Q. Do you have any tips for treating mouth ulcers?! I usually get them most when I'm stressed. I am currently finishing my PHD and under lots of stress! Please help, thanks.A. Jonathan Wright, MD, of Kent, Washington, says that canker sores are virtually always linked to food allergies and nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron, B12, and folic acid. He also suggest using high oral doses of acidophilus and an acidophilus mouth rinse.Since mouth ulcers stem from a breakdown in tissue structure, the herb gotu kola (Centella asiatica) can be quite effective. Gotu kola is widely known to heal wounds and promote connective tissue growth. The dose is one ounce dry weight of herb per day, brewed as tea. You can find this at any good herbal health store.A recent study showed good results using a chamomile mouthwash in treating mouth ulcers caused by chemotherapy. Other rinses that can help include alum, Milk of Magnesia, and cinchona bark. I have had great results by applying the powder of myrrh gum directly to the ulcer.Probably the most outstanding herbal remedy for mouth sores is licorice root, a potent anti-inflammatory and tissue healer. Put a pinch of powder on the sore, or suck on a lozenge made from DGL (de-glycyrrhizinated licorice).Basil: Gargle warm water with basil leaves twice a day. This not only helps in treating the ulcers but can hold off the bad breath associated with mouth ulcers sometimes. Applying basil leaves paste on the affected area is also very effective. You can also chew basil leaves during the course of the day.Onion: Try and eat a fair amount of raw salad, preferably onions. The reason why onion are the better option is because they contain lots of sulfur. You can directly eat raw onions and can also add onions to other food preparations.Peppermint oil: It is an anesthetic agent. Dab some peppermint oil on the affected area – this will take away some of the irritation and pain caused by the mouth ulcers. But some studies say that peppermint oil can be good if used in small doses and it can create adverse effects if used in large quantities. It’s better to try slowly to find out whether it works for you.Orange juice: Remember to drink orange juice regularly as Vitamin C deficiency can cause mouth ulcers. Drinking one or two glasses a day is sufficient. If you don’t like oranges then you can directly take Vitamin C pills instead.Q. I have been suffering from a terrible sore throat and cant seem to get rid of it now for the last two weeks. Do you have any alternative tips to help?A. My favourite 'sore throat' remedy to prescribe is Slippery elm. Up until 1960, it was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia (a compendium of drug standards). For sore throats, herbalists use the inner bark of the tree. The inner bark contains mucilage, a gel-like substance that swells when it is mixed with water. The mucilage works to reduce throat irritation and soothe sore throat.Slippery elm is can be found in capsule form. It is a common ingredient in herbal lozenges, either on its own or combined with elderberry and zinc. Slippery elm is also found in herbal teas for sore throat. You can find it in all good health food stores.Another famous natural remedy is Calendula(Calendula officinalis). The flowers of this herb are well known to promote healing and to work as an anti-inflammatory, astringent and antiseptic. In addition, calendula is useful as a topical antiviral and is used to treat enlarged lymph nodes and sore throats. When combining herbs to fight infection, calendula is always one of the first herbs I recommend you to consider. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has a long history of use as an herbal remedy for sore throat. A study in Anesthesia & Analgesia examined the use of a licorice root gargle to prevent sore throat. Five minutes before general anesthesia, patients either gargled with a diluted licorice root solution or plain water. The patients who gargled with the licorice root solution were less likely to have a sore throat after surgery and experienced less post-operative coughing than other patients.
Alternatively Speaking: Open wide
Alternative medicine enthusiast Natalie Marx answers your questions: Any tips for treating mouth ulcers? Are there any alternative tips for sore throat.
Q. Do you have any tips for treating mouth ulcers?! I usually get them most when I'm stressed. I am currently finishing my PHD and under lots of stress! Please help, thanks.A. Jonathan Wright, MD, of Kent, Washington, says that canker sores are virtually always linked to food allergies and nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron, B12, and folic acid. He also suggest using high oral doses of acidophilus and an acidophilus mouth rinse.Since mouth ulcers stem from a breakdown in tissue structure, the herb gotu kola (Centella asiatica) can be quite effective. Gotu kola is widely known to heal wounds and promote connective tissue growth. The dose is one ounce dry weight of herb per day, brewed as tea. You can find this at any good herbal health store.A recent study showed good results using a chamomile mouthwash in treating mouth ulcers caused by chemotherapy. Other rinses that can help include alum, Milk of Magnesia, and cinchona bark. I have had great results by applying the powder of myrrh gum directly to the ulcer.Probably the most outstanding herbal remedy for mouth sores is licorice root, a potent anti-inflammatory and tissue healer. Put a pinch of powder on the sore, or suck on a lozenge made from DGL (de-glycyrrhizinated licorice).Basil: Gargle warm water with basil leaves twice a day. This not only helps in treating the ulcers but can hold off the bad breath associated with mouth ulcers sometimes. Applying basil leaves paste on the affected area is also very effective. You can also chew basil leaves during the course of the day.Onion: Try and eat a fair amount of raw salad, preferably onions. The reason why onion are the better option is because they contain lots of sulfur. You can directly eat raw onions and can also add onions to other food preparations.Peppermint oil: It is an anesthetic agent. Dab some peppermint oil on the affected area – this will take away some of the irritation and pain caused by the mouth ulcers. But some studies say that peppermint oil can be good if used in small doses and it can create adverse effects if used in large quantities. It’s better to try slowly to find out whether it works for you.Orange juice: Remember to drink orange juice regularly as Vitamin C deficiency can cause mouth ulcers. Drinking one or two glasses a day is sufficient. If you don’t like oranges then you can directly take Vitamin C pills instead.Q. I have been suffering from a terrible sore throat and cant seem to get rid of it now for the last two weeks. Do you have any alternative tips to help?A. My favourite 'sore throat' remedy to prescribe is Slippery elm. Up until 1960, it was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia (a compendium of drug standards). For sore throats, herbalists use the inner bark of the tree. The inner bark contains mucilage, a gel-like substance that swells when it is mixed with water. The mucilage works to reduce throat irritation and soothe sore throat.Slippery elm is can be found in capsule form. It is a common ingredient in herbal lozenges, either on its own or combined with elderberry and zinc. Slippery elm is also found in herbal teas for sore throat. You can find it in all good health food stores.Another famous natural remedy is Calendula(Calendula officinalis). The flowers of this herb are well known to promote healing and to work as an anti-inflammatory, astringent and antiseptic. In addition, calendula is useful as a topical antiviral and is used to treat enlarged lymph nodes and sore throats. When combining herbs to fight infection, calendula is always one of the first herbs I recommend you to consider. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has a long history of use as an herbal remedy for sore throat. A study in Anesthesia & Analgesia examined the use of a licorice root gargle to prevent sore throat. Five minutes before general anesthesia, patients either gargled with a diluted licorice root solution or plain water. The patients who gargled with the licorice root solution were less likely to have a sore throat after surgery and experienced less post-operative coughing than other patients.