Apple Cider Vinegar for Peptic Ulcer

Ulcers are caused due to a chronic build-up of acid in the stomach. Ulcers can sometimes occur in the intestines too, but stomach ulcers are the most common ulcers that affect us. The most common of these ulcers is called a peptic ulcer.

Peptic ulcers tend to be a chronic complaint and people often try home remedies to get relief from these ulcers because medication too cannot completely get rid of the problem. There are many popular home remedies for ulcers including the apple cider vinegar solution, which is one of the most popular.

Though apple cider vinegar is an acquired taste, it can help deal with the suffering and pain of a peptic ulcer. Take about 1 tablespoon of unfiltered apple cider and add it to a glass of water.

Drink this mixture to reduce the pain from your ulcer. You can add baking soda to this mixture as well before you drink it. You can even drink more than one glass of this mixture if the pain is acute. If you are prone to stomach ulcers, you can even make a habit of drinking this solution every day before your meals. Apple cider vinegar is also considered effective to restore the body’s Ph balance. Drinking apple cider vinegar is no guarantee of relief as every person reacts differently to the home remedy.

Research suggests that the vinegar restores the acid balance in your stomach lining but there is not enough scientific evidence that this is true. The vinegar kills the bacteria that cause the ulcers. Chronic and constant bacteria and ulcers can damage your stomach lining. You need to change your habits to discourage ulcers from forming. Avoid foods that are rich or spicy. Avoid alcohol or caffeinated drinks. Eat regularly and on time. Increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables. Get some light exercise. In the long term these habits will reduce your overall incidence of ulcers.

Antacids can also help while dealing with ulcers but again antacids are a short term cure. You cannot rely on antacids alone to make a stomach ulcer better. These can only give you some relief from the pain of an ulcer. If your ulcer continues to persist, do go to a doctor. While home remedies are useful, they cannot be used as substitutes for medication. Probiotic products like yogurt and probiotic drinks also can improve the health of your stomach. The bacteria in these products can restore the imbalance in your stomach or in the duodenum.

Reference:
http://www.pitt.edu/~cjm6/s98vinegar.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1785201/

Submitted on January 16, 2014