Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (86 page)

Because ulcers have been experienced throughout history, people have found effective natural therapies. Most physicians are not aware of these therapies, but nutritionally oriented physicians have been using them with promising results. Some recommend a combination of antibiotic therapy and bismuth, with DGL licorice, citrus seed extract, goldenseal, activated charcoal, and aloe vera. Glutamine, gamma oryzanol, SanoGastril, cabbage juice, comfrey, and calendula have also been shown to heal ulcers.

Other natural substances that have been shown to be effective against this bacterium include oil of oregano, turmeric, cumin, ginger, chili, borage, and licorice root. Several of these, turmeric, borage, and parsley, also inhibited the ability of H. pylori to adhere to the stomach.

Dietary recommendations for people with ulcers may be useful. Low-fiber diets may contribute significantly to ulcers. A South African physician, G. Borok, studied more than a thousand patients with ulcers and concluded that elimination of refined sugars, white-flour products, milled maize, chocolate, fries, soft drinks, and desserts will reduce gastric irritation. He also suggests avoiding tea and coffee. Another plug for a whole-foods diet!

A recent study on the diet of people with duodenal ulcers found that people who had good vitamin-A intake, followed a high-fiber diet, or ate seven or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day rather than three servings or fewer reduced risks of developing ulcers by 54 percent, 45 percent, and 33 percent, respectively. Again, this shows that a great diet can reduce your risk of all sorts of health problems.

One new therapy uses lactoferrin, which is found in colostrum and transfer factor, to eradicate H. pylori. Research has shown that use of triple therapy with added lactoferrin improves the success rate. Alone, it probably won’t do the job. People with high levels of gastritis and helicobacter also have concurrent high levels of lactoferrin in their stomach. Is the lactoferrin helping the H. pylori gain a foothold and helping it gain necessary iron for its metabolism? Or is the lactoferrin called in by the body’s immune system to help rid us of the bacteria? At this point, no one really knows.

Research for ulcer healing has shown good results for a wide variety of natural products. You can also find relief from combination products that contain bismuth, licorice root, grapefruit seed extract, goldenseal root, aloe vera, zinc carnosine, mastic gum, quercetin, sea buckthorn, water hissop, Bolivian medicinal, traditional Chinese formulations, and other herbs. Cranberry juice, ginger juice, broccoli sprouts, Brussels sprouts, plantain (banana type), propolis, evening primrose oil and other polyunsaturated fatty acids, reishi mushrooms, green tea, turmeric or curcumin, and yogurt can also heal ulcers. One study of 1,785 people found that moderate drinking of alcohol killed H. pylori infection. Details on many of these follow.

H. pylori test.
This can be done through stool, breath, or blood testing. It is widely available.

Drink water.
One very simple remedy for ulcers and gastritis is to drink huge amounts of water. Drink four to six glasses of water during the pain, and it may magically disappear. A fascinating book on this subject is
Your Body’s Many Cries for Water
, by Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, M.D. Drink eight to ten glasses of water or more each day.

Try licorice.
DGL licorice helps heal the stomach’s mucous lining by increasing healing prostaglandins that promote mucus secretion and cell proliferation. It also makes an environment that is inhospitable to H. pylori and has some weak antibiotic effects. Licorice enhances the blood flow and health of intestinal tract cells. It’s considered to have the same healing effect as cimetidine (Tagamet). It’s important to use DGL licorice to avoid side effects caused by whole licorice. Take 760 to 1,520 mg chewed before each meal. Daily total dosage is 4.5 grams.

Use aloe vera.
Aloe vera is a folk remedy for ulcers and has been approved by the FDA for use in oral ulcers. It is soothing, reduces inflammation, and helps to heal gastric ulcers. Take 1 teaspoon of fresh gel after meals. Use gel that doesn’t have skin; otherwise it can give you diarrhea. If you buy an aloe vera product, use as directed.

Try gamma oryzanol.
Gamma oryzanol, a compound found in rice bran oil, is a useful therapeutic tool in gastritis, ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome. It acts on the autonomic nervous system to normalize production of gastric juice and has also been shown to be effective in normalizing serum triglycerides and cholesterol, symptoms of menopause, and depressive disorders. Studies involving 375 hospitals in Japan indicate that gamma oryzanol was effective in reducing symptoms in 80 to 90 percent of participants, with more than half of the participants experiencing total or marked improvement. Typical dosage was 100 mg three times daily for three weeks. Occasionally, the dosage was doubled, and often the therapy was used longer. Minimal side effects were experienced by 0.4 percent of the people. Take 100 mg of gamma oryzanol three times daily for a trial period of three to six weeks to determine if it relieves the problem.

Drink cabbage juice.
Cabbage juice is a long-standing folk remedy for heart-burn. Drink 1 quart of cabbage juice daily for a trial period of two weeks.

Drink cranberry juice.
Cranberry juice has been well studied for helping to resolve H. pylori. It appears to block H. pylori from adhering to the stomach tissue, in the same way that it does in the bladder. While it doesn’t work for everyone, a Chinese study reports that 11.3 percent of people were H. pylori free after drinking two 9-ounce juice boxes of cranberry juice daily for 90 days. Another report states that when cranberry was used along with oregano, results improved because of the synergy. In another study, when cranberry juice was given to people along with triple therapy, results improved; 82.5 percent of people who drank 9 ounces (250 ml) of cranberry juice twice daily had normal H. pylori breath tests. In women results were even better; 95.2 percent had normal test results.

Use mastic gum.
Several studies tout the anti-ulcer benefit of mastic gum. Take 1 gram (1,000 mg) daily in divided doses.