It is what weakens and erodes the mucous lining. Once the mucous is gone, the acid and bacteria can start work on the lining which then leads to an ulcer.



Food or liquids, including antacids and milk, can provide some temporary relief, but milk might not be all that good a remedy since it stimulates production of hydrochloric acid and other digestive juices which further aggravates the pain.

Antacids blended from aluminum, calcium or magnesium salts, have long been the non prescription drugs most people quickly reach for to get relief from their stomach pains.

Chew a small piece of jaggery three or four times a day. Jaggery is prepared from sugarcane molasses. Chew the seeds of a cardamom and a clove together after taking meals. This not only cures acidity, but also freshen breath.

Take a glass of milk, with a little ghee added to it at night. Take milk two or three times daily if you already have developed ulcer in the digestive tract. You can also mix some castor oil in lukewarm milk and drink it. Make sure the castor oil is odorless.

Take a glass of hot water and put a tsp of aniseed in it. Leave it overnight. Add a tsp honey to the water and drink it. Repeat it two or three times a day for a week. Drink a tender coconut's water and eat the fruity pulp. This soothes acidity.

Licorice should be consumed as De-Glycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL). Glycyrrhizin increases water retention and blood pressure. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial reported that 16 people with significant stomach discomfort showed an average improvement of 78% when given 360 mg of DGL thrice daily, compared to 34% in the placebo group. Other trials have compared DGL to prescription drugs showing that 760 mg DGL 3 times daily is as effective as the popular prescription drug cimetidine. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice causes no water retention or increase in BP.

Ginger is another readily-available carminative. Especially warming to the gut. You can make a tea with powdered ginger, or use up to a tablespoon of fresh ginger per cup of water for a strong brew. Ginger works best sweetened with honey. NASA found it would counter the nausea of space-sickness. You can also buy crystallized or candied ginger to take traveling with you. The fastest remedy for gas pain is two capsules of acidophilus. I expect pain relief in 5-10 minutes.

And I don't pay much attention to the expiration date on it. I keep mine in the refrigerator, and use them so rarely that I often have a bottle for ten years - and they still work.

You may still be in a high stress situation, although this is regarded less as a cause of stomach ulcers nowadays, my own experience indicates that it is definitely a contributing factor.