Ulcers

Ulcers are an inflammation of the mucus lining of the stomach. They involve pain, burning sensation and, when more servere, bleeding. If perforated, they can be life-threatening. They are usually due to psychological factors such as stress, worry or overwork but there are many dietary causes as well, includeing too much spicy or sour food. Ulcers, most commonly are a Pitta (fire) condition. Excess acid from the small intestine accumulates in the stomach and burns through the lining, causing inflammation. It is not always an excedd of stomach acid that causes ulcers. Some may be due to high Vata (air) and its characteristic excessive thinking and nervous sensitivity. Sometimes there is a deficiency of the mucus (Kapha) secretions of the stomach. This allows a normal or even low amount of acid to burn through. Ulcers can even be caused by a deficiency of stomach acid; the food stays in the stomach too long and eventually burns through what may be a thin stomach lining.