What is a peptic ulcer? The digestive juices that churn in our stomachs are great for dissolving dinner, but they can also be hard on our bodies. Under certain circumstances, the brew of acid and enzymes can eat away at the lining of the stomach or the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine), creating an open sore that is commonly called a peptic ulcer. Estimates vary, but government sou...

• Chris Woolston
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• March 11, 2013
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• Full Page
• • Digestion Ulcers

Until recently, doctors had almost no idea what caused these often painful breaks in the stomach lining, and they were just as puzzled about treatments. (A medical text from 1957 recommends hourly feedings of milk and cream.) Ulcers are no longer such a mystery to doctors, but many myths and misunderstandings remain. Test your knowledge of stomach ulcers with this quiz. (And, by the way, skip the ...

• Chris Woolston
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• March 11, 2013
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• Full Page
• • Digestion Diseases &, Conditions: Misc. Stomach Trouble Ulcers

What is licorice? First of all, if you're looking for the kind of licorice that serves as an herbal medicine, forget about the red and black sticks in the candy aisle. In the United States, so-called licorice candy is almost always flavored with anise and contains no actual licorice. Real licorice, which comes from the root of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, tastes just as sweet as the impostors bu...

• Chris Woolston, M.S.
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• March 11, 2013
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• Full Page
• • Alternative Medicine: Misc. Cancer: Misc. Coughs Herbal Medicine Ulcers