An eroded lesion in the gastric intestinal mucous is called Peptic ulcer. An ulcer may form in any part of the digestive 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 a duodenal ulcer. Usually both are group together are termed peptic ulcer.

Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer

The most common symptoms of peptic ulcer are sharp and severe pain and discomfort in the upper central abdomen. The pain is commonly described as burning or gnawing in character.

Gastric ulcer pain usually occurs an hour after meals, but rarely at night.

Duodenal ulcer pain usually occurs between meals when the stomach is empty and is relieved by food especially milk, often described as hunger pain.

As the disease progresses there is distension of the stomach due to excessive flatulence, besides mental tension, insomnia and a gradual weakening of the body. It may cause constipation with gradual blood in the stools.

Causes of Peptic Ulcer:

Peptic ulcers results from hyperacidity, It can be potentially dangerous and, under certain circumstances, it may eat its way through the lining of the stomach or duodenum producing, first, irritation of the stomach wall and eventually an ulcer

Dietetic indiscretion, like overeating, taking of heavy meals or highly spiced foods, coffee, alcohol and smoking are the main factors contributing to this condition.

The ingestion of certain drugs, particularly aspirin, food poisoning, infections like influenza and septicemia and gout may also cause ulcers.

Emotional stress or nervous tension also plays a major role in the formation of ulcers.

Treatment of Peptic Ulcer by Nature Cure:

Diet is of utmost importance in the treatment of ulcer. Milk cream, butter, fruits and fresh, raw and boiled vegetables, natural foods and natural vitamin supplements are the best diet for an ulcer patient. The most effective remedy for peptic ulcers are bananas and milk which are considered an ideal diet for the patients who are in an advanced state of the disease.Almond milk made from blanched almonds in a blender is very beneficial. The other ways of treating Peptic ulcer are as follows

Raw goat`s milk is also highly beneficial, since it actually helps to heal peptic ulcer.

Cabbage is regarded as another useful home remedy for peptic ulcers. Cabbage is boiled in water. This water is allowed to cool and taken twice daily.

The leaves of kalyana murangal tree, which is a variety of drumstick found in South India, have also proved helpful in the healing of ulcers. The leaves of this tree are ground into a paste and taken mixed with yogurt daily.

Raw vegetables juices, particularly carrot and cabbage juices are beneficial in the treatment of peptic ulcers. Carrot juice may be taken either alone or in combination with spinach or beet and cucumber. The formula proportions in 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 cucumbers to make half a litre of juice.

The ulcer patient should drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. However, he should not drink water during or with meals, but only half an hour before or one hour after he has eaten.

A patient should bathe, preferably in cold water, twice daily.

Alternate hot and cold hip baths for 10 to 15 minutes and a mud pack applied over the lower abdomen for half an hour daily will also help the ulcers to heal. The hip bath or the mud pack should be taken on an empty stomach and should be followed by a walk.

In case of hemorrhage in the stomach, a rectal enema should be administered four times daily. In case of abdominal or stomach pain, hot packs should be placed on the abdomen. A hot pack should also be placed between the shoulder blades.

Treatment of Peptic Ulcer by Yogic Asanas:

Asanas, which are beneficial in the treatment of hyperacidity and ulcers, are vajrasana, uttanpadasana, pavanarnuktasana, bhujangasana, paschimottanasana.

Yogic kriyas like Jalneti and pranayamas tike anuloma-viloma, shitali and sitkari are also beneficial.