Persons who treat themselves with antacids may do themselves more harm than good. Though they may get initial relief because jhe tablet neutralises the acid, the stomach responds by producing even more acid because the basic cause of the hyperacidity has not been dealt with. Ulcers can be best treated by natural methods.
Milk, cream, butter, fruits and fresh, raw and boiled vegetables, natural foods and natural vitamin sup plements are the best diet for an ulcer patient. The fruits recommended are bananas, mangoes, musk melon and dates. Such a diet will progressively reduce the acidity in the stomach. A low-salt diet can-greatly help in curing hyperacidity and ulcers.
Those in an advanced state of the disease should avoid whole grains, nuts and whole grain bread and cereals in the beginning and should take only milk and bananas. Milk should be taken in moderate quantities — about 250 to 300 millilitres — every hour. Bananas are highly beneficial. They are said to contain an unidentified compound called, perhaps jokingly, vitamin U (against ulcer’s). Well-cooked millet and cooked white rice with milk can be added later.
Diet is of utmost importance in the treatment of ulcer. The diet should be so arranged as to provide adequate nutrition to afford rest to the disturbed organs, to maintain continuous neutralisation of the gastric acid, to inhibit the production of acid and to reduce mechanical and chemical irritation.
Almond milk made from balanced almonds in a blender is very beneficial as it binds the excess of acids in the stomach and supplies high quality protein. Raw goat’s milk is also highly beneficial. It actually helps to heal the peptic ulcer.
Raw fruits and vegetables should be avoided for a few weeks, as many of these are especially irritating. Potatoes, squashes, yams and raw bananas are, however, well tolerated. All sour fruits should be avoided, especially citrus fruits.
Certain foods definitely do not agree in cases ot gastric complaints and should be completely eliminated. These include fried and greasy foods which are always difficult to digest and require very efficient stomach and liver action; flesh foods which require a high amount of acid in the stomach for their digestion and acid causes more pain and flatulence in the sensitive stomach; condiments, preserves and sugar which are stomach irritants; and tea, coffee, tobacco and alcohol which create an acidic reaction in the stomach. The healing capacity and vitality of the body will increase if these harmful and unsuitable foods are avoided.
How rapidly the ulcer heals will largely depend on the correct assortment of essential amino acids and sufficient ascorbic acid. Iron absorption depends on an acid medium and is facilitated by the presence of ascorbic acid.
The neutralisation of stomach acid, therefore, interferes with iron absorption. Several studies have shown that vitamin E and A, especially taken together, have not only a protective effect against development of ulcers caused by stress, but also a curative effect on existing ulcers.
The observance of certain rules by an ulcer patient with regard to eating habits are essential. He should never eat when tired or emotionally upset, nor when he is not hungry even if it is mealtime, nor when his mouth is dry.
He should chew every morsel thoroughly. He should eat only natural foods and take food in as dry form as possible. Meals must be small and frequent. All foods and drinks which are either too hot or too cold should be avoided.
The patient should drink eight to ten glasses of water every day. However, he should not drink water during or with meals, but only half an hour before or one hour after he has eaten. In case of haemorrhage in the stomach, a rectal enema should be administered four times daily with water temperature at 110° to 115°F.
In case of abdominal or stomach pain, hot packs should be placed on the abdomen with water temperature at 120°F. Hot pack should also be placed between the shoulder blades.
Daily massage and deep breathing exercises also help. Above all, the patient must try to rid himself of his worries and stay cheerful. He should also cultivate regularity in his habits — be it work, exercise or rest.