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Some home remedies, such as probiotics, may help relieve the pain and other symptoms associated with stomach ulcers. However, people should use these in conjunction with medical treatment.

Stomach ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach or duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. Stomach ulcers are also known as peptic ulcers, gastric ulcers, or duodenal ulcers.

Read about nine evidence-based methods to help relieve the pain from stomach ulcers.

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If a person has an ulcer, they may feel a burning sensation in their stomach. This burning sensation often:

People can relieve these symptoms using the following home remedies:

1. Probiotics

Probiotics are living organisms that help restore balance to the bacteria in the digestive tract. As well as helping achieve optimal gut health, they can help with treating ulcers.

According to research, probiotics cannot kill H. pylori bacteria. However, they may reduce the amount of bacteria present, speed up the healing process, and improve some symptoms.

When taken alongside other treatments, probiotics may help eradicate harmful bacteria.

People can find probiotics in the following sources:

  • yogurts
  • fermented foods
  • probiotic supplements

Some foods have probiotics in them. But, consider taking supplements as they have higher concentrations of probiotics per serving.

However, many of these results come from animal studies, so it is not clear whether the effects would be similar in humans.

2. Colorful fruits

Many fruits contain compounds called flavonoids. Flavonoids contribute to the rich colors of some fruits.

According to a 2021 review, flavonoids may have a have antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that can help protect against, and manage, peptic ulcers. However, the authors state that more research is necessary.

Flavonoids protect the stomach lining from developing ulcers. They do this by increasing stomach mucus, which inhibits the growth of H. pylori.

Flavonoids are present in fruits such as:

3. Plantain bananas

Plantains are fruits that belong to the same family as bananas. Research suggests that unripe plantains may have a positive effect on peptic ulcers.

Unripe plantains contain a flavonoid called leucocyanidin. Leucocyanidin increases the amount of mucus in the stomach. This fruit may also reduce acidity, which can help prevent and relieve symptoms of ulcers.

4. Honey

Honey is a popular, natural sweetener used across the United States. People who consume honey regularly can enjoy a range of health benefits.

A number of studies suggest that honey may have antimicrobial effects against H. pylori, suggesting it could be useful for treating stomach ulcers.

However, all the studies were conducted on rats, so research on human subjects is needed to verify this.

People also use honey to speed up wound healing, including skin ulcers, burns, and wounds.

5. Turmeric

Turmeric is a popular yellow spice frequently used in India and other parts of southern Asia. Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin. Researchers are beginning to study curcumin in regards to its health benefits.

A 2016 randomized controlled study in humans concluded that curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities that may help prevent stomach ulcers when combined with standard treatment against H. pylori. However, according to the study, turmeric does not help eradicate the bacteria.

A 2025 study on rats found that turmeric combined with honey and black pepper was a promising treatment option for gastic ulcers.

There are still a limited number of studies on humans, so there needs to be more research to examine how effective turmeric is in treating ulcers

6. Chamomile

Some people use chamomile flowers and chamomile teas to treat minor anxiety, intestinal spasms, and inflammation.

Research suggests that chamomile extracts may also have anti-ulcer properties. Some researchers think it may inhibit stomach ulcers and reduce their healing time.

However, much of this research derives from animal studies. Researchers do not know whether chamomile will have the same effects on humans.

7. Garlic

Garlic is popular in many parts of the world for adding flavor to food. Garlic has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, which make it helpful in fighting infections.

Some studies do support garlic’s effectiveness in treating ulcers. For example, a 2016 study on animals showed that garlic could help prevent the development of ulcers and help speed up the healing process.

According to another 2016 study, garlic may also help prevent the growth of H. pylori.

A more recent 2022 article found that garlic extract showed promising anti-ulcer properties, and that further studies are required to confirm the preventive role of garlic in peptic ulcer disease.

However, scientists still need to do more research to understand whether garlic can really help prevent and manager ulcers.

8. Licorice

Licorice is a popular spice that is native to the Mediterranean region and Asia. People have used licorice in traditional medications for hundreds of years. Some people believe that eating a dried licorice root can help cure and prevent ulcers.

However, research tends to focus on the use of supplements, not dried licorice root. So, people interested in using this spice for ulcers may want to try it as a supplement.

Research has found that taking licorice supplements can help fight H. pylori infections, suggesting that the supplement may help prevent the bacteria from growing.

9. Aloe vera

Aloe vera is a popular plant-based oil found in many topical lotions, cosmetics, and foods.

Some studies looking at how aloe vera affected stomach ulcers produced favorable results.

For example, one study from 2017 examined the effect of Thai aloe vera on peptic ulcers caused by the NSAID indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex) in rats and found that giving the rats aloe vera reduced the severity of the ulcers caused by the medicine.

That said, more research is needed to confirm such an effect in humans.

Medical treatments for stomach ulcers will vary based on what is causing the ulcer.

If taking NSAIDs causes the ulcer, a doctor will likely advise the person to stop or reduce their use of those drugs. People can switch to another medication for pain.

A doctor may prescribe proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to reduce stomach acid and protect the lining of the stomach. They cannot kill bacteria, but they can help fight an H. pylori infection. Some examples include Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid.

A doctor may also prescribe histamine receptor blockers. These prevent the stomach from producing too much acid.

Also, a doctor may prescribe a protectant called sucralfate (Carafate). This helps prevent further damage to the area around the ulcer.

When an H. pylori infection causes the ulcer, a doctor may also prescribe antibiotics. Since H. pylori can be hard to kill, a person must take all doses exactly as prescribed, even after symptoms go away.

Often, a doctor will combine several medications and therapies when treating an ulcer. Combination therapies help address pain, prevent further damage, and cure any infection.

It can be challenging to find quick relief for stomach ulcer pain because taking standard NSAIDs can make the ulcer worse. Taking an over-the-counter antacid can help relieve symptoms.

Beverages cannot get rid of stomach ulcers, but they may help relieve the discomfort. Some options include cabbage juice, kombucha, and honey water.

Most peptic ulcers heal within a few months.

Eating foods that naturally contain probiotics such as fermented foods may help the ulcer heal. In addition, eating broccoli or berries may also help.

A person may be able to find relief with some home remedies. But, people should see their doctor to find out the cause and receive medical treatment.

A doctor can create a treatment plan to help treat the ulcer. At-home remedies may help prevent ulcers from developing in the future and naturally help ease symptoms.