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The basics

Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) are bacteria that infect the lining of your stomach. According to 1998 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , these bacteria are responsible for up to 80 percent ofgastric ulcersand 90 percent ofduodenal ulcers. They may also cause other stomach problems, including:

  • burning pain in the abdomen
  • bloating
  • nausea
  • loss of appetite
  • frequent burping
  • unexplained weight loss

The use of conventional treatments like antibiotics can be difficult for some people. It’s possible to experience negative side effects, such as nausea,diarrhea, loss of appetite. Some people are resistant to antibiotics, which can complicate traditional approaches to treatment. As a result, interest in natural treatments is growing.

Many in vivo and in vitro studies on naturalH. pyloritreatments have been done. Most treatments reduced the number of bacteria in the stomach but failed to permanently eradicate them.

Be sure to talk with your doctor before beginning a natural treatment regimen. You shouldn’t replace your recommend treatment forH. pyloriwith natural remedies.

With your doctor’s approval, you can use natural treatments as adjuvant therapy. This may increase the effects of conventional drugs.

Probiotics

Probioticshelp maintain the balance between good and bad gut bacteria. According to a 2012 study , taking probiotics before or after standardH. pyloritreatment may improve eradication rates. Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria in your stomach. Probiotics help replenish good bacteria. They may also reduce your risk of developing yeast overgrowth. Researchers found evidence to suggest that the bacteriaLactobacillus acidophilusdelivers the best results.

Green tea

一个 2009 study 在老鼠身上显示green teamay help kill and slow the growth ofHelicobacter细菌。The study found that consuming green tea before an infection prevents stomach inflammation. Consuming the tea during an infection reduced the severity of gastritis. Find a great selection of green teahere.

Honey

Honey has shown antibacterial abilities againstH. pylori. Additionalresearchsupports this conclusion. No research to date has shown that honey can eradicate the bacteria on its own. Researchers suggest that using honey with standard treatments may shorten treatment time.Raw honeyandManuka honeymay have the most antibacterial effects.

Olive oil

Olive oilmay also treatH. pylori细菌。一个2007 studyshowed that olive oil has strong antibacterial abilities against eightH. pyloristrains. Three of those strains are antibiotic-resistant. Olive oil also remains stable in gastric acid.

Licorice root

Licorice rootis a common natural remedy for stomach ulcers. It may also fightH. pylori.一个ccording to a2009 study, licorice root doesn’t directly kill the bacteria, though it can help prevent it from sticking to cell walls. There are a variety of options available for purchaseonline.

Broccoli sprouts

一个compound inbroccoli sproutscalled sulphoraphane may be effective againstH. pylori.Researchon mice and humans suggests that it reduces gastric inflammation. It also may lower bacteria colonization and its effects. A study on people with both type 2 diabetes andH. pylorishowed thatbroccoli sprout powderfights the bacteria. It also improved cardiovascular risk factors.

Phototherapy

Studies show thatH. pyloriare vulnerable to light. Phototherapy uses ultraviolet light to help eliminateH. pyloriin the stomach. Researchers believe phototherapy used within the stomach is safe. It may be most beneficial when antibiotics are not an option.

Doctors typically prescribe a combination of two antibiotics and an acid-reducing drug to treatH. pylori.This is known as triple therapy.

If you’re resistant to the antibiotics, your doctors may add another medication to your treatment plan. The goal is to get rid of 90 percent or more of theH. pyloribacteria present.

Treatment usually lasts no more than two weeks. Using two antibiotics instead of one may reduce your risk of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics used to treatH. pyloriinclude:

  • amoxicillin
  • tetracycline
  • metronidazole
  • clarithromycin

一个cid-reducing medications help your stomach lining to heal. Some of these are:

  • proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid), which stop acid production in the stomach
  • histamine blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), which block acid-triggering histamine
  • bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), which coats and protects the lining of your stomach

许多人他们的整个生活的细菌nd experience no symptoms. When it causes chronic gastric inflammation and remains untreated, serious complications may occur. These may include bleeding ulcers and stomach cancer.H. pyloriis the main risk factor for some types ofstomach cancer.

一个ccording to the 1998 data from the CDC, eradication rates ofH. pyloriare 61 to 94 percent when an FDA-approved antibiotic treatment is used. Rates are highest when antibiotics are combined with an acid reducer. Adding natural treatments may offer additional healing benefits.

Learn more: Acute gastritis »

In the United States, doctors seldom test forH. pyloriunless you have symptoms. If you have symptoms, call your doctor for an evaluation.H. pyloriinfection shares symptoms with other stomach conditions, such as acid reflux and GERD. It’s important you get the right diagnosis to make sure you’re treated correctly.

If you test positive forH. pylori, the sooner you start treatment, the better. Natural treatments aren’t likely to harm you, but they aren’t proven to eliminate the infection. Don’t use them instead of conventional treatments without your doctor’s supervision.

The source ofH. pyloriis unclear. There are no formal recommendations from the CDC to prevent it. In general, you should practice good hygiene by frequently washing your hands and properly preparing your food. If you’re diagnosed withH. pylori, complete your full course of treatment to reduce your risk of recurrence.

Keep reading: Stomach ulcer »