Ulcers

A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or your duodenum, the first part of your small intestine. A burning stomach pain is the most common symptom. The pain:

Starts between meals or during the night
Briefly stops if you eat or take antacids
Lasts for minutes to hours
Comes and goes for several days or weeks

Peptic ulcers happen when the acids that help you digest food damage the walls of the stomach or duodenum. The most common cause is infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Another cause is the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers, but can make them worse.

To see if you have an H. pylori infection, your doctor will test your blood, breath, or stool. Your doctor also may look inside your stomach and duodenum by doing an endoscopy or x-ray.

Peptic ulcers will get worse if not treated. Treatment may include medicines to reduce stomach acids or antibiotics to kill H. pylori. Antacids and milk can't heal peptic ulcers. Not smoking and avoiding alcohol can help. You may need surgery if your ulcers don't heal.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.

Physician's Therapeutics Memoranda on Ulcers

BED SORES
When threatened, harden skin by frequent use of astringent lotions, lead water, tannin dissolved in dilute alcohol, 2 grs. to fl. oz.; whiskey and salt (2 drachms to pint); Antiseptine diluted with wa ter or whiskey. When ulcers have formal, protect with soap plaster and use antiseptics. especially Iodosyl ointment. Sustain patient’s strength with nourishing and predigested food. Iron in form of the tincture is generally of service.¹

CORNEAL ULCERS
For local application Iodosyl surpasses all other remedies; atro pine if there is a tendency to iritis. Tonic and roborant treatment is generally indicated.¹

ULCERS
The treatment must depend on the conditions. In general the applications that are of most benefit are at once stimulating and antiseptic. That most generally useful is Iodosyl. As a cleansing agent, hydrogen peroxide is generally best, although more powerful applications (caustics) have their use, particularly strong carbolic acid followed by alcohol to limit its destructive action.¹

References

1) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.