Gastritis and peptic ulcer are triggered or relapse at least in one from six people, and this happens mostly during the spring. Why? Because of the change of food types during the transition to summer ; Because of sleep problems that occur with decreasing nights, and increased activity that also boost stress levels up. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural ways of prevention and healing..
Gastritis, Ulcer, Symptoms and Remedies
Defined briefly, gastritis is an inflammation of the lining that protects the stomach walls. Its causes are multiple, and the most common being: taking medications (especially anti-inflammatory ones), alcohol and food which are aggressive for the digestive tract, the presence of bacteria (Helicobacter pylori) in the stomach, sleep deprivation and high levels of stress. One or more of these factors leads to the development of gastritis, which – untreated in time – evolves into an ulcer.
In gastritis, the most common symptom is pain felt in the stomach, a pain that is frequently associated with feelings of “burns”. The pain may be continuous (long hours or even days) or intermittent, and can be accompanied by other signs like: acid regurgitation, nausea, bloating, diarrhea.
Ulcer’s pain, is more intense than in gastritis and the symptoms may be seizures, vomiting blood or blood clots and dark defecation. The only sure way to make the difference between gastritis and ulcer is by medical consultation done by a specialist.
Some elements of natural therapy
Medicinal herbs
Liquorice – take one teaspoon of root tincture four times daily. Each dose should be diluted in a cup (250 ml) of water, so the alcohol in the tincture can reach concentrations that have no side effects. The active principles of licorice are excellent anti-inflammatory and help restore stomach lining that protects the stomach walls of acid erosion.
Raspberry leaves – is administered in powder form, obtained by grinding with an electric coffee grinder, take one teaspoon of powder four times a day. It has many beneficial properties like: anti-acid, haemostatic and healing, helping and closing lesions occurring on the walls of the stomach in peptic ulcer.
Calamus – root powder is taken on an empty stomach, half a teaspoonful four times a day. Antibiotic effect (inhibits the development of H. pylori) and gastric sedative, helps control stress levels, given that, in more than half of cases, mental tension (stress) is one of the major factors that cause gastritis and ulcers.
Gemmotherapy
It is a form of treatment that uses extracts obtained from young buds and other plant tissues. In pharmacies and herbal stores, there is also an extract obtained from the buds of the fig (Ficus Carica) who is long proved to be a true elixir in cases of gastritis and ulcers. It is administered by 50 drops, twice a day, in the course of 2 months. It has a general calming effect and prevents the appearance of diseases that occur because emotional imbalances affecting certain organs, diseases that include gastritis and ulcers.
Clay
Has a protective effect, anti-infective, regenerative, protects the whole digestive system. It is administered in cycles of 40 days, as follows: in half a glass of water (100 ml) put a teaspoon of clay, leaving it over night. In the first seven days of treatment drink on an empty stomach in the morning, only the fraction of clear glass – clay water. After this period, mix in the morning the entire content of the cup and drink as a whole. Clay arrived in the stomach forms a protective film that quickly relieves pain and scarring lesions on gastric walls. Many people suffering from peptic ulcer and gastritis have found relief with this remedy, as simple as it is effective.
Vegetable coal
It is also called activated charcoal, is found in pharmacies in powder or tablet form. Vegetable coal is an excellent natural soothing in gastritis crisis because it will neutralize the acidity of gastric juices in just moments. Charcoal tablets are administered according to the prospectus, while the powder itself is given a tablespoon diluted in half a glass of water, 3-4 times per day. This remedy is not used as a cure, but is used only to relieve pain. It is one of the few natural remedies with very quick action.
Diet
Establishing a diet for preventing and treating gastritis or ulcer is guiding us by three basic rules:
1. Avoiding aggressors – meaning all foods and substances that favor these digestive diseases.
2. Individualization of food – for curing gastritis, there are as many kinds of diets for different types of patients. The only way to find out which foods help in fighting this disease is by direct experience. Trying on all foods that are not on the banned list we find out the diet that allows us keeping the disease under control.
3. Using medicinal foods – primarily the alkali and “cold” foods, which will be discussed below.
Medicinal foods
Alkaline juices – are made from cabbage, potato, carrot, beet, cucumber and nettle. The juices are obtained with the centrifugal electric juicer. We recommend a course of 2-3 days, in which to consume only those juices which reduce gastric acidity, regulate digestion and “fix” gastric epithelia. If the body does not accommodate with this treatment, try an easier version: drink 50 ml (one quarter cup) of cabbage juice 30 minutes before each meal, and one hour after meals drink another 50 ml of potato juice.
