With peptic ulcers on the rise, conventional medical treatment has changed dramatically in recent years. Now available are a huge assortment of antacids, histamine blockers, and proton pump blockers that only cover up the symptoms but don�t address the real cause of a peptic ulcer. In this article we will discuss what a peptic ulcer is its symptoms and causes. We will also look at how ulcers are currently treated and compare the side effects of conventional medicine to DGL Licorice along with how to take DGL Licorice and where you can find this product to puchase.

Peptic ulcers are formed on the lining of the stomach, small intestines, and esophagus. These areas are eroded sores from stomach acid that if left un-checked can be life threatening. Ulcers in the stomach are called gastric ulcers and ulcers in the intestinal tract are called duodenal ulcers. Peptic ulcers pose a chronic health problem because they go into remission and then become active again as time goes on through out life.

Peptic ulcers are very common in America where one in ten people develop ulcers in there life time. Duodenal ulcers are the most common and easiest to heal. Stomach ulcers usually recur more often with more discomfort. Individuals with peptic ulcers can have very little pain to no pain at all. Others can experience pain associated to burning and cramping that comes and goes from several days to several weeks. Most individuals experience pain about two to three hours after eating or symptoms can flare up in the middle of the night. Most individuals can relieve this pain by eating food. Other symptoms may be weight loss, poor appetite, bloating, burping, nausea and vomiting. (1,2)

Over the past two decades there has been a radical shift in what doctors think cause peptic ulcers. In the past, ulcers have been blamed on stress, spicy foods, alcohol consumption, and gastric acid production, but now researchers discovered most ulcers are cause be a bacterial infection. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) accounts for the majority of ulcer cases in America.

Some over the counter and prescription pain killers can cause ulcers as well. Drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can also cause peptic ulcers. Some common ones you maybe familiar is ibuprofen found in Motrin and Advil.

You might be wondering how you can tell if you have this H. pylori bacterium in your body. Current technology allows three ways of testing, blood test, a breath test, and tissue testing. Blood test is the most commonly used form of detection. A breath test is used after treatment to kill the bacteria to determine if the treatment worked.

As a rule of thumb 20% of Americans under 40 and 50% of Americans over 60 have the H. pylori bacteria. Even though some individuals have the bacteria they do not come down with ulcers so researchers are looking into why this happens in some individuals. Researchers have also discovered some individuals do not come down with ulcers while taking NSAIDs for long periods of time which leads researchers to believe other factors in the intestinal environment might be at hand with the development of ulcers. (3,4)

Today�s medical community treats H. pylori ulcer patients with the triple therapy theory. Patients are prescribed antibiotics, a strong anti-acid, and stomach protectors. The antibiotics usually kill off the bacteria if this is the root cause of the ulcer. Some of these acid suppressing medications are histamine-2-receptor antagonists Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid, and proton pump inhibitors Prilosec and Prevacid.

It is important to seek a licensed health care practitioner if you suspect that you have ulcers. Ulcers can erode the stomach lining and cause life threatening bleeding and infections such as peritonitis. Despite the risk of adverse side effects from medication, it is important to consult a practitioner before taking matters into your own hands. There are natural supplements that work well with prescription medication which can enhance healing of the ulcer. In some cases, milder pre-ulcer conditions might be treated with more natural alternatives first if your licensed health care practitioner so chooses.

There are natural alternatives that work well to heal an ulcer and can be used in conjunction with antibiotics and other prescription drugs. Licorice root specifically Deglycrrhizinated licorice (DGL) can be a good natural complement to other therapeutic measures recommended by your health care processional. Researchers have studied DGL in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. (5-12)

DGL actually addresses the underlying problem causing ulcers instead of hiding the symptoms by reducing stomach acid. DGL addressed the underlying factors by promoting our body�s natural defense mechanisms already in place to prevent ulcers. DGL stimulates the quantity and quality of the protective substance that lines the stomach and intestinal tract. (10,13)

DGL is a special extract of licorice with certain components removed. The glycyrrhizin molecules have been removed from licorice which is associated with high blood pressure and low potassium levels. Sodium has also been removed from the DGL licorice which will help prevent water retention. Long term use of licorice root can have adverse side effects such as water retention, high blood pressure and low potassium; DGL has all the components removed and what are left are very beneficial biologically active flavonoids.

