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The real truth about H. pylori: allergies, autoimmune, & adrenal fatigue

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In my last post (healing update #5) I told you I have h. pylori. It is not a fun thing to have. It creates SO much destruction in the gut and organs and pretty much can ruin your body. The #1 thing you do not want to do is let it overgrow-trust me, it is much worse then the detox. So, lets begin.

h. pylori is short for Helicobacter pylori

Research

If you don’t know anything about h. pylori I suggest you watch these video’s. I have done lots of research over the past months and these videos are very detailed and explain the biochemical process your body goes through and what the h. pylori does (what vitamins it takes away, detox pathways it ruins, etc..) to the body. I wont lie- they are long, but if you are serious about eradicating the h.pylori for good, then you need to know your facts.

h. pylori- another piece to the puzzle

h. p- part 2

I find Dr. Amy is a very thorough Dr. and researcher and her protocol and testing techniques actually work. Here is her site.

h pylori 2

The confusion

H. pylori is pretty common and a lot of people don’t even know they have it. From what scientists can test- It is the most common infection in the world! When you do know you have it, most likely it is because you are already having un plesent symptoms.

Im not going to list all the symptoms here all because it can pretty much be anything. Not just digestion related/ulcers. Lots of doctors think it stays in the stomach. Nope. It can travel and infect any organ it likes to.

Not only does h. pylori invade but since it reduces stomach acid- (because it likes an base environment to grow) then other parasites and bugs have a easy time thriving. Acid kills, without acid-bad bugs will live in you. yuck.

Many people say that most people infected have no symptoms. Though, I disagree because now I know that it does only produce stomach related symptoms. (Brain fog, thyroid, allergies, fatigue, parasites, and other chronic illnesses are related to h. pylori). Who knew! The reason why I was not diagnosed earlier was because I did not have ulcers, or severe stomach pain. I had all the other symptoms no one could figure out and put the pieces together.

How to treat h.pylori?

There are tons of methods to treat h. pylori.

  • Antibiotics- Which are now clinically proven to not work long term.
  • Herbs-There are so many to count but there is good list that are proven to kill it effectively. (I have lists below)
  • Baking soda or acids- Which one do you choose? It is important to understand the “science” behind it all to know HOW to get rid of h. pylori. Read the section “a note on acids”
  • Gums: (I did not want to include this in “herbs” so it got its own category. Mastic gum is the most common and very good at killing h. pylori.

It is hard to get rid of

H. pylori is stubborn. If you were a bacteria, you would think of a million ways to stay alive-right? H. pylori got the brains so it decided to “hide” and bury itself in the mucus layer in the stomach lining- and other places it infects. You cant just kill it without provoking it out.

Not only that, but even after you eradicate it- it can take up to 6+ months to finally start felling really normal again because it can do so much damage. Your body needs time to rebuild nutrient stores and learn how to function like the body intended (without the bacteria thriving in you).

How is it transmitted?

Over half of the world’s population host H. pylori in their upper G.I. tract. Infection tends to be more prevalent within developing countries and less in western civilizations because of the health care provisions available.

The route of transmission of H. Pylori is unknown, although it’s noted that individuals typically become infected in childhood. H. pylori has a helix shape that is thought to have evolved in order to penetrate the stomach’s mucoid lining.

 

Possible routes of infection include either oral-oral or fecal-oral, iatrogenic spread with inadvertent use of unsterile pH probes and endoscopes, and vectorial spread by flies.

Many sources say it is easily transmitted so it is advised to treat the whole family (and pets) with the herbal regime so you do not get re-infected. I am planning on doing this. I still have to do a bit more research about what herbs are safe for pets.

bacteria

What are the facts- why is it SO bad?

Let me just  explain WHY you may feel so terrible. The longer the infection has been in your body and the weaker you are- the more likely that these symptoms will be on the severe side.

Allergies: 

This is because the h. pylori sort of “drills” holes in the gut, allowing big food molecules in the blood stream. This in turn will cause an “allergic reaction” because the body is always fighting against things (aka. leaky gut).

Swelling, sneezing, itching all have a purpose- to dilute or get rid of toxins produced by the body when it reacts to these things. Food, smells, chemicals, toxins, touching things, breathing- any of these are possible to give a person with h. pylori problems. Allergies are secondary to h. pylori. 

 ”IgG food sensitivities and IgE food  allergies. It is my personal opinion, and what I have seen using this  program that IgG food sensitivities are related to leaky gut (often secondary to H.pylori). What happens is the system is exposed to foods that it should not be, due to the  fact that the barrier is leaky. As we address the leaky gut itself as  well as the underlying cause the sensitivity to those foods seems to  diminish.”- Dr. Amy.

Messes up our detox pathways:

This is the most destructive thing in my opinion. Detox is vital to staying alive! The detox methylation pathways NEED certain vitamins and amino acids to work.

The h. pylori takes a lot of these important “middle men” that work to keep our detox pathways open and running. So basically h. pylori shuts down some of your detox pathways. This makes people sick, sick, sick. Anything is possible at this point. Touching or just breathing in foods/chemicals/pollens can make you go crazy or pass out. Your body just keeps recirculation toxins and your liver gets overwhelmed, swollen, and full!

Autoimmune disorders:

This may get a little tricky- try to follow me. When the h. pylori decided to make a home in your body, it needs certain materials to do that. It needs to neutralize acid. It needs certain vitamins (vb-12 is one of them).It needs to make enzymes to help keep it alive – its enzymes use up manganese- leaving the body deficient in manganese. Manganese is needed to fight free radicals. Without it cell membranes and the DNA are damaged.

In the process it throws off phospholipid, DNA, uradine (helps with brain connection–brain fog anyone?), and pretty much starts messing with the mitochondria. The mitochondria houses the body’s energy (ATP). So now the body is zapped of ALL energy and things start to work slower.

Detox pathways start to shut down because of what I explained in the above points Once this happens then toxic metals start accumulating in the body’s tissues. They can settle wherever they like-brain/thyroid/pancreas, etc.

