Due to malfunctioning of the digested organs, a condition known as hyper-acidity is observed. The gastric juices in our stomach contain hydrochloric acid, but with its malfunctioning and the excess flow of this acid, it produces a breach on the surface of the membrane, that serves as a lining of the stomach.
This gives birth to ulcers.
Ulcers in the stomach are called Peptic Ulcers and those in the duodenum, the Duodenal Ulcers. Both are painful and lead to further indigestion; hence loss of weight, weakness, etc.
Some ulcers also bleed and in severe cases, there is haemorrhage from the mouth also, besides blood in stools from the rectum.
Treatment
In such cases the patient should be given complete rest. Ice may be given to suck in case of haemorrhage from the mouth.
The medical science administers alkaline powders to neutralise the acidity of the ulcers, but the overdoses of these, create another trouble, that is, the indigestion of the protein foods due to comparative lack of food acids.
That causes constipation, etc. Thus a complete Nature-cure treatment is the best solution.
In ordinary cases, a fast with water, for two or three days, followed by all-fruit diet, accompanied by enema and hip-baths, also both times, daily, will relieve the patient of the trouble.
In chronic cases, a 40-day course of milk only (called dugdha-kalpa) is advised. In that course, after a fast with water only for 3 to 5 days, the patient is brought on milk diet only.
The patient will be fed on only milk and all other Nature-cure applications of Hip-bath, enema, twice daily, etc. shall continue. The doses of milk served to the patient will go on increasing from spoonfuls, to those of cups and glasses, such that on about the 30th day, the patient is made to drink 7 or 8 litres of milk.
Then gradually his milk in-take is reduced and the soup of vegetables or fruit juices is added to his menu. After 40 days, he is considered back on his normal diet, consisting of natural foods, milk, vegetables and fruits.