Peptic ulcers, a.k.a. stomach ulcers, are unfortunately quite common. With one in ten Americans developing stomach ulcers at some point in their life, the stomach ulcer has become an accepted affliction that may not receive the necessary and immediate attention it so deserves. Many might offer up the proliferated notion that stomach ulcers can be attributed to stress. This ridiculous reasoning, while still possessing only a slight amount of truth, only serves to shift the focus from that of a misguided lifestyle, to one of an emotional imbalance. The plain truth is, the once accepted belief (now myth) that stomach ulcers are the result of stress, or consuming one too may helpings of grandma’s spicy chicken gumbo, are simply that—myth. Stress and spicy food are aggravators, not causes. Now, however informative and helpful you may find this article to be, it is important to point out that if you believe yourself to have a stomach ulcer, please consult with a doctor. Consult? Yes, consult—and for all those that may be reading our newsletter for the first time, this does not equate to filling every prescription handed to you with blind trust. Traditional doctors are not the end all to medical knowledge, and most are certainly not informed of anything other than the use of prescriptions. Prilosec, Tagamet, Zantac, and the slew of other synthetic medications out there, are short-term solutions to an underlying problem. Would you like to solve the problem, or would you rather stuff it in the closet until it all comes crashing down on you one day? Let’s assume you want to fix it.

The pack of Marlboro’s you smoke every day, yep that might do it; the coffee you slurp back in place of your morning meal, yes that might do it as well—yet realistically, you cannot pinpoint a single factor to place blame upon. Although this is a very broad observation, the rule goes that your health is equal to the positive things you do minus the bad, and if the bad is greater than the good in terms of your health, then you set yourself up for failure. Failure in this case equals prime breeding grounds for an unpleasant ulcer.



WHATS BAD IN THE REALM OF STOMACH ULCERS?

• Alcohol
  
• Coffee, caffeinated beverages,
  
• Cigarette smoke
  
• NSAIDS (naproxen, ibuprofen)
  
• Aspirin
  
• Excess sugar

There are more folks, but it would be a safe bet that if you are engaging in any or all of these, then you are on a destructive path, not just in terms of a stomach ulcer. Also, keep it mind that these irritants, if consumed on an empty stomach, would be comparable to the old cliché, “adding fuel to the fire”—just don’t do it.



THE USUAL SUSPECT: HELICOBACTER PYLORI

In addition to the latter, this article would be incomplete without acknowledging a growing body of research in the field of stomach ulcers. Odds are, you fall into this research. No longer are ulcers entirely blamed on stress, aspirin, and the like; it was found that a bacteria known as H. Pylori accounted for a large majority of stomach ulcers. As it happens, H. Pylori is an extremely persistent bacteria, and powerful antibiotics are typically prescribed by the medical profession to treat it.

It is interesting to note however, that while H. Pylori was found to account for such a large majority of ulcers, not all those infected with H. Pylori experience stomach ulcers. In fact, 1 in 5 people under 40 years of age, and over half of those 60 years or older are infected with H. Pylori—yet not all are affected with ulcers. Researchers still are unsure of the reasoning for this, but assumptions have been made regarding external influences on the normal functioning of the stomach, and the relation it may have to the formation of stomach ulcers.

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

So, without diving too much further into the consequences of H. Pylori, lets cover some steps you can take if you think you may have (or already have) a stomach ulcer:

1. Get tested for H. Pylori – the most common test is via the blood, which tests for antibodies to the bacteria. Get this test out of the way so you can choose the most effective treatment for you. If it turns out you have H. Pylori, consult your doctor, but keep in mind that there are natural alternatives to the whirlwind of antibiotics headed your way (grapefruit seed extract, herbal formulas, etc...)
   
   
2. Avoid the common irritants - as mentioned before, stay away from the most obvious offenders (i.e. coffee, NSAIDS, alcohol, etc...)
   
   
3. De-glycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) - Supplementing with DGL has been studied by various researchers, and is a classic example of correcting the underlying problem. DGL acts by increasing the quality as well as the quantity of the protective lining in the intestinal tract. Together with other natural therapies, DGL can protect as well as aid in the healing of stomach ulcers.
   
   
4. Eat small meals that are easy to digest - if you are eating meals that require the belt to be un-notched a hole or two, stop it. Larger meals trigger greater acid production which irritates as well as delays the healing of a stomach ulcer.
   
   
5. Aloe Vera Juice - aloe is a natural anti-inflammatory, and has proven effective at relieving gastric complaints. Clinical trials in Japan have indicated that specific compounds in aloe reduce the secretion of stomach acids and the formation of ulcers. Just make sure your aloe is pure. Consume up to ½ cup, two times per day.
   
   
6. Mastic Gum - How many of you have ever heard of a resin produced by the Pistacia lentiscus tree called mastic gum? Well, it has been used for a myriad of ailments in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries for at least 3,000 years. Now, the advantages of this naturally-occurring resin are being revived for its antimicrobial effects. Numerous studies have already been published on this wonderful resin with respect to the gastrointestinal environment, therefore acquiring the respect of the scientific and medical community. Several studies on the effect of mastic gum on gastric ulcers have been performed, and the studies have shown positive results. It provided symptomatic relief of ulcers, reduced the intensity of gastric mucosal damage caused by anti-ulcer drugs and aspirin, and possessed antacid and cytoprotective qualities.
   
   In 1998, researchers at University Hospital in Nottingham, England, conducted a very interesting study in which they demonstrated that mastic gum kills H. pylori, the bacterium that causes ulcers. They wrote, “Even low doses of mastic gum—1 gram per day for 2 weeks—can cure peptic ulcers very rapidly.” Please be aware, however, that the H. pylori bacteria that were killed in this study died in the test tube.
   
   Then there is a doctor by the name of Leo Galland of New York who is very well known for his expertise with chronic gastric disorders, intestinal permeability, ulcers, and dyspepsia. His work led him to use mastic gum with his patients, in particular, the ones with H. pylori present. Says Doctor Galland on mastic gum, “I am treating patients with dyspepsia and gastritis who also have Helicobacter in the stool. I do not use synthetic antibiotics, just mastic gum. In my experience, a dosage of 500 mg to 1 gram twice a day for two weeks has produced a clearing of symptoms associated with the elimination of the Helicobacter antigen from the stool. Ninety percent experience a clearing of symptoms, and 80% experience an elimination of Helicobacter in the stool after only two weeks.

Alright, so now you have a foundational understanding of what to do and what not to do, but keep in mind that the extent of what can be done to treat an ulcer naturally, does not stop with what is in this article. While these suggestions have the most efficient track record, the bottom line is that the key to your health is a healthy lifestyle—the rest will fall into place.