The cells are smart so they will “trap” and “hide” the heavy metals which are a threat to the body- especially the brain. Once they “trap” the heavy metals in the cell, the body starts to attack the cell-trying to get to the heavy metal to kill it. Autoimmune is the body attacking itself. But really it is attacking the antigen inside the cell. Now this process is not going to be the same for everyone-but you get the point. If you want to learn more about autoimmunity and its process read this free book.

Minerals:

Sine the h. pylroi has blocked absorption (due to neutralizing acid in your stomach), minerals are not going to be absorbed.

Detox pathways also help eliminate excess heavy metals ( “bad” minerals) and since the pathways are blocked the heavy metals will take over binding sites of good minerals. Basically minerals are off and not balanced. This is never good and can lead to pretty much any problem under the sun!

The body has an order of preference for minerals. For example, the body prefers Zinc for over 50 critical enzymes. However, if Zinc becomes deficient (which is very common) or exposure to Cadmium, Lead or Mercury is sufficiently high, the body will use these toxic minerals in place of Zinc. Cadmium, in particular, is located just below Zinc in the periodic table of the elements, so its atomic structure is very similar to that of Zinc. It almost fits perfectly in the Zinc binding sites of critical enzymes.

Look at this atomic table to figure out the possible “thefts” for each good mineral. In each vertical column find each good mineral- zinc, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, manganese, iron, copper, selenium, sulfur etc. Then search for “bad” minerals (heavy metals)  in the same column that can potentially take over the binding spots of the good ones.

High aluminum levels are correlated with bacterial infections.

Even good minerals can get off balance like calcium/magnesium,copper/zincselenium/sulfur ratios. A good test to figure out your mineral and heavy metal ratios is a hair analysis test.

Chronic infection:

H. pylori is a chronic infection. Chronic infections lead to decrease in the conversion of T4 to Active T3 (thyroid hormones- the 3 and 4 represent the # of iodine molecules).

When the body is stressed the T3 gets converted to RT3 (reverse t3). That is bad. The thyroid and the whole body are affected form this inablilty to produce thyroid hormone your body can use. The thyroid becomes “hypo” which leads to weight gain, constipation, dry skin, depression, etc. Thyroid is very important and helps regulate hormones too in the body.

learn more about RT3 here. I don’t believe in taking medication to cover up symptoms. Symptoms are the body trying to tell YOU what is wrong, I believe in fixing the ROOT problem.

Parasites:

Dr Amy says. ”I regularly find blastocystis hominis, giardia, cryptosporidium, candida, and other infections in my clients and sometimes people are harbouring these organisms as well as H pylori. A long term H pylori infection and lowering of stomach acid allows these other organisms to pass safely through to the intestines where they are able to colonise. These other infections cause many overlapping symptoms – gas, bloating, headaches, diarrhoea, etc – and are therefore hard to distinguish from H pylori. I therefore recommend running high quality stool testing where possible.”

Fatigue:

Of course fatigue will be a part because they body is ALWAYS working and you are deficient in b-vitamins (aka energy vitamins), iron (h. pylori/bacteria like to use iron to their own good). Even when I was eating red meat and high iron foods, my iron levels were low.

Stomach acid:

H. pylori is attracted to low or high acid environments. It starts in the stomach because of this quality- but can travel to other organs. H. pylori can thrive in a high acid stomach because it covers itself in a barrier and hides itself in the mucous layer, deep within your stomach. This can make it tricky to eradicate because they herbs have no way of reaching the bacteria.

H. pylori also neutralizes stomach acid so you have a very poor time digesting and assimilation vitamins and minerals. Say hello fatigue and rumbly stomach!  Read more at “note on acid” below.

Ketosis:

Ketosis  is when your body starts using fat for energy.  You may think-”Oh this is great”. No not great at all. The brain NEEDS glucose for energy and to survive. When the body turns to fat for energy the body produces ketones.

Part of the ketone molecule can be used for energy but the “bad” part called acetone (the chemical also found in nail polish remover) cannot be used by the body. It is excreted through the urine and breath (stinky urine and breath). The urine is first filtered through the kidneys. When too much acetone is always flushing through the kidneys, the kidneys start to overwork (read here if your kidneys are in danger).

Acetone is a toxin that makes the blood more acidic and starts to damage the liver. When the kidneys overwork the body starts to really get messed up and it can be dangerous. I was there, and I never want to go back. I still have to be careful because I get kidney pain and fluid retention (kidneys facilitate fluid in the body).

In TCM the kidneys are the life force- you don’t want to be messing around with that. It is important to support the kidney with homeopathic, foods, herbs, and whatever you can think of.

You should be taking the ph or your urine:

Something I am thinking of doing is buying these Ph test strips. You take the strip and hold it under your urine. A high urine ph (alkaline) means toxins are being excreted by your kidneys and they are stressed!

High urine ph (7-8): ALKALINE

  • kidney stones
  • vegetarian diet
  • chronic renal failure
  • bacteria infection (Most of the bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections make the urine more alkaline because the bacteria split urea into ammonia and other alkaline waste products.)

Low urine ph (4.5-7) : ACIDIC

  • high protein/meat diet
  • diarrhea
  • starvation
  • dehydration

 

Learn more about it here.

Neurotransmitter imbalances:

You have probably heard of neurotransmitters so you know how important they are to the cells and brain. Serotonin will be off balance. OCD symptoms may be present and mood and appetite will be affected as well.

Muscle spasms:

This one was random but made sense why I get random eye twitches. High triptamine levels are associated with h. pylroi infection. These high triptamine  levels create “twitches” in the body. I found that Magnesium Bath Flakes help the twitching.

Ammonia:

H. pylori produces high ammonia levels in the body. I cant imagine this is good for any organ. Just more for the body to deal with.

Hard to eradicate:

This bacteria digs deep deep down into the mucous layer. It hides itself form the immune system. Because of this and its “tail” that buries itself in the body, it can take a long time to eradicate. It can take many months to get neurotransmitters back to normal too (after eradication). This infection is common in autistic kids and eradicating it can have a huge improvement on moods, speech, cognitive abilities.