In 1982, researchers reported DGL was as effective as Tagamet in curing gastric ulcers. (14) The same year DGL was also reported to be as good as Zantac. (6) Licorice root extract in the form of DGL stimulates the release of secretin. Secretin has a protective effect on gastric mucosa. By stimulating the body�s natural release of endogenous secretin, the body can rebuild the stomach or intestinal lining that has damage. (15)

In the past anti-acids were the number one prescribed drug for ulcers but have since been replaced with proton pump inhibitors. Anti-acids have nasty side effects on the bowels, for example: aluminum hydroxide promotes constipation and other anti-acids like magnesium hydroxide promote diarrhea. Anti-acids reduce stomach acid and can reduce the absorption of vitamins and medications.

In comparison to DGL other drugs such as antacids, Tagamet, Zantac, Prilosec, and Prevacid all have side effects where DGL has none. Antacids such as magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, calcium and aluminum carbonate (Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil, and Tums) can cause rebound hyperacidity, a condition in which the body creates even more acid in response to the artificial stomach acid neutralization. Antacids can also have bowel changes such as diarrhea or constipation and possible drug interactions. Due to the high sodium content of antacids, individuals with kidney impairment should consult a doctor before use. Tagamet, Zantac, Prilosec and Prevacid have the following side effects respectively. Tagamet can cause dizziness, sleepiness, headaches, confusion, hallucinations, diarrhea, and impotence in men. (16) Zantac can cause headaches, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and rashes. (17) Prilosec and Prevacid can cause headaches, dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and upper respiratory symptoms. (18,19)

DGL has none of the above listed side effects and is easy to use. DGL should be taken 20 minutes before each meal in 760 or 1520 mg doses. The best way to consume DGL is to chew and mix with the saliva in your mouth. Salivary compounds in the mouth help stimulate the growth and regeneration of stomach and intestinal cells. Use DGL from 8 to 16 weeks or for as long as your health care provider recommends. In conclusion, DGL can help improve the integrity of the stomach and intestinal lining and help one recover from those nasty ulcers. DGL and other stomach aids can be found at your local or internet health food store.

References:

1. Peptic ulcer. In: Guyton AC, Hall JE. Textbook of Medical Physiology. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders Company;1998:846-847.

2. Peptic ulcer disease. In: Porth CM. Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott; 1998: 725-728.

3. Dajani EZ, Klamut MJ. Novel therapeutic approaches to gastric and duodenal ulcers: an update. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2000;9:1537-1544.

4. Cappell MS, Schein JR. Diagnosis and treatment of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-associated upper gastrointestinal toxicity. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2000;29:97-124.

5. Engqvist A, von Feilitzen F, Pyk E, Reichard H. Double-blind trial of deglycyrrhizinated liqourice in gastric ulcer. Gut. 1973;14:711-715.

6. Glick L. Deglycyrrhizinated liquorice for peptic ulcer. Lancet. 1982;9:817.

7. Bardhan KD, Cumberland DC, Dixon RA, Holdsworth CD. Clinical trial of deglycyrrhisinated liqourice in gastric ulcer. Gut. 1978;19:779-782.

8. Balakrishnan V, Pillai MV, Raveebdran PM, Nair CS. Deglycrrhizinated liqourice in the treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer. J Assoc Physicians India. 1978;26:811-814.

9. Rees WDW, Rhodes J, Wright JE, Stamford IF, Bennett A. Effect of deglycyrrhizinated liquorice on gastric mucosal damage by aspirin. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1979;14:605-607.

10. Tewari SN, Wilson AK. Deglycrrhizinated liquorice in duodenal ulcer. Practitioner. 1973;210:820-823.

11. Abrahamsson H, Dotevall G. Pharmacological and clinical aspects of some drugs used in peptic ulcer treatment. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1979;55:117-120.

12. Bardnan KD, Cumberland DC, Dixon RA, Holdsworth CD. Proceedings: Deglycrrhizinated liqourice in gastric ulcer: a double-blind controlled trial. Gut. 1976;17:397.

13. Morgan AG, Pacsoo C, McAdam WAF. Maintenance therapy: a two year comparison between Caved-S and cimetidine treatment in the prevention of symptomatic gastric ulcer recurrence. Gut. 1985;26:599-602.

14. Morgan AG, McAdam WAF, Pacsoo C, Darnborough A. Comparison between cimetidine and Caved-S in the treatment of gastric ulceration, and subsequent maintenance therapy. Gut. 1982;23:545-551.

15. Takeuchi T, Shiratori K, Watanabe S, Chang J-H, Moriyoshi Y, Shimizu K. Secretin as a potential mediator of antiulceractions of mucosal protective agents. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1991;13:83-87.

16. Cimetidine. In: Physicians� Desk Reference. 54th ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc; 2000:3043-3046.

17. Ranitidine. Ibid. pp. 1310-1312.

18. Omeprazole. Ibid. pp. 617-621.

19. Lansoprazole. Ibid. pp. 3105-3110.

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