The pain of mouth ulcers occurs because the raw nerve endings in the tissue of the mouth are exposed to ingredients such as chemical additives, salt and acid in your food. Mouth ulcers are a reflection of what is going on in your gut. They can be caused by candida yeast infection (often the result of taking antibiotics), excess stomach acid, or by various other types of dysbiosis in the gut of a fungal, bacterial or inflammatory nature. Normally the bacteria in the gut are useful, but dysbiosis, which literally means foreign (dys) growth (biosis), can occur if there are excess bacteria or fungal growth in the gut. Another contributory factor to mouth ulcers is a deficiency in B vitamins.
The general recommendations below can also be followed by people suffering from the related conditions of thrush or candida.
It is important to start treating mouth ulcers as soon as possible so that they don’t get so painful that you can’t eat. You should begin with a couple of days fasting on vegetable broth. Boil vegetables such as leeks, carrots, cabbage, courgettes and onions in chicken or vegetable stock for about an hour, then liquidise; if you are using a stock cube, make sure it is yeast-free. If you work away from home, take the soup with you in a flask.
Also drink carrot, juice freshly made in a juicer. Drink lots of still pure water, at least a litre and a half daily, between meals. Two or three cups of Dr Ali’s Fasting Tea daily will help take the discomfort out of fasting. You should not starve yourself completely. People who have been drinking coffee or excess alcohol may suffer headaches.
After fasting in this way for 48 hours, you should follow a yeast- and sugar-free diet for two weeks at least, eating fresh organic food only. You should also cut out acidic foods such as citrus fruits and vinegar. In macrobiotic terms, mouth ulcers are caused by excess body heat, so you need to cool your system down: avoid chillies, garlic, ginger, alcohol, red meat and other spicy foods. Eat plenty of cucumber and melon. I often suggest that patients follow a very simple eating plan of minced organic chicken and other organic meat with mashed potato made with olive oil and salt, or overcooked rice.
During this period, I also prescribe a tea made of black kadu. Put two kadu twigs in a cup of very hot water and leave to soak overnight. In the morning add a little hot water and drink on an empty stomach. This herb has a bitter taste, so you may feel slightly nauseous at first: take a few sips at a time until you get used to it.
You should also take one capsule of vitamin B complex daily for 15 days, with breakfast. After breakfast, take one teaspoon of Chevanprash, to support your immune system. This mixture of 28 hand-Picked herbs boosts energy levels, facilitates digestion and ensures clear bowel movements. You should take the tonic for three months. Homoeopathically, I recommend two tablets of Merc. sol in the 30 potency, to be sucked three times a day for five days, between meals.
If you are constipated, this can be helped by one tablet of the Unani preparation Qurs Mullayan, after dinner each day. In the morning drink two glasses of warm water first thing then massage your abdomen clockwise for a few minutes with a little olive or sesame oil. Finally, allow plenty of time on the lavatory.
For anyone suffering with heartburn or excessive acid (such as acid reflux), I suggest:
- Taking one tablet of Calciprite, an Ayurvedic remedy which helps control stomach acid, twice a day after lunch and the evening meal for about four weeks. Make sure you eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.
- Doctors often prescribe a steroid gargle for mouth ulcers. I prefer patients to gargle with plain water and a clove in the mouth. Cloves have fantastic anaesthetic properties. Or you can suck a clove two or three times a day until the juice no longer flows. This will make your mouth numb, like a local anaesthetic. Sucking ice cube can also help soothe the pain. Avoid drinking hot tea, as this will be painful.