Liver/gallbladder problems:

The liver filters the blood (which is becoming toxic from the h. pylori) so it gets clogged and overwhelmed.

The detox pathways are not working so the liver takes the upper hand and overworks night and day until it becomes too clogged to do the job.

Allergies commonly become worse when the liver is toxic.

When the liver does not work right, the gallbladder will not do its job right either. The gallbladder is connected to the liver and works according to how the liver works and vice versa. You need bile to help flush out hormones and toxins and to digest food.

Liver herbs and gallbladder herbs (bitter) are helpful in getting these important detox organs stronger and functioning again (listed below).

Adrenal fatigue:

The adrenals sit on top of the kidneys, so they are connected. Since h. pylori damages kidneys so badly, the adrenals are affected as well. When your body is under chronic stress it starts to affect your adrenal glands and drags your body down the stages of adrenal fatigue until one day you feel “dead tired”. Cortisol levels, sleep, and blood sugar will be off too.

Malnutrition:

Not only is your body not absorbing nurtients because you need acid and vitamin b-12 to assimilate nutrients, but since h. pylori neutralizes your stomach acid- parasites, bugs, and bacteria grow and use the nutrients up and leave you with…well not much. This can leave you feeling always hungry- like “nutrient hungry” I call it. Height and growth is also affected in some children and adults.

Histamine:

Gut problems is directly related to histamine levels. Mast cells (which release histamine) increase with an h. pylori infection.

I never really had a problem with his until one day out of the blue I got full body hives and itching. Since then I have had more hives and itching spells. I keep it under control by eating low histamine foods, detoxing, and following my h. pylori program so it does not overgrow more. For me, sea salt seems to help calm the itching/hives as well- natural antihistamine.

Digestive problems:

Digestive problems are characteristic symptom for people with h. pylori (so are ulcers). Diarrhea, constipation bloating, acid reflux, indigestion, nausea, loss or gain or appetite, nervous stomach, gas, etc.

Hernia of stomach (hiatal hernia):

This is when the stomach rides up and get “stuck” and pushes into an ares it doesn’t belong-upward into the chest. Usually the feeling is a hard stomach that is tender. GERD is also a symptom.

This type of hernia can be corrected with manipulative pressure from a kinesiologist (or yourself). I got mine”pushed down” (and you can fix your too!) and will have to continue doing it every few weeks or so until it actually “stays where it is suppose to”

Other organs infected:

Since bacteria can travel, other organs can get infected. For me, my small intestines, stomach, and sinuses are all infected with the h. pylori. Each person is different. Just paying attention to your symptoms may help you figure it out.

Look at a human anatomy chart to know where your organs are. Stomach (hard/tender-h. pylori starts in the stomach). Small intestines (absorption issues). Large intestines/colon (digestion/ bowl problems). Pancreas (enzyme and insulin imbalances). Liver (toxic liver symptoms). Kidneys (kidney pain and associated problems). Sinus (sinus pressure and constant swelling).

Teeth and sinus problems:

The stomach and intestines play a big role in teeth and sinus health. I have a history of cavities and sinus infections. Bacteria can travel from the stomach into the teeth and do damage. The bacteria can travel from the mouth into the sinuses. It is important to kill the bacteria in the sinuses and mouth with salt water rises until you get the h. pylori under control.

Migraines:

“ Migraines can be caused by hormone and/or serotonin imbalances and recall that serotonin imbalances can related to chronic bacterial issues. So this gets us back to a need for a full CPR if other suggestions are not enough of a help. Also lack of carnitine (often secondary to H.pylori) can be sufficient to cause migraines.- Dr. Amy”

GABA/glutamate imbalance:

GABA is a neurotransmitter used by the nervous system to transfer messages. It is important to prevent anxiety, restlessness, and brain health.

Vitamins b-6 and B-12 specificlaly are needed to make GABA and since your body is already deficient in them, GABA production slows down. When GABA is out of balance glutamate will be to.  GABA gets low, while glutamate gets high.

I experienced this “drunk” feeling after drinking too much bone broth and fermented veggies once- this was because these foods are high in free glutamate. I already had enough glutamate being produced at abnormal levels so even slight amounts in food send the balance way overboard. This can be a reason why some people do worse on the GAPS diet. Look up high glutamate foods here.

 

Did I list enough for you? There is alot more that h. pylori does, but lets try to focus on what to DO to get rid of it and bring the body back in balance.

Testing

You are probably wondering how do you even know if you have h. pylori for sure?  You do testing- but here is where it can get tricky (not all testing is reliable).

* I got kinesiology testing, which in my opinion can be just as accurate as a blood/stool/breath test if you get a good practitioner.

* always work with a practitioner if you think you have h. pylori.

Stool test:

(like this one). Do the stool test on a full moon- bacteria and parasites are most active then. This is the most reliable according to most studies. It can be done before to diagnose h. pylori. and after to make sure you have it cleared from your system. Read here why it is the most reliable test.

Kinesiology:

This requires a special kinesiologist practitioner to use muscle testing to find the “root cause” . This is what I did and my Dr. used “bacteria” viles and my muscles to determine that I had an h. pylori infection. We tested things until we found out what exactly made my muscle weak.

Blood test:

Checks the antibodies to H. pylori. Antibodies can stay in your blood 12-18 months after eradication (treatment). If you do have antibodies and have never been treated then YES you have h. pylori.

Breath test:

This test uses radioactive carbon atom to detect h.pylori. Though it is a inconsistent test, and usually expensive.

Stomach biopsy:

A sample is taken from inside the stomach and small intestine. This test too is inconsistent and the most invasive.

