hPylori - Functional Approaches to Eradication
The nasty little bacteria called hPylori lives in the stomach of humans. It has a corkscrew shape and can burrow into the stomach lining causing ulcers and all kinds of other problems.
This is a serious condition and is not the kind of digestive imbalance that taking a few probiotics or some digestive enzymes will fix. People often suffer for years and years with terrifying symptoms and feeling like they may be on the verge of death.
On the other hand, success stories are also exciting in this area. I have one former hPylori client who years later still experiences "Nothing weird coming up or down." He also says he has gone back to eating all the foods he wants, including gluten and dairy, and has no problems whatsoever. Though the functional nutrition protocols can take 3-6 months (maybe more for very sticky cases), it is well worth the investment of time and money to reclaim your digestive health and your life.
Symptoms of hPylori may include:
Nausea
Vomiting (sometimes with blood)
Dramatic weight loss
Frequent burping
Bloating especially after meals
Stomach pain
Loss of appetite
Black stool (a characteristic sign of bleeding)
Blood in stool
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness or fainting
Persistent weakness and fatigue
Difficulty swallowing
Diarrhea or constipation
The medical approach to hPylori
The sad part about hPylori is that mainstream medicine does not have the greatest solutions for it, so people will go to doctors and get prescribed round after round after round of antibiotics or intense antibiotic cocktails and never eradicate it. In some cases for sure, the antibiotics do work to eradicate the hPylori however, it usually leaves people depleted and imbalanced because of the effects of antibiotics.
For those who have chosen to work with antibiotics for hPylori, it's important to do a gut healing protocol after the medical treatment. This may include nutrients to heal the stomach and intestinal lining like cabbage juice, deglycerized licorice, aloe, slippery elm, marshmallow root and others. I also recommend including hydrochloric acid (if tolerated and after ulcers have healed), digestive enzymes, supports for bile production, and a good rotation of spore based and traditional probiotics. Diet for recovery should be an organic, whole foods diet appropriate for the individual. Food sensitivity testing should also be conducted and I recommend removing all food sensitivities foods for 6 months to reduce inflammation during the recovery period.
Functional approaches to hPylori
Natural or functional approaches to hPylori are often quite effective. For those who do not want to use antibiotics, or for whom antibiotics are not working, a functional approach to hPylori can be a lifesaver.
I always start with a powerful stool test to determine what infections and imbalances we are working with. I also include a food sensitivity test because removing inflammatory foods is vital during the protocol and recovery period.
My protocols will also include a high quality mastica gum supplement along with a strategic variety of other supplements to help pull that sticky hPylori out of the body. I don't recommend mastica gum or mastic tea as a stand alone strategy because it is often not enough to fully do the trick, though they always make up the foundation of an hPylori protocol.
I'll admit, I am aggressive with my supplement protocols because my goal is to eradicate it in one shot if at all possible. Some clients will sail right through the protocol with no problems. Others will find it more challenging and will have to take it slow. For more sensitive clients, we will perhaps work on liver health first, or on other aspects of digestive health first, or improve the diet, or sugar handling systems first. We will always remove food sensitivity foods and upgrade the diet to allow some healing first so the body can better handle the eradication portion of the healing process.
I design my hPylori protocols based on the Restorative Wellness Solutions perspective and have had great success. We don't focus only on eradicating. We also always focus on what was driving the conditions that allowed hPylori to proliferate in the first place? Was it low stomach acid? Was it an imbalanced digestive process in some other way? So, to overcome the assault of this bacteria we also design a healing protocol with foods, supplements and lifestyle strategies to support an overall more healthy digestive tract.
Conclusion
I see so many people suffering for so long with hPylori infections, either diagnosed or unknown. If this is you or someone you love, my 1:1 Digestive Deep Healing program is a great place to start. Please know hPylori absolutely does not have to be a life sentence of suffering.