Stomach ulcer cure: science-back treatments for peptic ulcer

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Treating stomach (peptic) ulcers has been the most common theme around the medical world. This sounds as though there can't be a total healing from this condition. With the advancement made in medical research over the decade, it has been scientifically ascertained that healing of stomach ulcer is possible.

This guide will take a look at:

  • What a stomach ulcer is
  • The possible causes of a stomach ulcer, and
  • Science-back healing treatment for a peptic ulcer

What's a stomach ulcer?

A stomach ulcer (also called a gastric or peptic ulcer) is a sore or open wound that forms on the inner lining of the stomach. 

To simplify this, one can imagine the stomach as a cooking pot lined with a special protective coating so the acid inside doesn’t burn the wall of the stomach. So, a stomach ulcer is like a small wound or sore in that mucus-like lining. When this mucus-like coating gets damaged or broken, acid gets to the wall of the stomach and starts irritating the spot.

So what's the cause of this damaging stomach lining (Ulcer)?

To avoid treating only the symptoms of stomach ulcer but ulcer itself, we must know what the causes of peptic ulcer are. There are two major causes of a stomach ulcer, and these are:

  • Helicobacter pylori or simply H. pylori
  • Long-term use of painkillers like aspirin, ibuprofen, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

H. pylori is a tiny spiral-shaped bacteria that can live in the stomach — even though the stomach is full of acid. 

H. pylori can be gotten from contaminated food or water. One can also get it by sharing utensils, kissing, or poor hygiene. If someone infected didn’t wash their hands after using the toilet and prepared food, the bacteria can spread.

H. pylori hides in the mucus layer of the stomach. The stomach has a mucus coating that protects it from strong acid. The acid, Hydrochloric acid (HCL), helps break down the food you eat into smaller parts and kills most of bacteria or germs from a little unclean foods. But H. pylori is smart — it swims under this mucus layer and sticks to the stomach wall where the acid can’t reach it easily.

Once it’s safe under the mucus, H. pylori starts releasing chemicals (toxins) that irritate the stomach lining and weaken or thin the mucus coating, allowing the acid to start touching the stomach wall directly to cause severe burning of the stomach wall. 

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and other painkillers 

NSAIDs block certain chemicals, like prostaglandins, that protect the stomach lining. When you take NSAIDS less mucus is made, less bicarbonate is released, and blood flow to the stomach wall decreases, which leads to ulcers.

Note that stress, hunger, and spicy foods DO NOT directly cause ulcers, but can make symptoms worse. This is contrary to the popular opinion in Nigeria and other African countries that 

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