Markers on other testing:

Here are some of the markers trained Dr.’s look for that “hint” at the patient has an h. pylori infection.  Here are Dr. Amy’s findings…

  • “if manganese is  consistently low on a Urine essential elements test
  • if most amino acids are low on a Urine amino acid test  and  arginine is normal range
  • if suberic is really high  on a Metabolic Analysis Profile (MAP) in spite of carnitine support
  • if particular Krebs  intermediates are high while others are in normal range on that MAP
  • if  5HIAA is very high when it doesn’t make sense with the maoA status or  the support being used
  • if there is consistently midrange to high  cadmium and bismuth excretion
  • if a Neurotransmitter test is showing  high tryptamine or tyramine”

.

A note on Acid:

Some pratcitoners like to supplement acid to “kill the h. pylori”. But if you have been following what I have been saying, then the h. pylori will not be killed by the acid because it will either neutralize it or hide in the mucous layer of the gut so it stays in a “safe environment”

Here is what Dr. Amy says:

“I would NOT add anything acidic to drop the pH in my personal opinion.  I will explain why I am saying that by explaining my personal theory on  H.pylori that seems to be holding up to the test of time and having  positive results…I believe that the H.pylori may be coming out of  hiding due to the program. H.pylori makes an enzyme called urease. This  enzyme uses arginine from the body and makes a product to help to  neutralize the stomach acid. While H.pylori may initially be attracted  to a gut that has a higher stomach pH, and while it is shown to be a  factor in acid reflux, GERD, stomach ulcers…it actually will not live  in an acid environment. That is why it hides in the mucosal cells lining  the gut. I believe it is in part so hard to eradicate as it is hiding  in those mucosal cells. The idea of the baking soda which has worked  well is to trick the H.pylori into thinking the pH is less acidic so it  will come out of hiding and so the other supplements (Peptimycin and  HELX- these are the supplements she uses which contain many of the herbs I am listing) can reach it. When the pH climbs  like you are seeing, I believe that represents H.pylori that has come  out of hiding, out of the mucosal cells and is making urease to  neutralize the stomach acid so that it can live there. I feel it is now  more vulnerable to eradication, but it also may be causing more gut  pain. This is why we consider the H.pylori program when the gut  pH is very low (an environment that H.pylori may be attracted to) or  when it is high (indicating H.pylori is making urease to increase the  gut pH to neutralize the acid). What has been seen on a number of tests  is that the pH will swing from very low (ie around 5) to very high  (closer to 8 ) for the same individual.”

* a gut test determines the h.p of the stomach.

*So basically- don’t use acid- use baking soda to “provoke” the h. pylori out of hiding so you can kill it with supplements and herbs. Baking soda is used to trick the h. pylori that the stomach is “safe” and base (not acidic).

food

FOOD/diet:

What to eat?

This is a very broad question and I wonder if I am doing the right thing each day. It all boils down to- how do you feel after eating? Of course you should stay away form the junk, sugar, table salt, and the obvious bad things. But what about all the lists you see online “what not to eat with h.pylori”. I tried to find out the pros and cons or each. I hope it helps. Your best bet is to listen to your instincts.

“Are these food’s ok if I have h. pylori?”

Coffee:

pro: It can decrease GGT (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) levels–this is a “bad” liver enzyme.

con: Coffee is acidic in nature and can stress adrenals more-so this is a decision you have to make. I personally do not drink it.

Fermented foods:

pro: Full of good natural probitoics to hep fight infection and bacteria.

con: Can increase excess glutamate and histamine levels.

High fat (even good fats):

pro: Help absorption of vitamins  (especially since you are deficient probably) and keep you full longer.

con: Can aggravate ketosis and inflammation in the stomach- look at note below **

** Eat a higher carbohydrate/ lower fat diet:

Too much fat aggravates the h pylori symptoms (digestion/gallbladder doesn’t work/ketosis) and keeping a steady amount of carbohydrates prevents the body from going into ketosis. This is a temporary diet- and you can return to lots of healthy fats once you recover. A stool that is pale and stinky is most likely a signal you are not digesting your fats. To help digest fats- increase herbs to support bile (dandelion root, bitter herbs).

Onion/garlic/broccoli/cauliflower:

pro: Helps to “fight” h. pylori directly.

con: If you have a CBS mutation, you have a sulfur detox problem and this can aggravate your symptoms. (check out foods high in sulfur)

Spices (cayenne/mustard/cloves/cinnamon):

pro: Antibacterial properties and are known to help ulcers (common in h. pylori).

con: Spicy foods can aggravate the stomach lining and increase HCL in the stomach. Remeber that 1-2 hours after eating we want to make the stomach “base” so the h. pylori comes out of hiding. Some sources say they can promote the perfect ground for bacteria growth.

*Here is my thinking. Is it may be ok to eat these healing spices with food  (even if it does increase the Hydrochloric acid in the stomach temporarily) and then just follow with the baking soda after most of the food is digested. If it aggravates your stomach- don’t eat it, but if you crave it- your body may need it. (here is a good article to help)

Dairy

pro: Especially if it is raw and cultured, it will be a rich source of probioitcs.

con: Can be a cause of excess mucous in the body and high fat dairy can aggravate sensitive stomachs with h. pylori. Fermented milk or cheese are high in glutamates.

Chocolate

pro: High in magnesium and mineras.

con: Can aggravate the stomach because it is acidic.

Red meat:

pro: A good source of b- vitamins and iron (anemia and B-12 are common deficiencies with h. pylori)**

con: Meat is acidic but it depends on how your body digest it if it will be ok with h. pylori symptoms.

**h pylori is commonly found in blood type O’s -who process meat well and need to eat it to feel good and strong. read about it here

Protein:

pro: Keeps you full, contains important amino acids to make neurotransmitters (which you are lacking in).

con: Too much can stress the kidneys- which are already fragile and detoxing hard.

Bone broth/gelatin:

pro: Rich in gut healing properties.

con: If you have a GABA/glutamate imbalance then you need to be careful about eating foods high in free glutamate and gelatin is high. (check out foods high in glutamate).

cranberry

AVOID:

carbonated drinks

alcohol: Too much free glutamate

canned foods: Histamine is high

leftover foods: Histamine is increased

sugar

white products

vinegar: Use apple cinder vinegar instead

foods you are allergic to: Aggravates stomach and pretty much the whole body.

tomatoes: They have an acidic affect in the stomach.

grains (gluten and non gluten): There are alot of problems with grains and leaky guts /cross reacting to gluten grains so it is best to stay away while you heal.

