Natural Remedies & Herbs for Peptic Ulcer

Licorice root has a long history of use for soothing inflamed and injured mucous membranes in the digestive tract. Licorice may protect the stomach and duodenum by increasing production of mucin, a substance that protects the lining of these organs against stomach acid and other harmful substances. According to laboratory research, flavonoids in licorice may also inhibit growth of H. pylori.

For people with peptic ulcer, many doctors who use herbal medicine use the deglycyrrhizinated form of licorice (DGL). In making DGL, the portion of licorice root that can increase blood pressure and cause water retention is almost completely removed, while the mucous-membrane-healing part of the root is retained. In some reports, DGL has compared favorably to the popular drug cimetidine (Tagamet®) for treatment of peptic ulcer, while in other trials cimetidine has appeared initially more effective. After DGL and cimetidine were discontinued, though, one study reported fewer recurrences in the DGL group than in the cimetidine group.

Though not every trial has reported efficacy, most studies find DGL to facilitate healing of peptic ulcer. A review of the DGL research shows that the studies not reporting efficacy used capsules, and the trials finding DGL to be helpful used chewable tablets. Doctors typically suggest taking one to two chewable tablets of DGL (250 to 500 mg) 15 minutes before meals and one to two hours before bedtime...