Everything About Natural and Effective H. Pylori Treatment
H. pylori could be the reason for your Acid Reflux. 66% of the world's population has H.Pylori infection. It is comparatively more common in developing countries, where hygiene is an issue. Helicobacter Pylori grows in the digestive tract and attacks the stomach lining which causes chronic inflammation and infection.
The conventional H. pylori treatment includes antibiotics which may cause certain side effects in some people. For this reason, there is a need to find some natural approaches for H. Pylori treatment which may aid in reducing the stomach inflammation and ulcers.
Know more about the causes, diagnosis, and natural treatment for h pylori infection below.
What is H. Pylori?
Helicobacter Pylori is a type of bacteria that causes infection in the stomach. Due to this bacterial infection, there could be soreness and inflammation in the stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine immediately beyond the stomach).
H. pylori infection is very common, affecting about 2/3rd of the population. But most of the people don't even know about it because this infection stays asymptomatic (not causing any symptoms).
Why do You Need H. Pylori Treatment?
H. Pylori infection may not cause immediate symptoms, but in long-term it can cause ulcers in the stomach lining. These ulcers cause pain when stomach acid gets in contact with them. And when you visit a doctor for H. pylori bacteria treatment, he prescribes an acid blocking medication called Antacid to you.
But the question here is if it is okay to take antacid as H. pylori treatment? Let's delve into it.
Stomach acid aids in:
- Proper digestion of the food
- Mineral absorption from the food
- Kills other bacteria
Stomach acid is very important for proper functioning of our digestive system. One should never ever try to suppress stomach acid.
My mom had a tingling sensation all over her body. We went to check her Vitamin B12 levels and it was too low. Vitamin B12 is responsible for proper nerve functioning. As a treatment, doctors gave her Vitamin B12 injections and the tingling was gone. But tingling used to come back again and again.
What could be the reason behind this?
When I went deep into the problem, we discovered that the Vitamin B12 molecule needs the stomach acid to get absorbed in the body. Similarly, stomach acidity is responsible for absorption of so many minerals like Calcium.
Can you imagine, not having enough stomach acid or overuse of antacids can cause Osteoporosis. Similarly, all the problems associated with Zinc Deficiency, Manganese, B12, and Calcium.
This is the reason antacids don't work for such conditions and it becomes important to take a natural treatment for H. pylori infection.
What Causes H. Pylori Infection?
Food Allergies
Food allergies that you are unaware of. Usually, doctors do not go into deep analysis of your symptoms and they don't test your food allergies. When some doctors worldwide actually did it, they found out that most of the food related issues were caused by "Gluten".
I'd always suggest to anyone that even if they do not have "Gluten Allergy", they should still go "Gluten-free" as wheat and other grains provide very few nutrients. So to fulfill the nutritional requirements, you will need to consume grains in large quantities.
Lifestyle and Food Choices
H. pylori bacteria is spread through mouth-to-mouth contact and contaminated food and water. Our food and lifestyle choices enable the bacteria to proliferate in your gut causing mild to severe infection, leaving you in need of a good H. pylori treatment.
Malabsorption
Malabsorbed carbohydrates produce hydrogen gas in the intestines. Hydrogen gas serves as the preferred energy source for H. pylori bacteria. Excessive fructose, certain types of fiber and starch, and particularly wheat increase hydrogen production and thus increase the risk of H. pylori infection.
Low Stomach Acid
Generally, bacteria like H.Pylori are killed by stomach acid, but if your stomach acid is too low, bacteria like H.Pylori are born. However, it is difficult to say that you got low stomach acid and then H.Pylori infection or you got H.Pylori infection first and then low stomach acid. When the pH of the stomach is 3 or lower, the normal between-meal "resting" level, bacteria don't last more than fifteen minutes. But as the pH rises to 5 or more, many bacterial species can avoid the acid treatment and begin to thrive.
Diagnosis of H. Pylori Infection
For pylori bacteria treatment, you first need to know about the presence or intensity of the H. pylori infection that you have. There are 4 different ways to know whether you need an H. pylori treatment or not.
1. Stool test:
H. pylori can be detected in your stools. There are two types of stool tests performed to detect H. pylori infection in your body.
- Stool Antigen Test: This is a commonly performed test that finds the antigens/proteins in the stool which are present only when H. pylori infection occurs.
- Stool PCR Test: This test looks for any mutation which makes the body unresponsive to antibiotics with the help of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This is less commonly performed and is more expensive.
2. Breath Test:
Also known as "Urea Breath Test". In this test, the patient is given a pill/liquid with tagged carbon molecules. As a result, in the case of H. pylori infection, carbon is observed when you blow in the test bag. This test works for children above 6 years and adults.
3. Blood Test:
This is not a very reliable test for H. pylori diagnosis because it may stay positive even after years of infection. So one should talk to their doctor for the same before going for this test.
4. Tissue Biopsy
This test involves endoscopy to know about the conditions like peptic ulcers, or gastritis that may be caused due to H. pylori infection.
Conventional H. Pylori Treatment
If you get diagnosed with H.Pylori infection, conventionally, the medications for H. pylori treatment includes antacids, proton pump blockers, and H2-histamine blockers. In total, you have to pop 15 different medicines for 2 weeks and the test is conducted again. This means after having 15 medicines for 2 weeks, still, the H. pylori infection can still be there.
If you have just a little bit of acid reflux, try to treat them by populating more good bacteria by eating more probiotics and increasing stomach acidity. But, If you have severe symptoms like:
- Dark or tarry stools
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting that can include vomiting blood
Then take antacids like H2 blockers, along with natural remedies for H. pylori treatment. We would still suggest H2 blockers over PPI.