ADD:

flavinoid rich foods: Cranberries (good for kidneys too), apples, onions, celery

sea salt: Helps balance adrenals and regulate kidneys

leafy green veggies/sea veggies (organic): Rich in vitamin b’s, and other vitamins and minerals

wild fish- Rich in omega 3′s -reduce inflammation

veggies and fruits

squash and starchy veggies: To help keep carbohydrate intake higher if you are on low fat- you will need calories

 

Remember these are just my thoughts and can be used as guidelines, but I say the best bet is listen to your body’s healthy cravings.

 

The protocol

My protocol will look different from yours, but I will show you my protocol as an example. I am still very sensitive, so I did some extra research and “dissected” common h. pylori supplements that contained herbs and enzymes so I could stay away from “fillers” and capsules.

Tip: Cycle on and off supplements/herbs- don’t want to over drive the immune system. You want to give the body a break.

example: 2 weeks on herbs & 1 week off herbs or 4 days on herbs & 1 day off (whatever feels right with your body)

teas

Organ support:

I created this to have its own category because these herbs don’t necessarily “kill the h. pylori, but they are still important to keep the organs strong and eliminating the toxic waste.

Herbal teas:

Many teas are very supportive of the organ systems (which you need right now). I will give you a small list for supporting each organ system.

*I always have someone in my family muscle test me to make sure my body needs them at that time. Use these videos to learn how to muscle test yourself. I have a new love for learning about herbs-here is my new page for them

Kidney: uva ursi, cranberry, rose hips, parsley, nettle, burdock, dandelion leaf

Reproductive system: maca, red raspberry leaf, red clover, white peony root

Lymph: oregon grape root, poke root, cleavers, wild indigo, Figwort, horsetail, echinacea, goldenseal

Bowel:

  • constipated: senna leaf, Cascara sagrada, rhubarb root, chickweed
  • diarrhea: marshmallow root, slippery elm bark, peppermint, camomile

Liver/gallbladder: dandelion root, dandelion leaf, Schisandra berries, milk thistle, gentian root, turmeric

Digestion/stomach: ginger, fennel, marshmallow root, slippery elm bark, rose hips, lotus leaf

Spleen/blood: hawthorn berries, red root, barberry

Adrenals: licorice, codonopsis root, sarsaparilla, ginseng, wild yam *sea salt is also very good at supporting adrenals

Brain: ginkgo, ashwaghandha, rosemary, peppermint, holy basil, green tea

Screen Shot 2013-05-05 at 7.45.53 PM

Homeopathics:

Homeopathics help support organ systems and keeps their toxic load down. I like the apex line. When I had my second flare- homeopathics really helped calm my symptoms and bring my body back in balance.

RNA’s:

Thee may be new to you. My dr. usually recommends them to her patients. RNA’s help support organ systems. I take Liver RNA, Kidney RNA, cytokine inflammation RNA

Enzymes:

Digest gold or digestive enzymes : taken 20 minutes before meals to help digest your food.

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How to “kill” h. pylori:

Anti-h. pylori Herbs: These are specific herbs used to kill h. pylori. that I am taking daily:

combine

My H. Pylori blend:

With trial and error and some research I figured out what “blend” works for my body. I believe that if the body is going to heal, it needs to have a nourishing diet, detoxing (to get the toxins out of your body), and an overall balanced healthy life style.

Nature provides special herbs and plants to flush toxins–specifically we are targeting h. pylori–out of our bodies that make us sick. These 3 plants (triphala (actually 3 herbs in 1) , cats claw, and mastic gum) are the things I choose to kill off the h.pylori in my body to use consistently.

I dissected a bunch of well trusted supplements and these 3 ingredients were common in many mixtures. I don’t like taking capsules and I prefer to source my own ingredients. Im ok with this because it forces me to learn about each one.

Since I am sensitive, I like to try each herb individually to make sure my body is ok with it. I first muscle test myself and then try a very small amount. After I know I was ok with all 3, I combined them into a formula that my body tolerated well.

Some days I make the herbs into a tea (with hot water) and take the mastic gum separate. Some days I combine and drink in regular temp water.  Do what your body tolerates (you may have to change up the measurements) and feel free to change up the formula to add in any of the other “anti-hpylori” herbs listed below.

Triphala:

what is it?

latin names:

family:

Triphala is actually a combination of 3 herbs. It is a very popular Ayurvedic herb that originated in India. The herbs are dried and ground into a powder.

Triphala is an Ayurvedic remedy consisting of equal parts of three herb, taken without seed: Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula). The word triphalameans literally “three fruits”.

 

Triphala contains five of the six tastes recognized in Ayurveda (sweet, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent), only missing the salty taste.

Dosage:

You can buy powder here.

1/4 tsp 1-2x a day  (you can either dissolve in hot water or cold). I prefer taking it in liquid because of this…

Triphala Tea The traditional way of ingesting triphala is as a tea. This method allows one to taste the herb fully, and taste is considered by Ayurveda to be an important part of the healing process. Taste starts the digestive process, and sends signals to the body as to what to expect, already initiating your body’s own inner pharmacy.

Studies:

A 17 year old girl discovered an Ayurvedic herb to effectively break the protective layer of bacteria. The specific herb was Haritaki. This protective layer is called a “biofilm”. Some people use biofilm enzymes to help break down this protective layer so the body can then recognize and attack the bacteria (h. pylori).

One of the common tropical plant extracts penetrated the bacterium’s protective layer. Next, Madhavi isolated the specific molecule in the extract that was able to inhibit bacterial growth. She found that the molecule was heat resistant, and resistant to pressure. “It kills the cell,” she explains, “by preventing the transcription of the genes involved in energy, metabolism, adaptation, membrane transport, and toxin secretion.”

