Natural treatments for gastritis

DEFINITION: Treatment of the inflammation of the lining of the stomach.

• PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: None
• OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Aloe vera, beeswax extract, betaine hydrochloride, bioflavonoids, butterbur, cat’s claw, cayenne, cinnamon, colostrum, cranberry, cysteine, diet and lifestyle changes, essential oils, fish oil, gamma oryzanol, garlic, glutamine, green tea with manuka honey, licorice, marshmallow, methyl sulfonyl methane, probiotics, reishi, selenium, slippery elm, suma, vitamin A, vitamin C, wood betony, zinc
• HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO USE ONLY WITH CAUTION: Arginine, cola nut, feverfew, turmeric, white willow

Introduction

Gastritis is a condition in which the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed, leading to discomfort. If the inflammation is prolonged, either atrophic gastritis—a condition in which the glands of the stomach lining disappear—or an ulcer may develop. Underlying causes of gastritis include infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, excessive stomach acid secretion, autoimmune processes—conditions in which the body attacks itself—and damage to the stomach lining caused by alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, or severe stress.

Gastritis typically causes pain in the upper abdomen (just below the sternum) but may also occur without pain. A burning sensation (heartburn) higher up in the chest generally indicates esophageal reflux. Stomach distress may also occur without inflammation of the stomach wall. In this case, the distress is called dyspepsia.

Conventional treatment for gastritis includes antibiotics to eliminate H. pylori, reducing stomach acidity with medications in the antacid, H₂ blocker, or proton pump inhibitor families, and possibly using medications to protect the stomach lining. One should also reduce alcohol consumption and change (or, if possible, stop taking) medications that damage the stomach. Vitamin B₁₂ supplements may be necessary in some cases of atrophic gastritis.

Modern anti-inflammatory drugs in the COX-2 inhibitor family, such as Celebrex (celecoxib), were designed to cause less harm to the stomach than the older drugs in that category, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. However, evidence remains mixed on how much better these drugs really are compared to the old ones. While they may cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects, they appear to cause cardiovascular complications in some patients. More sophisticated forms of inhibitors may better fulfill the promise of these medications.

Proposed Natural Treatments

No herbs or supplements—other than alkaline substances with direct antacid properties, such as calcium carbonate or hydrotalcite—have been proven effective for gastritis. The treatments mentioned here have merely shown some promise in preliminary studies.

Natural therapies that may affect H. pylori. H. pylori is thought to contribute to many cases of gastritis. Many treatments have been evaluated for their ability to inhibit H. pylori growth. For example, evidence suggests that various probiotics (friendly bacteria) in the Lactobacillus family can inhibit the growth of H. pylori. While this effect is not strong enough for probiotic treatment alone to eradicate H. pylori, preliminary studies, including one double-blind study, suggest that probiotics may help standard antibiotic therapy work better, improving the rate of eradication and reducing side effects. Some foods containing probiotics may also help alleviate symptoms of gastritis, such as yoghurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir.

Preliminary studies suggest that various bioflavonoids can also inhibit H. pylori growth. All fruits and vegetables provide bioflavonoids, but these substances can also be taken as supplements. Vitamin C has also shown some ability to act against H. pylori.

Despite early reports that garlic inhibits or kills H. pylori, studies in people have not been promising. Fish oil, in combination with antibiotic therapy, has been tried as a treatment for eradicating H. pylori, but it did not prove particularly helpful.

The herb cranberry is thought to help prevent bladder infections by preventing the adhesion of bacteria to the bladder. Preliminary evidence suggests that it might also help prevent the adhesion of H. pylori to the stomach wall. Theoretically, this could help treat gastritis, but there is no direct evidence regarding this potential benefit.

Cayenne does not appear to be helpful against H. pylori. However, some evidence suggests that cayenne can protect the stomach against damage caused by anti-inflammatory drugs. Other natural supplements that have shown promise for protecting against the side effects of these drugs include the amino acid cysteine, a special form of licorice known as deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), and the breast milk constituent known as colostrum.

In laboratory tests, essential oils derived from lemongrass and lemon verbena were found to enhance mouse resistance to H. pylori colonization. Another study evaluated cedar wood and oregano oils as potential treatments for H. pylori, and although the findings were positive, the study was subject to bias. Additionally, there is no regulation of essential oils. Further, essential oils are generally intended to be inhaled or used topically. They should never be consumed. One study found small benefits for people with gastritis who drank hot tea with manuka honey. The warm liquid is believed to soothe the digestive tract, and the honey has antibacterial properties.

Other natural therapies that may protect the stomach lining. A collection of substances extracted from beeswax has been studied as a treatment for preventing and treating ulcers of various kinds, with promising results. Known as D-002 (Abexol), this product is chemically related to policosanol; however, policosanol itself is not thought to have this effect.

Weak evidence also suggests that butterbur and cinnamon might help protect the stomach lining. Other natural substances have also been suggested as aids to stomach health, but there is little to no scientific evidence that they are effective for gastritis. These natural substances include aloe vera, cat’s claw, gamma oryzanol, glutamine, marshmallow, methyl sulfonyl methane, reishi, selenium, slippery elm, suma, vitamin A, vitamin C, wood betony, and zinc.

Many naturopathic physicians believe that the supplement betaine hydrochloride can aid in gastritis by increasing stomach acid. This sounds paradoxical because conventional treatment for this condition involves reducing stomach acid. However, according to one theory, the lack of stomach acid leads to incomplete digestion of proteins, and these proteins cause allergic reactions and other responses that may increase ulcer pain.

Herbs and Supplements to Use Only with Caution

Several herbs and supplements, including arginine, cola nut, feverfew, turmeric, and white willow, might increase stomach inflammation. Additionally, various supplements may interact with drugs used to treat gastritis.

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