4 Ways Functional Medicine Can Help Stomach Ulcers To Heal

If you are someone who experiences stomach ulcers it can be something that leaves you in a lot of pain. The staff at The Gut Authority would like to help you find ways to assist your body in healing from this painful condition and help you find relief. We know that finding relief is something that is hard to do when you have this problem. 

What Are Stomach Ulcers?

For most, these ulcers are caused by one of two conditions. These include an infection with the bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, or long term use of NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or aspirin. Once an ulcer has formed, the open wound of raw tissue, found in the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine, may be irritated by the continuous presence of stomach acid.

There are signs and symptoms that you can look for when you are experiencing pain that you suspect could be an ulcer. Things such as burping and belching, nausea and vomiting, and loss of weight and appetite. These are just some of the things you might be experiencing. Oftentimes you can be misdiagnosed with ulcers, so if your pain doesn’t go away you may want to be rechecked.

Functional Medicine To Treat Stomach Ulcers

Functional medicine is a form of alternative medicine used by many doctors. A lot of times these doctors will look at your whole body, not just the area that is causing you trouble. Sometimes the things that are causing you pain and discomfort could be a side effect of something else. Therefore, looking at the whole body to find the root cause of your problems is extremely beneficial. 

There are some natural ways that these ulcers can be treated and sometimes just some lifestyle changes can be made. Some common changes that can be made to reduce stomach ulcer symptoms and occurrences are:

• Stop Smoking- This puts you at a higher risk of getting an ulcer in general and can make it hard for them to heal. 
• Be aware of NSAIDs- These medications can make your chances of getting an ulcer higher and also make it harder for them to heal. 
• Reduce Alcohol Intake and Stress– Cutting back or simply stopping alcohol intake can allow an ulcer to heal better. When you have a lot of stress on you it can cause an ulcer or even cause one to not heal. 
• Manage Your Diet- There are several foods that are actually beneficial and naturally healing when it comes to ulcers. These include:
  • Garlic- There have been studies that prove garlic can take over the bacteria that causes an ulcer, so upping the intake of garlic that you consume could be good for your pain.
  • Yogurt- If you are experiencing a lot of pain from your ulcer yogurt can calm and coat the lining of your stomach to help with the pain.
  • Honey- This can also stop the growth of the bacteria causing an ulcer along with coating the lining of your stomach to provide relief from pain.
  • Teas and Herbs– Red Clover and Wood Apple Leaf Tea have been found to help with the pain associated with ulcers and help reduce inflammation.
  • Flavonoids – Also known as bioflavonoids, these are compounds that naturally occur in many fruits and vegetables, including soybeans, legumes, kale, red grapes, broccoli, apples, and berries. They help fight against H. pylori bacteria and protect the lining of the stomach, allowing ulcers to heal.
  • Probiotics – These are living bacteria and yeast that support the digestive tract. They too help destroy H. pylori and increase the recovery rate of those with ulcers. They can be found in supplements or things like yogurt, buttermilk, miso, kimchi, and kefir.
  • Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice – This supplement can also discourage the growth of H. pylori.
  • Cranberries – These too may be able to help fight this harmful bacteria by taking it in the form of juice, supplements, or simply eating them.
  • Mastic – This is the sap from a tree native to the Mediterranean. Eating mastic gum or taking supplements may also support fighting off H. pylori.
  • Polyphenol-Rich Foods – Foods such as flaxseed, dark chocolate, black olives, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, elderberries, blackberries, oregano, and rosemary all contain the antioxidant polyphenols which may heal and prevent ulcers.

Call Us For Help Today

At The Gut Authority, we are committed to helping you feel your best. When you are uncomfortable or in pain it isn’t that easy to fulfill your responsibilities each day. We would be honored to assist you in finding the relief you have been searching for. Give us a call and let us show you how we can help.