This study explains the qualities of Haritaki (one of the three herbs in triphala) and its effect on h. pylori.

Haritaki has anti-bacterial effect (International Journal of Cardiology, 1988). In this study the researchers tested the effect of extracts of Haritaki on a bacteria called Helicobactor Pylori. The results indicated that water extracts of Haritaki contain a heat stable agent with inhibiting effects and possible therapeutic potential for fighting Helicobactor Pylori and other bacterial species.

About:

I included an “about” section for triphala because it is such a complex herb. Ayurvedic medicine has a different way of looking at the body, illness, and foods/herbs. I will help you understand the herbs and how each one relates to a specific “dosha”- characteristics that help make up the body and mind. Each one is a completely different herb with amazing properties.

Amalaki: 

  • has a cooling affect on the dosha Pitta (fire/bile)
  • helps with digestion and assimilating food
  • clears thinking ability
  • mildly laxative
  • astringent- constrict tissues to heal
  • alterative-helps restore body functions
  • antipyretic-helps reduce fever
  • used to treat “fire” imbalances -ulcers, stomach/intestine inflammation, constipation/diarrhea, acne/rashes, liver congestion, infections.
  • very high source of vitamin c
  • antioxidant
  • sour

Bibhitaki:

  • helps target problems in kapa (water/mucus) dosha
  • balances excess mucus
  • helpful for respiratory problems (allergies/asthma)
  • astringent taste (smooth/bitter/dry)
  • cleanses the blood
  • remove harmful toxins in body
  • strengthens hair roots and color or hair
  • balances kapa (water) imbalances- eliminated fluid (edema)
  • antiviral and antibacterial
  • improves eye site
  • balances over weight conditions

Haritaki:

  • helps balance the vata (wind/nervous system) dosha
  • helps to eradicate parasites
  • clams nerves and anxiety
  • removes toxins- “scraping” effect
  • helps maintain a healthy weight
  • lubricant and laxative-helps constipation
  • has 5 tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent)
  • stimulates digestion and sensory organs
  • helps combat anemia
  • combats gallstones
  • restores health

 

Benefits:

  • 3 herbs that support 3 different dosha’s  (a well balanced herb)
  • improves circulation (cleanses blood and increases red blood cells)
  • detoxifies at a deep level without depleting the bodies reserves
  • helps stimulate bile flow
  • good liver tonic
  • internal cleanseing
  • helps fight bacteria (h. pylori), parasites, and viruses
  • improves digestion and elimination
  • helps body absorb nutrients, fight cravings
  • helps body balance out weight-fights unwanted fat
  • regenerate tissues
  • anti-imflamitory
  • promotes normal appetite
  • helps heal metabolism
  • used as a tonic for eye and hair washes
  • supports healthy immune system

 

warning: 

  • Do not use if nursing/pregnant
  • do not use if you have acute diarrhea- mild laxative effect
  • can cause weight loss-do not use if you are already very underweight
  • no known drug interactions
  • be cautious with blood thinning medications
  • do not take with dysentery (inflamed intestines with severe diarrhea)
  • if you are allergic to any of the herbs plant family’s (listed above) do not take
  • can cause detox symptoms- you may have to stop temporarily if it gets too uncomfortable

 

Cats claw:

what is it?

latin name: Uncaria tomentosa

plant family: Rubiaceae

The coffee family (Rubiaceae) is the largest woody plant family in the wet tropics, and contains approximately 13,200 species. Most species live in the lower ‘understorey’ level of the forest, where their fruits, nectar and leaves provide an important source of food for animals.

 

Cat’s claw is a tropical vine clinging to 100-foot (and taller) trees by using its namesake “claws.” Cat’s claw (una de gato in Spanish) refers to at least 20 plants with sharp curved thorns, both native to the South and Central American tropical rain forests, with most of the commercial production focused on Uncaria tomentosa. Ethically harvested cat’s claw bark is a major source of income for many Brazilian and Peruvian villages.

cross reactants: coffee, rubiaceae (coffee) family

Dosage:

You can buy powder or bark here.

1/4 tsp (powdered) 1-2x a day

1-3 tsp (bark). Steep in boiling water for 15  minutes.

*The tannins in the herb are released only if it is taken in an acidic medium

If you can tolerate lemon juice- stir cats claw powder in lemon water or squeeze some lemon juice in your tea. I cannot do this because I am sensitive to citrus fruit. I just take it in water and still believe I am getting the benefits of this herb (i have gotten detox).

 

Studies:

Fights against lyme and other bacteria (h. pylori)- In this study

In this study the patient went on a course of antibiotics for h. pylori. Symptoms were nauseous, weight loss, loss of appetite, and high blood pressure. She only got worse. After 1 month of cats claw (120mg ) a day, taken 30 hour before breakfast, her h. pylori was gone and her symptoms were a lot better.

 

Benefits:

  • DNA repair (8 week study proved this)
  • helps allergies (breaks down mucous)
  • treats inflammation (by suppressing TNF-alpha synthesis–which is needed in the inflammation process)
  • detoxify intestines while helping keep friendly bacteria alive
  • stimulates immune system to help fight cold, viruses,
  • Fights some cancers (study done that it stops cell mutations in long term smokers)
  • regulates microphages and white blood cells (either low or high)
  • acts against h. pylori
  • helps fight sinus problems
  • used for arthritis and joint inflammation conditions
  • helps people with stomach and bowel disorders
  • fights fungal and viral infections (candida)
  • promotes speedy wond healing
  • antioxidants help fight free radicals

 

warning:

  • Avoid when trying to get pregnant/ already pregnant/ nursing/young children.- can cause miscarriages
  • should not be taken 2 weeks before/after surgery or people who have bleeding disorder
  • should not be used by people who have organ transplants
  • should not be taken with some autoimmune disorders (can make the immune system more active)–for this reason I balance it with herbs that stimulate my T2  side.
  • can aggrivate leukemia cancer.
  • can lower blood pressure–i have low blood pressure but again it is all bout balance.
  • medications: since cats claw is broken down by the liver it could interact with certain medications that are broken down by the same enzyme (allergy meds, cholesterol meds, allergy medication, anti fungals)
  • if you are allergic to the rubiaceae (coffee) family no not use.

