09/12/2025
Stomach ulcer, which are also known as gastric ulcers, are painful sores in the stomach lining. Stomach ulcers are a type of peptic ulcer disease. Peptic ulcers are any ulcers that affect both the stomach and small intestines.
Stomach ulcers occur when the thick layer of mucus that protects your stomach from digestive juices is reduced. This allows the digestive acids to eat away at the tissues that line the stomach, causing an ulcer. Stomach ulcers may be easily cured, but they can become severe without proper treatment
Ulcers are believed to be caused by stress and dietary factors. Treatment focuses on hospitalization, bed rest, and prescription of special bland foods. Later, gastric acid is blamed for ulcer disease.
Risk factors of stomach ulcer
Certain behaviors and factors increase the chances of developing a stomach ulcer; these include:
Frequent steroid usage.
Smoking
Overproducing calcium – hypercalcemia.
Genetics
Consuming alcohol frequently.
Age – they are more common in individuals over 50. People of any age can develop a stomach ulcer, but they are much less common in children. The risk in children is higher if their parents smoke.
Causes
The two main causes of ulcers of the stomach and small intestine are:
Helicobacter pylori bacteria
A class of painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, (NSAIDs)
Less common causes of stomach ulcers include:
Excess stomach acidity (hyperacidity) – this can occur for a range of reasons, including genetics, smoking, stress, and some foods
Zollinger-Ellison – a disease that causes an excess of stomach acid to be produced (rare)
Symptoms of stomach ulcer
You may not have any. If you do, they may include:
A gnawing or burning pain in your stomach between meals or at night
Bloating
Heartburn
Nausea or vomiting
Loss of appetite
In severe cases, symptoms can include:
Dark or black stool
Vomiting blood or material that can look like coffee grounds
Weight loss
Severe pain in your belly
Diagnosis and test
Doctors follow the symptoms of a stomach ulcer by asking questions about how the pain feels, where and when it happens, and how frequent and long-lasting it has been.
This process helps to narrow down whether there is a stomach ulcer or not. Your doctor may also ask for a stool test or a breath test to find out whether the stomach ulcer is from Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
Endoscopy picture shows ulcer region
If there are more serious symptoms such as bleeding the doctor may require further testing, which may include:
Endoscopy – A camera to look at the gut lining; a biopsy (tissue sample) may be taken
Barium e***a – A thick liquid that allows X-rays to be taken of the gut
Treatment and medications
If the doctor thinks there is a stomach ulcer, they may try to remove the cause by:
If the cause is thought to be NSAIDs, they may change the type of painkiller being taken
Trying the “test-and-treat” approach if the cause is thought to be H. pylori bacteria
Once the cause has been removed, the symptoms of stomach ulcers can be treated by
protecting the ulcer from acid while it heals.
Surgical treatments
In certain cases, surgery may be an option. For instance, if the ulcer continues to return, won’t heal, bleeds, or prevents food from leaving the stomach.
Surgery can include:
Removing the ulcer
Tying off bleeding blood vessels
Sewing tissue from another site onto the ulcer
Cutting the nerve that controls stomach acid production
Complications from stomach ulcers such as bleeding or perforation are rare. Either of these complications requires urgent medical attention.
Home remedies
Cabbage
Cabbage is a great remedy for a stomach ulcer. Being a lactic acid food, cabbage helps produce an amino acid that stimulates blood flow to the stomach lining. This in turn helps strengthen the stomach lining and heal the ulcer.
Bananas
For stomach ulcer treatment, both ripe and unripe bananas are very effective. There are certain antibacterial compounds in bananas that inhibit the growth of ulcer-causing H. pylori.
Cayenne Pepper
Surprisingly, cayenne pepper is another very effective remedy for treating stomach ulcers. According to a review published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, the compound capsaicin present in cayenne pepper inhibits the secretion of stomach acids, boosts the production of alkali, and stimulates mucus secretions and gastric mucosal blood flow, thereby preventing and healing ulcers.
Coconut
Coconut is very good for people suffering from stomach ulcers because of its antibacterial qualities. It kills the bacteria that cause ulcers. Moreover, coconut milk and coconut water have anti-ulcer properties.
Licorice
Several studies suggest that licorice works effectively for treating and preventing stomach ulcers. It helps the stomach and intestines produce more protective mucus that forms a coating over the stomach lining. This in turn eases the pain from ulcers and speeds up the healing process
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is known for its powerful healing properties and health benefits. You can use it to treat stomach ulcers also. Being rich in a mucilaginous compound, fenugreek protects the stomach’s lining by coating it like mucus, thereby facilitating the process of healing.
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