Re: Desperate Ulcer Question

[Guest guest]

Subject: Mastic Oil for ulcers

Mastic oil comes from the sap of a rare cousin of the pistachio

tree. In ancient times, doctors, including Hippocrates and Galen,

prized it for its ability to cure stomach ulcers and gum disease.

Now researchers are beginning to confirm that mastic kills

Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium responsible for most ulcers in

the stomach and small intestine. For centuries, people of the

Mediterranean have cooked with the tree's oil and chewed gum made

from its resin to freshen their breath and soothe stomach pains. But

it long ago fell out of favor with Western doctors. " Mastic

disappeared from medicine for many centuries because when

universities were established, pharmacological knowledge was not

included, " says Riddle, PhD, professor of history at North

Carolina State University. " Learned men of the time did not trust

folk cures based on herbs. " But in 1982 the discovery that H. pylori

causes most ulcers in the stomach and small intestine spurred a

search for new treatments. Middle Eastern doctors who remembered the

ancient remedy decided to test mastic scientifically. In one such

study, reported in the September-October 1984 issue of Clinical

Experiments in Pharmacological Physiology, researchers assigned 38

patients with duodenal (intestinal)ulcers to two groups. One group

took a gram a day of mastic and the other group took a placebo. Of

those taking the mastic, 70% healed, compared with only 22% of the

patients taking the placebo. Patients reported no side effects, and

further experiments showed that mastic can kill H. pylori in test

tubes. Now Atherton, MD, a gastroenterologist at Nottingham

University, England, is testing mastic in patients known to be

infected with H. pylori. " There are a handful of scientific papers

from the Middle East showing how mastic cures ulcers and reduces

heartburn, " says Atherton. " But there are no good studies from the

U.S. or from Britain. (And) we want to see if mastic works by

killing the bacterium H. pylori or by some other protective action

on the stomach. " Some researchers think mastic may ease ulcer

symptoms by stimulating the stomach to thicken the lining of mucus

that shields it from acid. The treatment is still virtually unknown

in the United States. " We have not heard of that yet, " says

Rittman, communications director for the American College of

Gastroenterology. The British herbal products company Goldshield

Healthcare sells mastic in British pharmacies under the trade name

Mastika and plans to sell the treatment to U.S. customers through

its web site (http://www.mastika.com). The company is marketing

mastic as a food supplement because the research is so preliminary

that neither the British nor the U.S. government have approved it as

a medicine. A Bargain Treatment Little research has tested mastic's

long-reputed power to fight gum disease; scientists have focused on

its potential as an ulcer treatment because ulcers can be deadly, H.

pylori increases the risk of gastric cancer, and the standard

antibiotic treatments are expensive. Not only are antibiotics more

expensive than mastic, they often cause side effects. And H. pylori

is becoming resistant to metronidazole, the current first-choice

antibiotic for ulcers in many poor nations. So far, no one has

tested mastic and antibiotics head-to-head to see which is most

effective for ulcers. Mastic gum is obtained from a shrub found

scattered over the Mediterranean region in Spain, Portugal, France,

Greece, Turkey, Northern Africa and the Canary Islands. It's

botanical name is Pistacia lentiscus. The part used is the resinous

exudate from the stem. In addition to being a traditional medicinal

agent, mastic gum has traditionally been used in the perfume

industry and as chewing gum in many cultures. Reported Uses: Mastic

gum's main potential benefit involves support of the stomach lining.

Studies suggest that mastic may inhibit the growth of H. pylori, a

bacterial invader that lives in the mucous of the stomach lining and

can lead to stomach ulcers and other complications. Additionally,

studies suggest that mastic gum may be able to exert overall

protective support for the stomach lining and may provide benefit

for patients with stomach ulcers. It may also protect the body from

various fungi and other bacteria. Precautions General Precaution: Be

sure to tell your pharmacist, doctor or other health care providers

about any dietary supplements you are taking. There may be a

potential for interactions or side effects. taking. There may be a

potential for interactions or side effects. Allergy: Some

individuals experience an allergic reaction when taking this dietary

supplement. Discontinue use and call your doctor or seek medical

attention if you have fast or irregular breathing, skin rash, hives

or itching. Pregnancy/Breast-Feeding: To date, the medical

literature has not reported any adverse effects related to fetal

development during pregnancy or to infants who are breast-fed. Yet

little is known about the use of this dietary supplement while

pregnant or breast-feeding. Therefore, it is recommended that you

inform your healthcare practitioner of any dietary supplements you

are using while pregnant or breast-feeding. -------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Sara Thustra wrote:

> Hey everybody...I'm going to try to keep this on-topic, but I really

> *really* want to rant about the medical system and how sick people who

> don't have money can't get care...but no, instead I'll talk about ulcers.

>

> My partner has a history of ulcers, and now for the last 2 weeks --

> pretty much since he quit smoking--he's been having symptoms again.

> He's got a tender spot on the left side of his stomach, constant burping

> and heartburn that OTC medication isn't touching, and overall is very

> uncomfortable. Of course, per the above, he can't go see a doctor, but

> I'm worried because the tenderness, etc. could mean that there's

> perforation of the stomach lining, which of course can be dangerous.

>

> The only thing I was able to find about ulcers was a possible reference

> to using cayenne, but nothing about dosage or duration of the treatment

> or anything...does anyone have any experience w/ anything that could

> help control his condition, and can you please give me or direct me to

> specific enough information that I can try to help him w/out a doc's

> visit?

>

> *hoping hard*

> Thanks,

> ST

=============================

You also might consider Wheat Grass juice daily (2ounces) or having him

eat slipper elm gruel. I would also suggest that he drink a lot of fresh

vegetable juices like cabbage and carrot juice. Fresh coconut juice and

raw organic coconut oil will be very beneficial in helping to heal his gut.

Now the big question is what is the cause of the ulcers. This is what

needs to be treated in order to totally eradicate any future bouts with

ulcers. For the cayenne I would suggest using 1/2 to 1 teaspoonful in a

glass of very warm water as needed.

I hope this helps him and you out Sara.

Peace be with you both.

--

Peace, love and light,

Don Quai

" Spirit sleeps in the mineral, breathes in the vegetable, dreams in the animal

and wakes in man. "