.

Mastic gum:

what is it?

latin name: Pistacia lentiscus (Greek for mastic)– mastic gum comes from this small evergreen tree

plant family: Anacardiaceae

Mastic is a resin obtained from the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus). In Greece, it is known as the “tears of Chios,” being traditionally produced on that Greek island, and, like other natural resins, is produced in “tears” or droplets. Originally liquid, it is sun dried into drops of hard brittle translucent resin. When chewed, the resin softens and becomes a bright white and opaque gum. The flavor is bitter at first, but after chewing, it releases a refreshing, slightly piney or cedar flavor.

 

The ancient Greeks chewed mastic gum (or mastiche, pronounced “mas-tee-ka”) for centuries. This substance is formed from the resin contained in the bark of the mastic tree found mainly in Greece and Turkey. Grecian women favored chewing mastic gum to clean their teeth and sweeten their breath.

 

Anacardiaceae (the cashew or sumac family) are a family of flowering plants bearing fruits that are drupes and in some cases producingurushiol, an irritant. Notable plants in this family include:cashew (in the type genus Anacardium), mango, poison ivy, sumac, smoke tree, and marula. The genus Pistacia (which includes thepistachio and mastic tree) usually is now included, but has sometimes been placed in its own family, Pistaciaceae

Cross reactants:

Mastic gum is related to cashews, mango, poisin ivy, sumac, smoke tree, marula (oil used in cosmetics, to treat leather, and preserve meat), capers, pistachio (im including it just to be safe), and the Anacardiaceae (cashew family).

Dosage:

I took the weight (grams) of the mastic gum I bought in powder (here). You can also buy in capsules. This are approximate values .

1/2 tsp = 0.8 gram

1/4 tsp = 0.4 gram

Taking 1 g of mastic gum is a good amount in opinion. I have no problem doing this and I don’t even notice I am taking it. Some people take from 500mg -1 g of mastic gum a day. I find it best to do this (1/4 tsp) 2x a day.

Studies:

In this article there were 2 groups of people. One group was given 1g of mastic gum the other a placebo. After 2 weeks 80% of the people in the mastic gum group had their symptoms improve and 70% had healing in their gastric mucosa.

In this article they do a study where people  with ulcers -caused by h. pylori- take 1g of mastic gum a day. After 2 weeks the ulcers were “cured”. This study showed that mastic had a anti-h. pylori. effect.

What is the gastric mucosa? Thanks wikipedia.

The gastric mucosa is the mucous membrane layer of the stomach which contains the glands and the gastric pits. In humans it is about 1 mm thick and its surface is smooth, soft, and velvety. It consists of epithelium, lamina propria, and the muscularis mucosae.

Here is an interesting study about the early cause for stomach ulcers and how mastic gum kills h. pylori!!

Researchers in Australia made that startling discovery about the true cause of ulcers in the early 1980s, at about the same time that mastic was being rediscovered by the Arab scientists in the Middle East. The Arab and British researchers subsequently (in the late 1990s) found that mastic kills H. pylori. By then it was known that H. pylori typically infects the stomach and intestines, but it is also commonly found in the mouth (which is, after all, part of the gastrointestinal tract), because there’s no way to prevent the bacteria from migrating up and down the esophagus

Benefits:

  • effective at eradicating h. pylori
  • helps prevent cavities -specifically Streptococcus mutans- known to create cavities. (the bacteria travels from stomach to the mouth)
  • acts as prebiotics for your probiotic (natural source of food for your healthy bacteria- helps keep bad bacteria out)
  • soothes stomach ailments
  • eliminates stomach ulcers
  • “absorbs” bad cholesterol –helps reduce heart attack risk
  • anti-bacterial and anti-fungal
  • decreases symptoms of IBS
  • helps protect liver by decreasing certain liver enzymes.
  • anti-viral

 

warning:

  • Usually considered safe unless you have a true allergy to the cashew family. It can be used by people on medications, but to be safe, check with your doctor first.

 

 

probib

Probiotic:

I take custom probiotic 11 strainGut pro is also good. Both of these are free of fillers. There are many strains that are superior in killing h. pylori, but when I did my research I found that Custom probitoics was the best fit for me. Be careful because they are powerful and can cause detox/die off.

Here is an article going over the “best strains” for eradication h. pylori. They don’t “kill” the h. pylori but they prevent any further grown.

Studies have also highlighted probiotic supplementation to enhance natural killer cell activity, stimulate IgG antibody responses

  • L. acidophilus- reduce urease activity of h. pylori.
  • L. johnsonii- secrete antimicrobial substances that stop the h.pylori from adhering to the gut lining.
  • L. salivarius- secrete antimicrobial substances that stop the h.pylori from adhering to the gut lining. Reduce inflammation in gut
  • L. casei- inhibits h. pylori by lactic acid 
  • L. lactis- inhibits h. pylori by lactic acid
  • L. reuteri- inhibit h. pylori by competing with the adhesion sites.
  • L. plantarum- increase secretion of mucin by colon (helps restore permeability of gut)
  • L. rhamnosus- increase secretion of mucin by colon (helps restore permeability of gut)
  • L. brevis- helps decrease the h. pylori bacterial load
  • L. gasseri- helps decrease the h. pylori bacterial load
  • L. bulgaricus-increase mucosal immune response and IgA cells in gut tissue
  • B. Bifidum- directly inhibit h. pylori
  • B. lactis- directly inhibit h. pylori

 natually

Other herbs known to help kill h pylori:

  • Ginger
  • licorice
  • barberry, oregon grape root, goldern seal
  • turmeric
  • garlic & cruciferous veggies (be careful thought if you have a sulfur detox pathway problem (CBS)- my friend Melissa does)
  • Manuka Honey
  • Evodia
  • haritaki (herb in triphala blend)
  • thyme
  • oregano oil
  • vitamin C (food/tea sources)
  • olive & coconut oil
  • Matula herbal tea
  • Rose hips + broccoli seeds/sprouts: (important to have them together) increases the effect by double
  • Cranberries: (I have started to eat each day). This article explains that it “decreases adhesion of h. pylori to the stomach wall” and promotes good  bacteria growth. Plus, they are yummy.

