Stomach ulcer cure: science-back treatments for peptic ulcer

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. H. pylori is the leading or most common cause of stomach ulcers.

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 

Treating to heal a stomach ulcer 

1. Avoid irritations

The first step to permanently heal from a stomach ulcer is to avoid triggers or foods that can cause irritation or more pain. Here are some triggers to avoid:

A. Certain foods and drinks

These foods and drinks don’t cause ulcers directly but can cause irritation or trigger symptoms:

1. Spicy foods: Spicy foods don't cause gastric ulcers. Studies have shown capsaicin in spicy foods actually prevents the growth of h. pylori. However, they are known to cause irritation and discomfort for anyone suffering from stomach ulcers.
2. Other foods: Acidic foods (tomatoes, citrus), foods or drinks containing caffeine (coffee, tea, cola), carbonated drinks (soda, sparkling water), fried/fatty foods, carbs and sugar, vinegar or pickled foods are foods or drinks that should be avoided by anyone suffering a gastric ulcer.

Again, these foods don’t cause ulcers — they just make the pain worse if you already have one. Avoid them during the treatment period to heal completely from gastric (stomach) ulcers.

B. Lifestyle 

Certain lifestyles have been known to also trigger the pain of gastric ulcers and inhibit total healing of stomach ulcers. 

Smoking and the intake of alcohol have been found out to prevent healing of stomach ulcers. Studies show that smoking increases the risk of peptic ulcer disease and death from it. Smoking delays peptic ulcer healing and increases the risk of recurrence.

Over-eating can also worsen or irritate stomach ulcers. Large meals take a longer time to digest. This means stomach acid sits in the stomach for longer periods. The longer the acid exposure, the more irritation to the ulcer area.

Psychological stress, life-events, or depression appear to act as modifying or contributing factors, perhaps through physiologic mechanisms. 

Therefore, It is important to tackle stress, smoking and drinking habits to ensure absolute healing of stomach ulcers and prevent any relapse.

2. Dietary Treatments

While medical treatment (like acid-reducing drugs and antibiotics for H. pylori) is essential for curing a gastric or stomach ulcer, dietary choices play a big role in relieving symptoms, protecting the stomach lining, and promoting healing.

Here are scientifically certified foods that can help promote healing for stomach (peptic or gastric) ulcers:

A. Probiotic-rich foods

Probiotics are fermented foods with health beneficiary microorganisms. Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi are fermented foods containing microbes such as Lactobacillus that have many modulatory effects that help fight and cure gastric ulcers. In a nutshell, probiotic-rich meals provide “good bacteria” to fight the bad bacteria (H. pylori) that cause ulcers.

Probiotic supplements like the Physician Choice, Align Probiotic, and Culturelle on Amazon can also provide the good bacteria needed to fight H. pylori.

B. Fiber-Rich Foods

Fibers also play an important role in the treatment of peptic ulcers. Fiber helps reduce acid and protect the lining. According to a review article titled, “Nutritional care in peptic ulcers,” fiber-rich foods help reduce treatment time.

Foods like oats, brown rice, sweet potatoes, bananas (help coat the stomach), pears, cucumbers, apples (soft or stewed), are highly rich in fiber.

C. Vegetables That Fight H. pylori

Research shows that vegetables, like broccoli sprouts, cabbage (cooked or cabbage juice), kale, carrots, can help reduce ulcer-causing bacteria.

Since H. pylori is a major cause of peptic ulcers, a 2021 study reports that vegetable extracts can act against Helicobacter pylori infection via antibacterial, anti-adhesive, or anti-inflammatory mechanisms. It also suggests that vegetables may help in the healing of or recovery from peptic ulcers.

Cabbage juice is famous for ulcer healing. Cabbage juice has been suggested to have both preventive and healing effects on stomach ulcers in humans.

D. Lean Protein

Adequate protein intake, like chicken (boiled/grilled), fish, eggs, beans cooked very soft, bone broth, is important during the healing phase of peptic ulcers because tissue repair requires amino acids and other nutrients. Nutrition reviews and guideline summaries recommend ensuring sufficient protein and micronutrients (vitamin A, C, zinc, selenium) to support gastric mucosal repair.

Please, it is important to have these proteins cooked. Avoid frying them.

E. Anti-inflammatory Foods

Turmeric (in small amounts), ginger (mild), honey (especially manuka), and garlic are some anti-inflammatory foods needed to completely heal a stomach ulcer.

In a small human study (patients with peptic ulcer disease) where curcumin from turmeric was used as an adjuvant to standard H. pylori eradication therapy, it was found that turmeric has great healing efficacy, and reductions in inflammatory markers.

Honey can also help ulcers heal faster. A study shows that treatment with manuka honey reduced the ulcer index in an acetic-acid–induced chronic gastric ulcers in rats. Manuka honey preserved glycoproteins in the mucosa of the rats and lowered markers of inflammation. The only downside to this is that the amount of honey taken could have harmful effects for someone with diabetes, as honey isn't sugar-free sweetener. 

Other additions to peptic ulcer-healing foods and drinks are:

• Cranberry 
• Mastic gum
• Cayenne pepper
• Liquorice root
• Papaya (Pawpaw, to Nigerians)
• Cabbage juice: Cabbage contains compounds that protect the stomach, increase mucus production, strengthen the stomach lining, and help non-H. pylori ulcers heal faster.
• Warm water: Many ulcer patients report that cold water triggers pain, while warm water soothes.
• Chamomile tea
• Aloe vera juice (small amounts).