AYURVEDA PERSPECTIVE ON H PYLORI INFECTION
H pylori not only cause ulcers but affects your health in many ways. It irritates the lining of the stomach, causing inflammation. Chronic H pylori cause permanent damage to the stomach (atrophic gastritis), causing loss of stomach function and poor secretion of stomach acids. When infected, your ability to digest food diminishes over time, meaning you get less and less nourishment from your food. Eradicating H pylori can be an important way to both improve your digestion and maintain your health and vitality as you age.
Anti-inflammatories There are a number of anti-inflammatory herbs that also have one or more of the below properties. Antimicrobial Yes, antimicrobial herbs can help, especially those that can survive the low pH of the stomach.
Astringents Yes, it helps reduce inflammation.
Easy to Digest Yes - especially when atrophic gastritis present
Antioxidants Yes - helps reduce inflammation. Research shows vitamin C supplements are helpful.
Probiotics can compete with H pylori. Bifidobacterium is especially useful against gastritis.
Demulcent Demulcents include slimy foods like oatmeal and okra. These can soothe the stomach and rebuild the mucosa. The additional mucus may allow h pylori to survive more easily. Suggestion: Mix demulcents with antimicrobials such as coconut oil & turmeric when taking.
An Ayurvedic diet consistent with the constitution of the client reduces stress on the digestive system and may improve the efficiency of herbs used, as well as the efficacy of antibiotics. The client should follow all of the rules for maintaining optimum digestion during the treatment.
Specific foods not mentioned with beneficial properties include:
Pomegranate Juice Astringent, anti-inflammatory, improves digestion
Coconut Oil Antimicrobial soothes inflammation
Blueberry, strawberry, etc. High antioxidant
Other cruciferous vegetables Like broccoli, these contain sulforaphane.
Astringent, anti-inflammatory
Cilantro A cooling digestive useful for GI inflammation Kale, Endive A bitter vegetable that may cool inflammation
Aloe vera gel Anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial
Honeydew, Cabbage Juice, Pear Juice Cooling, soothing anti-inflammatories.
Despite feeling hungry, poor acid production in individuals infected by H pylori reduces appetite. Your stomach may feel bloated and heavy after only a small portion. Appetite is also reduced in Hp (H pylori) infected individuals due to lower ghrelin levels. Ghrelin is known as the hunger hormone. The mechanism of ghrelin suppression is not known however the suppression of ghrelin may not be unique to H pylori. Infection and inflammation of the stomach generally reduce appetite. I.e. you lose your appetite when sick. Leptin, the satiation hormone, is also lower in Hp-infected individuals. Thus, while appetite is decreased, so are feelings of fullness after a meal. After the eradication of H pylori, ghrelin levels return to normal. Your esophagus may feel hot & sour even in the absence of acid reflux or heartburn. If you have H pylori, you may have frequent burping and bloating as the activity of the bacteria releases carbon dioxide. Although believed to be transmitted through saliva, vomit, or fecal matter (oral-oral and fecal-oral routes), the method of transmission of H pylori is still poorly understood. Sharing drinks, kissing, or living with someone who has H pylori may be common ways of catching this disease. Once established, H pylori are hardy and resilient. The infection is generally believed to persist for life unless it is treated pylori may spontaneously disappear in the elderly as the stomach's mucosa becomes thinner and inhospitable.
Treatment of H pylori
Standard western medical treatment includes antibiotics. However, H pylori are increasingly resistant to common antibiotics. For this reason, doctors often recommend two antibiotics to be used at the same time. The use of antibiotics may have side effects, including the proliferation of Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that causes diarrhea.
Doctors may recommend bismuth salts (such as Pepto Bismol?), yogurt or probiotics containing lactobacillus, and herbs to enhance the effect of the antibiotics and aid in the eradication. [Bismuth salts have been used for over three centuries to cure various forms of dyspepsia due to their antimicrobial action and ability to soothe & coat the stomach. Although bismuth salts may suppress an active H pylori infection, cure rates are low.
The presence of infection in the gut causes a buildup of free radicals released by the immune system to combat the bacteria. Antioxidant supplements are thus supportive for individuals with H pylori infection. One such antioxidant is vitamin C, naturally found in many berries as well as the ayurvedic herb amlaki, Vitamin C levels were found to be significantly lower in individuals with H pylori infection. Improving vitamin C levels led to the eradication of H pylori in 30% of cases.
Antimicrobials such as ginger, cinnamon, garlic, oregano & turmeric can inhibit H pylori growth. Antimicrobial herbs are especially useful if they are anti-inflammatories as well, such as barberry, turmeric, fresh ginger, and cinnamon. The cinnamon extract also interferes with H pylori's ability to use urea for protection against stomach acids. Fresh ginger also promotes the regeneration of the protective mucus layer. Licorice root may be soothing and cooling. Green tea has been shown to block the adhesion of H pylori to the stomach lining.
Herb Formula for H Pylori
Amalaki is the primary herb for anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The dosage of antimicrobials in the formula should be sufficient to kill H pylori. We used several antimicrobials for broad-spectrum action. Finally, we included herbs for soothing the stomach. No clinical trials have been done with this formula. For the best results, please modify this formula according to the constitution of the client.
1)Amalaki-Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory 2) Shatavari-Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial
3)Neem -Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial4) Vidanga-antimicrobial
5)Cinnamon- Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and digestive Green Tea Reduces adherence
6)Licorice Root- Soothes stomach 7)Avipattikar Churna- Digestive
Alternative Herbs: To licorice root: Marshmallow Root 1 - Soothes stomach, neem: Barberry 1 - Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial
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