Peptic ulcers or gastroduodenal ulcers are generally named as parinaamashoola in Ayurveda. The word parinaama implies digestion, and shola refers to pain. Hence the pain that occurs during digestion period is referred as parinaamashoola.

It’s a stomach disease, mainly affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Abdominal pain during digestion is the main symptom of the disease.  Nausea, vomiting and pain sensation during intake of food or after digestion, heartburn, abdominal pain etc are other symptoms. Its synonyms found in various texts are annadravashoola, pamktishoola, annavidahajashula etc.

‘Naagaraadilehayogam’ mentioned in the ancient work ‘Chakradatta’ is an effective medication against parinaamashoola. Intake of the lehyam (thick liquid paste) made of dry ginger, sesame seeds, jaggery and milk, for 21 days can cure even the most severe gastroduodenal ulcers.

Adequate rest along with regular intake of medicine (lepanam) is much helpful in curing any external ulcer. In the same way, if a patient consumes this lehyam regularly, as a full time ‘lepanam’ for the internal ulcer, the condition will be cured. Intake of other foods should be avoided to give complete rest as well as continuous medication to intestines (to catalyse the healing process).

However, ingesting this lehyam in a high dose for 21 days is not advisable. Likewise, consuming the lehyam as a regular food is also not feasible. The idea of preparing a kanji (a medicated gruel) with this lehyam originated from these thoughts. The gruel can be prepared with boiling broken wheat/ white rice in milk, together with ingredients of the lehyam.

Preparation of medicated gruel (thila yavaagu)

Powdered sesame seeds – 1 cup

Broken wheat/white rice – 1 cup

Dry ginger powder – 1 teaspoon

Sugar – 3 table spoon

Mix the ingredients well, boil in water to form the gruel. Add half a litre milk and boil for some time. Cool down before consuming the same.

Dosage: One cup every hour from morning to night. Dosage can be changed according to requirements of the patient concerned. Upon feeling thirsty, he/she can drink warm water (medicated with cumin seeds), or milk (boiled with water). Wheat and white rice are suggested while avoiding other foods. Both have ropana (closure of wound) tendency too.

For diabetic patients, avoid sugar and white rice. A mixture of sesame seeds, dry ginger and sugar can pacify all three doshas. Sesame seed has the quality to penetrate the deepest tissue (yogavaahithvam). This increases effectiveness of the medicine. For those who suffer from acidity, lessen the amount of dry ginger.

It is possible to cure intestinal ulcers with Ayurvedic medications. If ingesting naagaraadi lehyam, take half tablespoon before meal, half tablespoon after having half of the meal and half tablespoon after the meal. In asaadhya parinaamsoola, thilaya vaagu (medicated gruel) is indicated for seven days. After that a continuous usage of nalikerghandam (chakradatta) for two to three months also is found 100 per cent beneficial. This medicated gruel is much useful for those suffering from various intestinal ulcers. It can also be used by patients who have undergone surgery, thereby preventing the recurrence of the problem.

(The author Dr Susheela Saji is a renowned Ayurvedic expert based in Central Kerala.)