Peptic Ulcers from a Holistic Perspective

Peptic Ulcers are very common and affect nearly 4 million americans, every year. They are more common in adults, although it is thought that many people are infected in childhood and carry the bacteria throughout their life. They occur in the stomach or duodenum (upper part of the small intestine). A peptic ulcer is an erosion in the mucous membrane of the gastro-intestinal tract. When we eat, our stomach produces hydrochloric acid and an enzyme called pepsin. This enables the food to get partly digested in the stomach itself. The acid and pepsin are generally stopped from corroding the intestinal walls by a protective mucous layer that lines the whole digestive tract. But sometimes, this delicate balance between gastric juices and the protective mucous layer gets disturbed and it results in an inflammation of the tissues. This is how an ulcer is formed.

Causes of Peptic Ulcers

The underlying pathophysiology of peptic ulcers is the destruction of the gastric or intestinal mucosal lining of the stomach by hydrochloric acid, an acid normally present in the digestive juices of the stomach.

There are many factors known to cause disruption between stomach acid and mucosal protection balance. The most common cause is a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori, which is responsible for causing more than 75% of peptic ulcers.

'Helicobacter' is a genus of spiral bacteria that amazingly, is able to survive the severe acidity of the stomach. This bacterium secretes an enzyme called urease, which neutralizes HCl secreted by the stomach to digest food. Low levels of acids trigger the stomach to produce more acid, in turn leading to an imbalance.

H. pylori bacteria spread through infected stools and may be transmitted from person to person through contaminated food and water.

H. pylori attach to the epithelial cells of the stomach and duodenum, which stops it from being washed out. Once attached, the bacteria start to cause damage to the cells by secreting enzymes and toxins and initiating a self-destructive immune response.

Another causative factor is the regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g. aspirin and ibuprofen). These medications interfere with the normal digestive process and create an imbalance between the stomach acid and mucosal protection balance.

Medical research indicates that ulcers are not caused by lifestyle habits like stress. But at the same time, it does not rule out the fact that some factors may be responsible in supporting the ailment. These are:

• Regular consumption of alcohol
• Stress - Physical stress (severe injuries) or emotional stress
• High intake of caffeine
• Cigarette smoking
• Radiation therapy
• Rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome causes peptic ulcers as well as tumors in the pancreas and duodenum.

The most preferred treatment in conventional medicine, is prescribing antibiotics and antacids. The most common antibiotics used are: metronidazole, tetracycline, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin. Other medicines like H2-Receptor antagonists and Proton pump inhibitors are also given to control acid levels.  However, all these medications only provide temporary relief. Once they are stopped, the acid levels rise and the stomach lining becomes prone to irritation again.

How do Conventional Medicines Work?

Antibiotics are used to kill the H. Pylori bacteria. However,  the bacteria often mutate into antibiotic resistant strains that no longer respond to antibiotic treatment and antibiotics are known to evoke several unpleasant side effects.

Antacids neutralize gastric acid. However, they are known to cause side-effects. E.g. A major side effect of magnesium-containing antacids (Maalox, Mylanta) is diarrhea.

Other medicines like H2-Receptor antagonists and Proton pump inhibitors are also given to control acid levels. Both of these suppress gastric acid secretion. However, they have different modes of action. While Proton pump inhibitors shut down the proton pumps in the stomach, H2 receptor blockers or histamine-receptor blockers work by blocking the histamine receptors in acid producing cells in the stomach. The most common side-effects experienced from these medications are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headaches, rash, and dizziness.

Complementary Natural Care
Natural therapies aim at not only relieving the symptoms of peptic ulcers like acute pain, but also working with your immune system to correct the physiological root causes of ulcers, thus giving you lasting relief. Natural therapies including resonance homeopathy, advanced bioenergetic, and ayurvedic herbal ingredients are believed to work by: **

• Supporting the structure and functions of the gastric and duodenal lining
• Boosting immunity
• Establishing balance in the secretion of digestive juices to prevent further damage of the lining

Biogetica is on the vanguard of healthcare innovation combining for the first time three separate and unique disciplines: traditional ayurvedic herbs, advanced resonance homeopathy, and ground-breaking nutraceuticals designed from the molecule up to provide health and freedom to you.

Our mission is to provide you with integrated natural solutions that target root issues across the physical, energetic and informational spectrum of your life. Our Doctors research all possible ingredients and combine them synergistically into kits to help bring your body into balance.

Biogetica’s products reflect an understanding of both the molecular and vibrational nature of life and therefore bridge the gap between the current understandings of medicine, biology, and quantum physics.

Our approach aims at boosting your immune system to correct the physiological root causes of ulcers. Biogetica's multidisciplinary kit is believed to work by: **

• Using homeopathic ingredients with natural pain-relieving properties to relieve your pain
• Soothing your gastric mucosal lining and promoting repair of damaged tissue
• Gently cleansing your body, so that toxins, acids and chemicals do not disrupt its delicate biochemistry
• Using modern bioenergetic techniques to get your stomach and duodenum to learn how to insulate themselves against harmful acids
• Aiding normal digestive processes and enzyme production, thus relieving symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux
• Removing excessive acid build-up and free radicals from your body

The proof of our methods is evident from the ground-breaking results we have seen in independent clinical trials, and more importantly, in the lives we’ve helped uplift.