Ulcers
What Is It?
An ulcer is a very painful, slow healing, open wound in any mucosal or dermal surface. This can be anywhere from the mouth to the duodenum to the lower bowel and anywhere on the outside of the body. They are especially common in the lower legs in elderly and bed bound patients (pressure sore ulcers).
Cause and Effect
The most common gastrointestinal ulcers occur in the stomach and duodenum; the term peptic ulcer includes gastric (stomach) and duodenal ulcers.
Mouth ulcers can appear on the tongue, inner cheek, lips and gums, and are usually painful, round or oval, inflamed white or red sores. Mouth ulcers can be related to food allergies, poor dental hygiene, smoking, stress and fatigue.
Acid erosion is generally the cause of gastrointestinal ulcers, although other known causes include smoking, drinking and some medications. The bacteria helicobacter pylori is also a known factor in gastrointestinal ulcers.
Skin ulcers can occur as a result of a lesion caused by damage or injury but instead of healing in a normal period of time, they fail to close over and allow normal surface skin or mucosa to form. Ulcers can be deep, allowing the chance of secondary infection to penetrate deeper tissues and they can be a source of infection, exuding pus and/or plasma to leak from the ulcer sore.
It is suggested that dyspeptic pain such as heartburn denotes dehydration which may lead to duodenal ulcers. (Your Body’s Many Cries for Water by F Batmanghelidj)
Juice Pharmacy Recommendations:
What to Avoid
Alcohol, caffeine, milk, sugar, as well as fibre-lacking, processed foods, sugary carbonated drinks, dairy products and red meat.
What to Include
Clinical studies have shown possible deficiencies of vitamin B6, C, zinc and essential fatty acids (EFA) omega-3 and-6 in people with gastrointestinal ulcers. (Nutritional Influences on Illness by Melvyn R Werbach M.D.)
Clinical studies on people with skin ulcers suggest possible deficiencies in folic acid, vitamins A, C, E, selenium, zinc and EFA. (Nutritional Influences on Illness by Melvyn R Werbach M.D.)
R.For skin ulcers, alfalfa, elderberry, kohlrabi, rhubarb are all useful and for duodenal ulcer avocado, banana and orange are found to be good.
Alkalines - Maintaining an alkaline body environment will assist the healing of ulcers as the less acidic body waste the body has to deal with, the more it can attend to the normalising of the tissues in ulcers (often caused by overacidity of the area and bloodstream). A diet of at least 80 per cent fresh, live, raw fruits and vegetables (taken as juices and/or salads) and a maximum of 20 per cent or less of acid-forming foods (meats, cereal grains and dairy products).
Cabbage - For stomach ulcers, fresh cabbage juice with fresh raspberry juice added is very effective at soothing and healing ulcers. Taken twice per day for a period of at least three months, this blend should facilitate the body’s natural healing of the ulcer quickly and return the patient to normal.
Fibre - A high fibre diet and an increase in water intake can prove advantageous in the treatment of ulcers.
Liquorice - This natural root contains mucilage, a substance which coats and soothes inflamed membranes and may be useful for ulcers and constipation.
The Juice Recipes
Shot: The Cabbage Shot
1 Apple
¼ Small Red Cabbage
Juice and down in one.
Juice: The Rainbow Remedy - taken from Jason Vale's Super Juice Me! 28-Day Juice Plan
2 Apples
1 Carrot
1 Stalk Celery
¼ Cucumber
1 Beetroot
1 Small Handful of Red Cabbage
1 Tomato
3cm Raw Ginger
¼ Lemon
Juice all the fruits and vegetables and serve over ice.
Super Blend: Beyond Detox - taken from Jason Vale's 3-Day Juice Challenge
3 Apples
1 Large Handful of Spinach
¼ Beetroot
¼ Cucumber
2 Springs of Parsley
½ Avocado
Juice all the ingredients and add to a blender, along with the avocado flesh and blend until smooth.
Disclaimer
Please note, it is impossible to give a definitive list as what supports one person can be a trigger food or allergen for another. You must stay your own juice detective at all times and listen to how your own body responds to certain foods and always consult with your healthcare provider when making changes to your diet which may affect your medication. Please be aware that we are not doctors, so it is important to consult with your GP or medical practitioner BEFORE making any changes to your diet. The suggestions above are not meant as an alternative to any current medical treatment so please DO NOT stop taking any medications you are on. They are also not an endorsement of their effectiveness, or a recommendation that they should be followed but instead, are provided for informational purposes. None of the information on the Natural Juice Therapy site is intended or implied to treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease.