Helicobacter pylori is a spiral shaped bacterium that lives in the stomach and duodenum (section of intestine just below stomach). It has a unique way of adapting in the harsh environment of the stomach.
The inside of the stomach is bathed in about half a gallon of gastric juice every day. Gastric juice is composed of digestive enzymes and concentrated hydrochloric acid, which can readily tear apart the toughest food or microorganism. Bacteria, viruses, and yesterdays steak dinner are all consumed in this deadly bath of chemicals. It used to be thought that the stomach contained no bacteria and was actually sterile, but Helicobacter pylori changed that.
The stomach is protected from its own gastric juice by a thick layer of mucus that covers the stomach lining. Helicobacter pylori takes advantage of this protection by living in the mucus lining
As Helicobacter Pylori lives in the mucosal lining of the stomach, most anti-biotics can't reach it despite the conventional treatment of antibiotics. The colonies weaken the mucous and make it possible for stomach acids to get through to the stomach wall leading to ulcers.
In our experience, H. pylori only grows in a stomach that is already stressed by eating junk foods or food that is not suitable for that person as the HCl in a healthy stomach is inimical to most organisms
Symptoms
The symptoms of H. pylori infection are difficult to define. Practically any type of symptom between the nipples and the bellybutton could be coming from the stomach and could be caused by H. pylori. For many years doctors recognised that it was not possible to detect which patients had ulcers, that is why diagnosis always requires an endoscopy.
H. pylori is always associated with gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach in which white cells infiltrate into the stomach lining. It is believed that these white cells can in themselves cause damage and ultimately lead to weakness in the stomach lining, which is the cause of the ulcer. This process is explained elsewhere on the Helicobacter Foundation web pages.
Because of the above, any stomach symptom could possibly be caused by H. pylori. Heartburn is related to a leaky valve at the lower oesophagus and the arrival of acid from the stomach into the oesophagus. Thus, heartburn could be related to H. pylori if some H. pylori patients produce excessive acid (this is known to occur) or if H. pylori leads to some slowing of emptying of the stomach acid (this sometimes occurs when the pylorus valve at the bottom of the stomach is narrowed). Burping symptoms are usually related to some problem at the lower oesophageal sphincter, allied to heartburn, reflux and hiatus hernia. Since I believe patients with H. pylori are more likely to vomit, I also think they are more likely to damage their lower oesophageal sphincter over the years and be more susceptible to symptoms such as burping. The production of gas in the stomach comes from carbon dioxide seeping through the stomach wall, and it is possible that H. pylori can increase the amount of carbon dioxide present in the stomach ie. causing burping. Patients who burp excessively however, are often actually swallowing small amounts of air and burping it back up to relieve a discomfort they have related to an oesophageal sphincter problem, as discussed above. Burping can sometimes also occur when the stomach is slow to empty and food in the stomach ferments, releasing gas.
Symptoms of nausea associated with vomiting are quite likely to be caused directly by a stomach condition and can be symptoms of H. pylori infection. If the vomit is initially clear and subsequently contains blood, it is likely to be caused by a tear in the lower part of the oesophagus caused by the initial vomiting. If blood is present in the vomiting, it can also be caused by a bleeding ulcer in the stomach. The appearance of blood in vomit is either red (a recent or large bleed) or dark brown (bleeding in the last hour or so with changed blood affected by stomach acid). Blood in the stomach can also appear black if it has been resting in the stomach for a few hours. When bleeding occurs in the stomach and blood comes in contact with stomach acid it is then changed to a black colour, so that the patient with significant stomach bleeding (more than 200 mls) is likely to have black stools, which is called melena.
When H. pylori and gastritis cause delay in gastric emptying patients may feel bloated or full after a normal sized meal ("early satiety").
The opposite can also occur in a few patients. For example, a patient may state that after eating nutritious and tasty food they still feel hungry ("as if the food has not done me any good"). This could be associated with low acid secretion and is also sometimes described by patients on acid lowering drugs.
Early satiety (fullness) can possibly also be caused just by the inflammation of the lining of the stomach, since the stomach does not easily expand as well as a healthy stomach, and the stomach lining is rather sensitive to stretching.
Pain in the stomach and duodenum is often described as "gnawing", which is somewhat hard to describe, but typically is a symptom of severe hunger and nausea combined so that the patient with gnawing is not sure whether he should vomit or eat! This symptom is typical of duodenal ulcer patients who have gnawing when the stomach is empty. The best cure is a very small, light snack or taking acid lowering drugs.
Disease Associated with Helicobacter Pylori
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Stomach Cancer |
How BioTech Healing can help?
Through our experience there are a few areas which we can look in to when conducting a health screening in order to find the root of the problem. Each of us is biochemically unique and therefore our needs for specific nutrients vary greatly. Diet should be the prime focus of any changes made, plus vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements to clear, restore and maintain the body's natural balance. Our screenings will address food sensitivities, overall nutrient deficiencies & toxicity levels within the body
BioTech Healing use the most advanced & efficient natural remedies to treat sensitivities & can tailor a specific treatment programme for you based on the screening results. We have found that food sensitivities are often identified in ulcer sufferers and once eliminated from the diet, symptoms begin to improve in severity. We have also found depletions in vitamins & mineral levels as well as nutrients due to ulcers having formed in the stomach or duodenal lining. Should the screening indicate that helicobacter pylori is present, homeopathy can be used to help eliminate it from the body. We have had great success using a combination of Pascomag (a German made homeopathic remedy) & berberis tincture. Dietary changes are usually always suggested as levels of hydrochloric acid need to be controlled in the system.