Peptic Ulcers
The term peptic ulcer usually refers to an ulcer in the lower esophagus,
stomach, or duodenum.
Peptic Ulcers - CAUSE
1. Heredity - Patients with peptic
ulcer often have a family history of the disease, this is particularly
so with duodenal ulcers which develop below the age of 20 years.
The relatives of chronic ulcer patients have three times the expected
number of ulcers.
2. Helicobacter pylori - This is
the most important etiological factor in peptic ulcer disease, accounting
for 90% of duodenal ulcers and 70% of gastric ulcers. By causing
gastritis it reduces the resistance of the gastric mucosa to attack
be acid and pepsin and a gastric ulcer may result.
3. Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs
(NSAIDS) - These damage the gastric mucosal barrier and are
an important etiological factor in up to 30% of gastric ulcers.
4. Smoking - confers an increased
risk of gastric ulcer and to a lesser extent duodenal ulcer.
Peptic Ulcers - SIGNS
AND SYMPTOMS
- Abdominal pain - Pain is referred
to the epigastrium and is often so sharply localized that the
patient can indicate its site with tow or three fingers - the
'pointing sign'
- Hunger pain - Pain occurs intermittently
during the day, often when the stomach is empty, so that the patient
identifies it as 'hunger pain' and obtains relief be eating.
- Night pain - Pain wakes the patient
from sleep and may be relieved by food, a drink of milk or antacids.
This symptoms if found, is virtually pathognomonic of peptic ulcer
disease..
- Episodic pain/ Periodicity - Characteristically
pain occurs in 'on again/off again' episodes, lasting one to three
times a week at a time, three to four times in a year. In temperate
climates seasonal variation may be noted with an increased frequency
of symptoms during winter and spring.
- Other symptoms -
- Waterbarsh
- Heartburn
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
Peptic Ulcers - HOW
DIAGNOSIS IS DONE?
- Endoscopy is the preferred method.
- Double contrast barium meal examination may be done.
Peptic Ulcers - COMPLICATIONS
The ulcer may occasionally perforate leading to peritonitis and
other complications.
Peptic Ulcers - WHAT
TO DIFFERENTIATE FROM?
- Occasional dyspepsia (indigestion)
- Malignant ulcer/ carcinoma
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT & Medicines
for Peptic Ulcers
Homeopathy offers some very good medicines for peptic ulcer disease.
But for a homeopath, the symptoms of the disease are much more important
than the ulcer itself. This is because to select the right medicine
a homeopaths needs to differentiate between the finer presentations
of a disease which, vary from person to person. A homeopath not
only tries to heal the ulcer but also tries to remove the general
predisposition to acquire it. The homeopath not only tries to find
'What is wrong?', but also 'Why it went wrong?'; 'Where it started
going wrong?'; 'How it evolved to the current stage?' etc. To find
the answers to all these questions, a homeopath tries to gather
as much information as possible regarding the pat and present medical
history of the patient, his/her family history, his/her general
physical and psychological characteristics etc. This hard work on
the part of homeopath not only helps in removing the acute
symptoms and the ulcer but also is usually able to remove the tendency
for relapse. The 'on-again/off-again' nature of the disease is often
removed and the general health of the person also improves as a
result.
Some of the commonly used medicines for gastritis and duodenal
ulcers are argentum-nit, arsenic-alb, atropine, geranium, hydrastis,
kali-bichrom, merc-cor, ornithogalum, phosphorus, uranium-nit, terebintha,
lycopodium, pulsatilla, graphites, natrum-phos, medorrhinum etc.
Peptic Ulcers - CONVENTIONAL
TREATMENT
- Drugs which decrease the secretion of acids in stomach are the
mainstay of treatment. These include drugs like cimetidine, ranitidine,
famotidine, nizatidine, omeprazole (proton-pump inhibitor) etc
- Bismuth salts, antibiotics, and metronidazole are given to eradicate
Helicobacter pylori
- Antacids are prescribed for symptomatic relief.
- Surgery is rarely indicated for ulcers resistant to therapy
or where there are frequent relapses.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? - ACCESSORY MANAGEMENT
- Avoid cigarette
- Aspirin and Bon-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs should be
avoided
- Spicy and rich food may aggravate. If so, it should be avoided.
- Drink lots of water.
- Take frequent small meals instead of two or three big meals.
WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFO? - INTERNET
RESOURCES
REFERENCE WORKS
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed, McGraw-Hill
Davidson's Principles and Practise of Medicine, 17th ed, 1996,
Churchill Livingstone
New Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory, William
Boericke, 2nd revised ed., 2001, B. Jain
A Concise Repertory of Homeopathic Medicines, S.R.Phatak, 3rd ed,
B. Jain
The Prescriber, Clarke, reprint ed, 1998, B. Jain
Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics, Dewey, reprint ed, 1993, B.Jain |
