by Jackie Hart, MD
Alternative HealthQ: Are there any alternative medicines that will help heal stomach ulcers?
A: While researching alternative treatments for ulcers, I discovered that throughout the 1990s there have been several studies looking at the effect of medicinal herbs from various parts of the world on ulcers. One such study, conducted by medical doctors at the University of Nigeria in 1998, examined four plants used by traditional Nigerian healers for ulcers:
There have been indigenous substances studied in other locations as well, such as Pteleopsis suberosa in Mali, which was also found to be protective against ulcers.
While I am not certain how you could acquire these particular herbs at this point, I find these preliminary results fascinating, because studies like these often pave the way for such herbs to become available in the form of either medications or supplements. (In a recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr. Andrew Weil, a prominent alternative medicine practitioner who is also a traditionally trained physician, discussed how pharmaceutical companies, when searching for a new drug, often turn to shamans of a particular culture to help them find plants and substances that may work for a particular medical condition).
In the meantime, however, you may want to try Ayurvedic medicine a centuries-old approach to health that originated in India. It is a very comprehensive, holistic medical approach that encompasses not only science but also spirituality and philosophy, and has many different suggestions for treating peptic ulcer disease, including:
If youd like to try these approaches, consider doing so under the care and guidance of an Ayurvedic practitioner in your area. I recommend using these approaches to augment not in lieu of your usual care, and particularly not in lieu of regular check-ups with a medical doctor. Be sure to discuss any potential treatments with your doctor prior to using them and throughout treatment. If you have ulcers or are prone to them, it is also important to avoid the following substances:
Alternative HealthQ: Are there any alternative medicines that will help heal stomach ulcers?
A: While researching alternative treatments for ulcers, I discovered that throughout the 1990s there have been several studies looking at the effect of medicinal herbs from various parts of the world on ulcers. One such study, conducted by medical doctors at the University of Nigeria in 1998, examined four plants used by traditional Nigerian healers for ulcers:
- the whole plant of Diodia sarmentosa
- the leaves of Cassia nigricans
- the leaves of Ficus exasperata
- the leaves of Synclisia scabrida
There have been indigenous substances studied in other locations as well, such as Pteleopsis suberosa in Mali, which was also found to be protective against ulcers.
While I am not certain how you could acquire these particular herbs at this point, I find these preliminary results fascinating, because studies like these often pave the way for such herbs to become available in the form of either medications or supplements. (In a recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr. Andrew Weil, a prominent alternative medicine practitioner who is also a traditionally trained physician, discussed how pharmaceutical companies, when searching for a new drug, often turn to shamans of a particular culture to help them find plants and substances that may work for a particular medical condition).
In the meantime, however, you may want to try Ayurvedic medicine a centuries-old approach to health that originated in India. It is a very comprehensive, holistic medical approach that encompasses not only science but also spirituality and philosophy, and has many different suggestions for treating peptic ulcer disease, including:
- certain yoga postures
- licorice (people with high blood pressure need to be careful about eating products that contain natural licorice, however, because natural licorice contains a substance called glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure)
- aloe vera tonic
- Ghee (a very concentrated form of butter)
- honey
- turmeric (a spice that is thought to help maintain the normal balance of bacteria in the intestines)
If youd like to try these approaches, consider doing so under the care and guidance of an Ayurvedic practitioner in your area. I recommend using these approaches to augment not in lieu of your usual care, and particularly not in lieu of regular check-ups with a medical doctor. Be sure to discuss any potential treatments with your doctor prior to using them and throughout treatment. If you have ulcers or are prone to them, it is also important to avoid the following substances:
- tobacco
- coffee, caffeinated or decaffeinated
- other foods and beverages with caffeine
- alcohol
- aspirin
- anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen