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An ulcer is formed from an open sore when inflamed tissue is shed many times. It can occur on the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers may result from a prolonged inflammatory response to a continuously injured tissue. Are there different types of ulcer? A peptic ulcer is the term used to describe any ulcer occurring in the presence of acid. Gastric ulcers are usually associated with low acid secretion and duodenal ulcers are associated with high acid levels. Who is likely to develop ulcers? Around one in seven people in the UK develop a duodenal ulcer sometime in their life. They are two or three times more common than gastric ulcers and more likely to affect men. There is often a family history of ulceration. People with poor circulation are susceptible to ulcers in the tissues of their legs. The ulcers develop when the tissues are consistently damaged by a shortage of oxygen and nutrients. Conventionally, it is viewed that the production of acid is in some way responsible, however, certain other factors may damage the mucosa apart from the acid. These include drugs, particularly aspirin, steroids, emotional upsets and irregular eating habits. Well-known factors, such as stopping smoking, reducing alcohol and adequate rest are recognised as effective in treating ulcers. The main symptom of any ulcer is chronic episodic pain over months or years. Ulcer pain is felt in the stomach. A duodenal ulcer tends to cause hunger pains, those between and before meals. It is relieved by eating and therefore sufferers tend to put on weight. A gastric ulcer leads to pain, which is less regular and comes on after eating. Other symptoms can also include nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea. A barium meal and gastroscopy are the standard investigations. Gastic function tests on secretions may reveal changes in the levels of gastric acid. Gastric ulcers are treated by a partial gastrectomy, which is a removal of the area surrounding the ulcer. Duodenal ulcers are treated by vagotomy, which involves cutting of the vagus nerve to reduce gastric output. Bee venom which is made up of enzymes, proteins and amino acids has been used successfully to treat patients in a study by the British Journal of Surgery. Fifty-nine patients suffering from wounds and ulcers, of which 90% of them had tried conventional treatment which failed to heal were treated with unprocessed honey. Following a topical application of the honey, fifty-eight cases showed significant improvement. One case later diagnosed as a Buruli ulcer, failed to respond. The researchers found that wounds that were sterile at the outset, remained sterile until healed, whilst infected wounds and ulcers were sterile within one week of applying the honey. The results of the study concluded that honey produced a remarkable improvement in the formation of healthy skin, it healed wounds much more rapidly and reduced swelling around the margins of the ulcers. We can conclude from this research that using the topical honey application, significantly improved the speed of healing and promotion of healthy skin tissue in patients with ulcers and wounds. Reference: S.E.E. Efem; (1988) Clinical Observations on the Wound Healing Properties of Honey. British Journal of Surgery, vol/Iss/Pg.3/5 (343-346), ISSN; 0179-0358 If pus cannot drain out of the body, an abscess develops. An abscess is simply an excessive accumulation of pus in a confined space. Common examples are pimples and boils. When inflamed tissue is shed many times, it produces an open sore, called an ulcer, on the surface of an organ or tissue. Ulcers can occur on skin and mucus membrane, and may be acute or chronic. They may result from a prolonged inflammatory response to a continuously injured tissue. People with poor circulation are susceptible to ulcers in the tissues of their legs. The ulcers develop when the tissues are continuously damaged by a shortage of oxygen and nutrients. Aloe Vera &
Leg Ulcers Research
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