Green barley juice – is made from green stalks of barley. Drink 200 ml per day, in small portions, the duration of treatment is minimum 12 days. Chlorophyll is a great of help in the regeneration of the gastric mucosa and has a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect.
“Cold” foods – I put quotes because we are not referring to the temperature of food (which is good to be eaten warmish, never cold from the refrigerator, or very hot), but to their intrinsic quality. In Indian medicine, Ayurveda, there are some “cool” foods that relieves stomach pain and reduce the burning sensation. These foods are; cream, yogurt, skim milk and clarified butter. The clarified butter is made from regular butter, which is heated in a saucepan over low heat until it heats up, then boiled for 10-15 minutes, until it becomes clear, when it is taken off the fire and poured in another vessel, without sediments from the bottom of the pan. The clarified butter is very nourishing and, in most cases, is tolerated by the stomach.
“Cold” spices – mint, fennel, coriander and cumin, which are soothing in gastritis and preferable over classic spices like salt, pepper or other commercial powders that contain taste and flavor enhancers. Add these condiments in cooked food and sweets, for a better digestive adjustment.
Milk – gastritis and ulcers are treated in both traditional and official medicine with large amounts of milk. Usually, it is indicated that in these conditions to consume one liter of milk per day. It is a treatment that has a positive effect in about 90% of cases. Although the mechanism of action is partly a mystery to modern medicine. It is known that milk has a quick calming effect, neutralizing – after 20 minutes after being ingested – the hydrochloric acid. After this time, it appears that certain milk proteins help to synthesize natural substances with pain relieving effect, hence the well known calming effect of milk.
Egg whites – consume 4-5 raw egg whites daily, prepared into foam (no sugar), divided into 3-4 meals. Treatment is for more than 5 days in a row, having in most of the cases an excellent gastric soothing.
Foods that should be consumed with caution:
All foods that taste sweet, spicy, sour or bitter can suddenly trigger a bout of gastritis.
Intense gustatory stimulation produces a strong secretion of gastric juices, which are not supported by the stomach that is sensitized during spring – if eating those foods, the familiar burn appears. Preferably, in this period, choose foods with a balanced taste.
Raw food – salads, radishes and raw herbs are culinary delights that appear during the first few weeks of spring, but these are not always well received by the stomach.
Legumes – is by no means a general rule, but also these foods can cause hypersecretion of acid juices. It is recommended, therefore, caution in consuming foods based on beans, soybeans, lentils or chickpeas. Eat them without excesses, to ensure that the stomach tolerates them.
Cellulose rich foods – such as bread, cereal flakes or other cereal grains can also cause excess acid secretion.
To be avoided
Alcohol – is undoubtedly the number one enemy of the sick or those prone to gastritis and ulcers. Will be avoided in all forms, regardless of the strength and the “prestige” the beverages have.
Tobacco – is a risk factor not only for the occurrence of gastritis or ulcers, but also for the evolution towards cancer.
Sugar and concentrated sweets in general – favors (especially sugar) development of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach. To be completely removed from food and, in addition, avoid ice cream, jam, candy, chocolate, etc..
Sausage and preserved meat – contain the so-called nitrites, synthetic additives extremely aggressive for the digestive tract, in general, and for stomach in particular.
Synthetic food additives – especially taste and flavor enhancers, and preservatives looseners (but not only them) have the “gift” to irritate the gastric mucosa, trigger a hypersecretion of acid juices. The explosion of cases of gastritis in the recent decades is due in large part to food fortified with lots of synthetic additives.
Drinking water
Recent studies show that drinking water we consume daily has an important influence on the health of the digestive system, especially the stomach.
Very harmful to the stomach are surface waters (with which are served virtually all significant urban areas). Surface water contains chlorinated additives and is chemically or micro-biologically contaminated. It was statistically observed that people who consume this water are more prone to gastritis and ulcers. In contrast, alkaline mineral water rich in calcium and magnesium, degassed or with a low carbon dioxide level, are a true elixir in treating these diseases.
Sleep
When in good quality and enough quantity, sleep has a very important role in curing these diseases.
Conversely, insufficient sleep and restless nights, causes stress and is thus a trigger or worsen of gastritis and peptic ulcer. Furthermore, it was found that at night, while we sleep, is the only time when the gastric mucous recovers and heal injuries.
People who have sleep problems can follow a simple treatment: given in the evening, 1-2 teaspoons of combination (in equal proportions) of tincture of hop cones and valerian root. The mixture of dyes is dissolved in a large cup of water, for the alcohol it contains to not harm the stomach.