Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
Most ulcers come from two causes: H. pylori bacterial infection or regular painkiller (NSAID) use; smoking, alcohol and severe illness add risk - spicy food and stress alone do not cause ulcers.
A peptic ulcer develops when stomach acid overwhelms the protective mucus lining of the stomach or duodenum. What breaks that protection?
1. H. pylori infection (the leading cause). This spiral bacterium lives in the stomach lining, produces inflammation, and strips away protective mucus. It spreads through contaminated food, water and close contact, and is extremely common in India. Most carriers never develop an ulcer - but in those who do, eradicating the bacteria cures the ulcer for good.
2. NSAID painkillers (the second major cause). Ibuprofen, diclofenac, aceclofenac, aspirin and naproxen block an enzyme (COX-1) that maintains the stomach lining's defences. Risk climbs with: regular daily use, higher doses, combining multiple painkillers, use alongside steroids or blood thinners, and age over 60. Many Indians take these freely for body pain, headaches and arthritis without medical supervision - a major, avoidable cause of ulcers and ulcer bleeding.
Factors that add risk (amplifiers, not sole causes):
What does NOT cause ulcers: spicy food, tea, and emotional stress by themselves. They can worsen the burning of an existing ulcer, which is why the myth persists - but no amount of chillies creates an ulcer without H. pylori or NSAIDs doing the underlying damage.
Why the cause matters: treatment differs completely. H. pylori needs antibiotics; NSAID ulcers need stopping the painkiller plus acid suppression. Guessing wrong means the ulcer returns.
Remember: two real causes - H. pylori and painkillers. Blaming spices delays the test and treatment that actually cure the ulcer.
Amlapitta is attributed to pitta-aggravating habits (excess sour, fried, irregular meals). That framework sensibly targets triggers, but the modern causes - a bacterium and a drug class - need modern testing and treatment.
Written By
Sanatan Ayurveda
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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An ulcer here usually means a peptic ulcer - an open sore in the stomach or duodenum lining caused mostly by H. pylori bacteria or painkillers; it is diagnosable and curable with proper treatment.
The classic ulcer symptom is burning upper-abdominal pain that comes on an empty stomach or at night and eases briefly with food or antacid; vomiting blood or black stools are emergencies.
Ulcer treatment is acid suppression (PPIs like omeprazole/pantoprazole) plus, when H. pylori is found, a 10-14 day antibiotic eradication course; finish the full course and retest if asked.
Gentle yoga and walking are fine with an ulcer and help stress and digestion; skip strong abdominal-pressure poses during active symptoms, and remember exercise complements - never replaces - treatment.
Curing an ulcer follows a clear sequence: test for H. pylori, take the eradication antibiotics plus a PPI if positive, stop culprit painkillers, finish 4-8 weeks of acid suppression, and confirm healing.
Prevent ulcers by never self-medicating painkillers long-term, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, good food-and-water hygiene against H. pylori, and protecting the stomach when NSAIDs are truly needed.