 

Baking soda:

Used to provoke the h. pylori out of hiding your mucous gut lining so it can be reached by the “killing” herbs. Look at “a note on acid” above.

Dosage: 1/4 tsp baking soda 1-3 x a day. 1 hour after meals

.

rife 2

RIFE:

RIFE is light frequency to kill the frequencies of bacteria-which then kills the actual bacteria. This was a good option for me because at first I could not tolerate ANY supplements. Through NAET I have become less allergic to foods/herbs and now I can use supplements/herbs. I still use my RIFE to treat h. pylori each night. Learn about RIFE here. 

 

A note:

*NO iron supplements- feeds and fuels bacterial infections

* When you work with a practitioner they may want to help supplement other things to keep your body functioning as best as possible. I don’t know everything and I am still learning what I need. Since I am very sensitive, so I take what MY body needs.

 Screen Shot 2013-05-05 at 7.45.36 PM

Detox/ support:

Magnesium baths: To ease the constipation, muscle twitches, fatigue (I get this kind), and general wellness. Are you deficient?

Coffee enemas: Helps to detox all the stuff that is being kiledl off and to support the liver so it does not get overwhelmed. Look at this post for instructions and more information.

Charcoal: Used to soak up extra toxins in the blood stream and help ease detox symptoms. Gives me a sense of mental clarity and less “toxic” feeling. This can cause constipation in some people because it binds to toxins in the gut and if you have h. pylori you have a toxic gut. You may use herbs-listed above- to help bowel movement.

Lymph: Getting the lymph system moving is important to keep the toxins moving OUT- you don’t want the lymph stagnant. Learn how to move your lymph here.

Oil Pulling: If sinuses and brain fog are a problem you may want to consider oil pulling. I find that it gives me energy and drains my sinuses very well. Look here for instructions. I use coconut oil.

Clay: Using the skin as a detox organ and giving the other ones a break (liver & kidney) is a helpful tool. On my bad detox days, I feel calmer and less “toxic” after a clay foot, face, or body mask or soak. Look at my post for directions.

How long will it take?

This is a very good question and it will depend on the person. It depends on how long you have had the infection, how bad it got, etc. Most likely it will take many months to eradicate completely. You can always follow up with a stool test to make sure it is 100% gone.

You may start feeling better after a few weeks, 1 month or it could take 3 months. Mine over grew and I feel like the overgrown was much worse then the detox that happened weeks later. I have only been treating it for 2 months and I can already feel a small difference- but I know I have a long way to go.

Since h. pylori disrupts neurotransmitters and nutrients, it can take an additional 6 months (after eradication) to start feeling normal.

Doing all of these things/herbs can get a little confusing. Just listen to your body and things will fall in place. I am still trying to figure out the groove of things and pace myself with detox and such. At least I KNOW I am on my way to healing :) . You will heal too.

 

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” ~Psalm 34:19

 

 ~Stay Gutsy, Caroline

Resources:

  • http://amyking.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/im-so-happy-i-have-h-pylori/ <– good post to help give an example of another persons “protocol”
  • http://rhrplus.com/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/Articles/antimicrobial-herbs-for-helicobacter-pyl
  • http://www.h-pylori-symptoms.com/the-11-best-herbs-vitamins-for-fighting-h-pylori/
  • http://www.livingsource.co.nz/heavymetals.cfm
  • http://www.ulcer-cure.com/H_Pylori/h-pylori-test.php
  • http://www.neuroconcepts.memberlodge.org/resources/Documents/NN%20155%20probiotics%20H.%20pylori.pdf
  • http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/Cats_Claw.htm
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncaria_tomentosa
  • http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/kew-stories/kew-research/coffee-family/index.htm
  • http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-cats-claw.html
  • http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/catsclaw.php
  • http://books.google.com/books?id=oRsXKdSaiKsC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=h+pylori+fights+cats+claw&source=bl&ots=UnNH4JMruG&sig=Q4p5IHhuCfOpcxnof4RX0hFPV5A&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LYmJUb-LDIrlyAHHoIF4&ved=0CGMQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=h%20pylori%20fights%20cats%20claw&f=false
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastic_(plant_resin)
  • http://www.wrigley.com/global/about-us/history-of-gum.aspx
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacardiaceae
  • http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/Mastic-Gum.htm
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9394753
  • http://www.intactnutrition.com/blog/the-benefits-of-mastic-gum.html
  • http://www.intactnutrition.com/blog/benefits-of-mastic-gum-include-killing-h-pylori-to-prevent-and-combat-ulcers.html
  • http://www.livestrong.com/article/267577-what-are-the-benefits-of-mastic-gum/
  • http://www.life-enhancement.com/magazine/article/770-mastic-is-more-than-an-antibacterial
  • http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=6320
  • http://taxondiversity.fieldofscience.com/2011/06/phyllanthaceae.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllanthaceae
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combretaceae
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminalia_chebula
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminalia_bellirica
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllanthus_emblica
  • http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/triphala.asp
  • http://ayurvedabykailas.com/ayurvedic-reference/triphala.html
  • http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/triphala.asp
  • http://www.organicindia.com/triphala.php
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triphala
  • http://herbalicine.com/Triphala-is-a-natural-ayurveda-herb-for-gItract-digestion
  • http://www.planetherbs.com/specific-herbs/the-wonders-of-triphala.html
  • http://www.experiencefestival.com/wp/article/triphala-a-traditional-ayurvedic-herb-to-help-cleanse-the-body

The post The real truth about H. pylori: allergies, autoimmune, & adrenal fatigue appeared first on Gutsy.


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