Q: I have a friend in Honduras that has been diagnosed as having Helicobacter pylori. She has tried various antibiotics and over the counter treatments with very little success. Can you suggest a home remedy that might give her some relief?
A: H.pylori (for short) is a gram-negative bacterium commonly found in the stomach, although it can be present in other areas of the body. More than half of the world’s population have H.pylori within their upper gastrointestinal tracts and of those infected with the bacterium, over 80% are asymptomatic. Surprisingly, up to 85% of all individuals infected never even exhibit symptoms or complications. However, when symptoms do present in individuals, they appear as acute gastritis, bloating, belching, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain and nausea. Serological evidence of H.pylori is rarely found before the age of 10, increases to 10% in those between 18 and 30 years of age and to 50% in those older than age 60.
Researchers remain unsure how the disorder infects people. It may be passed through direct contact with bodily fluids such as saliva, fecal matter, or vomit. Then, too, it may be spread through contaminated water or food. Those at an increased risk for infection include living in areas where conditions are unsanitary, living in crowded homes with numerous individuals, not having a source of cleaning drinking water, and living with an individual who is already infected.
Diagnosis may be made through a number of test processes, of which two are considered better than others. The first is a breath test in which the individual swallows a substance that contains tagged carbon molecules. If H.pylori is present, carbon will be released once the solution breaks down in the stomach. The body naturally absorbs the carbon. Then the individual will exhale into a bag, and carbon molecules will be observed with the use of a special device. The second is a stool test that can also be utilized to determine if H.pylori antigens are present. Then there are such things as lab work (blood testing) or endoscopy that may be considered if there is a question of other digestive disorders that might be present. Some practitioners may order the blood work as a first-line test, bypassing the stool test. However, it has some limitations.
Treatment is commonly handled by the individual taking three medications – two different antibiotics and a PPR (protein pump inhibitor). Once the antibiotic therapy has been concluded, a physician will likely test a patient in about a month to determine if the therapy was successful.
On the home front, raspberries contain ellagic acid which is identified as a disease fighting compound. Thus, raspberries may help cure stomach issues caused by H.pylori.
Next comes cinnamon or cinnamon extract that is believed to prevent the bacterial from causing inflammatory reactions inside the stomach. Because the spice is rather pungent, it may be added to hot water or tea and consumed in that manner.
The most popular fruit to eradicate the bacteria in the stomach is coconut or coconut oil that is purported to reduce the pain and inflammation experienced.
There are certainly no promises on any of these home remedies. What may have ultimately been missing from your friend’s antibiotic regimen was that she wasn’t tested following completion of her medication to verify its effectiveness. She should speak with her physician in this regard. However, one of the problems with the blood test is that it will remain positive even after successful treatment. Therefore, tests of cure should not include the blood test.