Natural H. Pylori Treatment
1. Black Seeds with Acid Blocker
It was found that patients with H. pylori bacteria infection should take 2 grams of ground black seeds daily along with omeprazole (an acid blocker) for H. pylori bacteria treatment. It is more effective than any conventional treatment for pylori infection.
Take 2 grams of Black Seeds daily for 2 weeks
2. Broccoli Sprouts
Take 50 grams of sprouts 2 times a day for 7 days and there are 90% chances that you will be free from this H. pylori infection in 7 days.
3. Garlic Cloves
Take 2 cloves of garlic with lunch and dinner regularly to get rid of H. pylori bacteria.
4. Green Tea
Green Tea, in general, has very powerful antibacterial properties and can help you with H. pylori treatment.
5. Probiotics
Probiotics contain good bacteria and will help you fight off any kind of bad bacteria in your body. If you are planning to add Probiotics & Prebiotics in the supplement form, this is a great solution for H. pylori treatment as they combine digestive enzymes of great helpfulness.
If you have your gallbladder removed, I suggest these enzymes lifetime with every meal. The gallbladder is there in the body for a reason. It helps to digest fats. It secretes digestive enzymes to help break down fat. There are so many vitamins like A, C, D, E, K which are fat-soluble. In the absence of these enzymes, you will become deficient in these vitamins.
6. Baking Soda
If acid is hurting your ulcers, a great solution is drinking Baking Soda: Sodium Bicarbonate, will neutralize the acidity and it won't hurt your ulcers. It is better than the antacid, because it won't suppress the stomach acid, but shift the pH level. One full teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in an eight-ounce glass of water may ease the burn of acid reflux as it helps neutralize stomach acid.
7. Olive Oil
Add extra virgin olive oil to your list of natural weapons for fighting and preventing H. pylori infection. Extra virgin olive oil is also one of the healthiest oils you can consume. Just make sure to add on your salads and not to cook with olive oil.
8. Mastic Gum
A natural remedy that has been in use for many centuries and for which modern science has provided solid evidence of safety and efficacy is mastic, the gum resin of the mastic tree. There is an extensive literature, going back many centuries, regarding its use for a variety of gastrointestinal ailments, including H. pylori treatment.
Natural Ways to Increase Stomach Acidity
Better stomach acidity can help you with H. pylori treatment. Let's discuss how you can enhance the stomach acid naturally to fix your gastrointestinal issues like H. pylori infection.
1. Bone Broth for Acidity
Bone broth is full of amino acids (a building block of proteins) like Glutamine and Glycine. Glutamine helps in rebuilding the intestine wall, which is a major reason for food sensitivities and autoimmune conditions. Glycine stimulates stomach acid production. Irrespective if you have acidity or not, everyone should add this health drink in the diet.
2. Raw, Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
Acidity is typically due to too less acid in the stomach, to increase the acid, drink anything acidic before the meals like apple cider vinegar, sauerkraut juice or Aloe Vera juice before the meals. This single habit will show profound effects on your stomach issues.
If you have ulcers, definitely skip using something acidic like apple cider vinegar for acid reflux, which may cause your belly even more aggravations.
Later in this article, we will discuss more about stomach ulcers. I recommend only purchasing apple cider vinegar in glass containers, or the vinegar will contain chemical contaminants that have leached out of the plastic.
3. Ginger for Acidity
Ginger can reduce the likelihood of acid flowing from your stomach back into your esophagus. I drink 3 liters of water every day. I have a 1-liter jar. Every morning I add crushed ginger to the jar, with other options like mint leaves, cucumber, turmeric and sometimes Aloe vera. But ginger is a must. I keep refilling this jar the whole day.
There is also a small weight loss tip here. If you are craving a lot of sugar on a particular day, add apple cider vinegar to your water jar and it will diminish your cravings.
4. Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
When proper pH is achieved, chyme (mushed food in the stomach) triggers the release of sodium bicarbonate to achieve the pH that the intestine needs. That's why we say take Sodium Bicarbonate ( Baking soda ), so that food can pass from the stomach to the intestines.
5. Sea Salt
You can tell your body to make more HCL in your stomach by incorporating high-quality sea salt (Himalayan Salt) which provides chloride so that your body can make HCL.
Supplements to Deal with Acidity
To naturally help your body heal from stomach issues and acidity like H. pylori infection, you can incorporate these supplements that would help you in the treatment for H. pylori infection.
- B-Complex: A Higher folic acid that is (B9 ), as shown 40% reduction in Acidity and associated conditions like H. pylori infection.
- Glutamine: It is found in Bone Broth, Chicken, Fish, Eggs and Dairy. It is also helpful in repairing the damage done by the H.Pylori bacteria, as Glutamine is responsible for new cell growth. If you are planning to take this supplement for H. pylori treatment, look for L-Glutamine.
- Betaine HCl + Pepsin: This is the supplement that I give to my clients. Betaine HCL together with pepsin is a great solution, for raising stomach acid, for the people suffering from low stomach acid issues due to H. pylori bacteria.
Conclusion
- Stomach acid is important for Digestion, Mineral absorption and fighting off other bacteria. Never ever rely on Antacid for H. pylori treatment and look for natural ways of pylori bacteria treatment.
- If you have stomach ulcers, you can temporarily try to neutralize the acidity with baking soda. To increase good bacteria and fight off the bad bacteria, you can take probiotics.
- In the case of less stomach acid, people are more prone to deficiency of Vitamin B12, Zinc, Manganese and Calcium. So taking natural supplements is always a good choice.
If you would like to know more about treating acidity forever, do not forget to read this article. 100% Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Acid Reflux and Heartburn Forever
What secret remedies have you benefited from for H. pylori infection? Our community members would love to hear from you. Please leave your comment below.
