as burning or gnawing in character. Gastric ulcer pain usuallyoccurs an hour after meals, but rarely at night. Duodenal ulcer pan usually occurs between meals when thestomach is empty and is relieved by food, especially milk. It is often described as hunger pain and gets thesufferer out of bed between 2 and 4 a.m. As the disease progresses there is distension of the stomach due toexcessive flatulence, besides mental tension, insomnia and a gradual weakening of the body. It may alsocause constipation with occasional blood in the stools. If an ulcer bleeds slowly, there is anaemia.

Causes

Peptic ulcers result from hyperacidity which is a condition caused by an increase in hydrochloric acid in thestomach. This strong acid, secreted by the cells lining the stomach, affects much of the breakdown of food. Itcan be potentially dangerous and, under certain circumstances, it may eat its way through the lining of thestomach or duodenum producing, first, irritation of the stomach wall and eventually an ulcer. Dieteticindiscretion, like overeating, taking of heavy meals or highly spiced foods, coffee, alcohol and smoking are themain factors contributing to this condition. The ingestion of certain drugs, particularly aspirin, food poisoning,infections like influenza and septicaemia and gout may also cause ulcers. Emotional stress or nervous tensionalso plays a major role in the formation of ulcers.

Treatment

Diet is of utmost importance in the treatment of ulcer. The diet should be so arranged as to provide adequatenutrition to afford rest to the disturbed organs, to maintain continuous neutralisation of the gastric acid, to inhibitproduction of acid and to reduce mechanical and chemical irritation. Milk, cream, butter, fruits, and fresh, rawand boiled vegetables, natural foods and natural vitamin supplements are the best diet for an ulcer patient. Themost effective remedy for peptic ulcers is bananas. They are said to contain an unidentified compound called,perhaps jokingly, vitamin U (against ulcers). Bananas neutralises the over acidity of the gastric juices andreduces the irritation of the ulcer by quoting the lining of the stomach. Banana and milk are considered an idealdiet for the patients who are in an advanced state of the disease. Almond milk made from blanched almonds ina blender is very beneficial as it binds the excess of acid in the stomach and supplies high quality proteins.Raw goat’s milk is also highly beneficial. It actually helps to heal peptic ulcer. Cabbage is regarded as anotheruseful home remedy for peptic ulcers. Cabbage is boiled in water. This water is allowed to cool and taken twicedaily. The leaves of kalyana murangal tree, which is a variety of drumstick found in South India, have alsoproved helpful in the healing of the ulcers. The leaves of this tree are ground into a paste and taken mixed withyogurt daily. Raw vegetables juices, particularly carrot and cabbage juices are beneficial in the treatment of thepeptic ulcers. Carrot juice may be taken either alone or in combination with spinach or beat and cucumber. Theformula proportions in the case of the first combination are 300 ml. of carrots and 200 ml. of spinach and in case of the second combination, 300 ml. of carrots and three ounces each of beets and cucumber to make half a litre of juice. The observance of certain rules by an ulcer patient with regardto eating habits are essential. He should never eat when tired or emotionally upset, nor when he is not hungryeven if it is meal time, nor when his mouth is dry. He should chew every morsel thoroughly. He should eat onlynatural foods and take food in as dry a form as possible. Meals must be small and frequent. All foods anddrinks which are either too hot or too cold should be avoided. The ulcer patient should drink eight to 10 glassesof water every day. However, he should not drink water during or with meals, but only half an hour before orone hour after he has eaten. He should bathe, preferably in cold water, twice daily. Alternate hot and cold hipbaths for 10 to 15 minutes and a mud pack applied over the lower abdominal for half an hour daily will help theulcers to heal. The hip bath or the mud pack should be taken on an empty stomach and should be followed bya walk. In case of haemorrhage in the stomach, a rectal enema should be administered four times daily withwater temperature at 110 to 115 o F. In case of abdominal or stomach pain, hot pack should be placed on theabdomen with water temperature at 120 o F. A hot pack should also be placed between the shoulder blades.Daily massages and deep breathing exercises also help. Above all, the patient must try to rid himself of worriesand stay cheerful. He should also cultivate regularity in his habit - be it work, exercise or rest. Asanas which arebeneficial in the treatment of hyperacidity and ulcers are vajrasana, uttanpadasana, pawanmuktasana,bhujasana, paschimottanasana. Yogic kriyas like jalneti and pranayamas like anuloma-viloma , shitali andsitkari are also beneficial. Hyperacidity does not appear suddenly ; it develops gradually and its cure is also agradual process. The patient should not lose patience but must continue the regimen suggested ; this will helphim get relief from his ailment.