Home Remedies for H. Pylori

H. pylori--short for helicobacter pylori--is the bacteria responsible for most peptic ulcers. Symptoms of an ulcer include a gnawing or burning sensation in the stomach, nausea and bloating. Although many ulcers heal by themselves, they can sometimes perforate and cause internal bleeding. If you think you have an ulcer, you should see your physician. The standard medical treatment for H. pylori is antibiotics and medication to reduce stomach acid, but people often use home remedies for additional relief.

Theories and Remedies

Since H. pylori seems to thrive in strong stomach acids, some home remedies focus on raising alkalinity in the stomach. Try sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, 1/2 tsp. dissolved in 1 cup water) or any commercial antacid containing bismuth. Other home remedies are intended to raise acidity to a point where H. pylori cannot survive. To try this theory, drink lemon juice in warm water in the morning and 2 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar before bed. A third approach involves eating foods with antibacterial properties, such as grapes, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. According to recent studies, it is the ellagic acid in these fruits that inhibits the growth of H. pylori. Other antibacterial foods you can try are bananas and garlic. Still other remedies focus on natural antioxidants like Vitamin C, taken in megadoses of 5g per day. You can also try digestive stimulants like pineapple juice and fresh ginger juice, and spices that stimulate blood flow in the stomach, particularly cayenne pepper. Coconut oil has become more popular as a remedy recently. According to biochemist Jon J. Kabara, Ph.D., the lauric acid in coconut oil is an effective inhibitor of H. pylori. Finally, you can try teas brewed from licorice or slippery elm; they have properties that protect musocal tissue.

Precautions

Before using any home remedy, evaluate it to make sure its ingredients will not aggravate other medical conditions. For example, baking soda contains large amounts of sodium--contraindicated for high blood pressure--coconut oil is high in polyunsaturated fat and megadoses of Vitamin C can contribute to formation of kidney stones. If the pain, bloating or nausea from a peptic ulcer worsens, stop taking the remedy and consult a doctor.

Prevention

Certain substances are known to worsen stomach conditions; these include smoking, caffeine and alcohol. Avoid them. Over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen not only aggravate peptic ulcers, they can actually cause them. Take acetaminophen instead; it will not damage your stomach's lining. Even though it is infection with H. pylori that causes most ulcers, anxiety and stress can still contribute. Try natural stress-relievers like exercise, biofeedback and meditation. By engaging in a little experimentation with common foods and products that are probably already in your home, you might be able to banish or reduce the H. pylori germs lurking in your digestive tract.