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What Can Help Soothe a Stomach Ulcer?

Stomach ulcers are open sores that can develop on the inside lining of your stomach. According to MayoClinic.Com, stomach ulcers will affect as many as 10 percent of Americans at some time in their lives. But with advances that have been made in the medical field, there are many ways to soothe stomach ulcers.

  1. Antibiotics

    • Because many stomach ulcers form as a result of the bacteria H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori), doctors usually prescribe a combination of antibiotics to ensure that it is fully destroyed. Some of the antibiotics commonly prescribed for stomach ulcers are amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metronidazole.

    Acid Blockers

    • Acid blockers, also known as histamine or H-2 blockers, can also be prescribed by your doctor to reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid in your digestive tract. This tends to relieve stomach ulcer pain and promote quicker healing.

    Antacids

    • Antacids such as calcium carbonate (Tums) and magnesium hydroxide (Phillips' Milk of Magnesia) can soothe a stomach ulcer by neutralizing existing stomach acid, providing quick pain relief.

    Fiber

    • Eating a diet rich in fiber can not only help prevent stomach ulcers from forming, but it can also speed recovery from already existing ones.

    Stress Reduction

    • According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, stress reduction with the regular use of relaxation techniques can lessen the pain from stomach ulcers. In addition, stress reduction can possibly reduce your need for NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) as well. This is useful because NSAIDs can cause stomach ulcers in some individuals.

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