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The 11 Best Herbs & Vitamins for Fighting H Pylori

Posted by on Jan 26, 2013 in Diet | 4 comments

In our experience natural programs can be just as effective as Triple Therapy in helping you overcome the challenges caused by H pylori. However it is very important to understand exactly how to use the natural programs properly so that you do not waste time and money.

Here are the aspects you must know:

  1. Exactly which herbal and supplements to use to get maximum benefit from them.
  2. Where to obtain products that contain herbs and nutrients that have the highest potency and quality.
  3. The correct dosage of each supplement: if you do not use the right dose, the programme might not work.
  4. Whether to take the product with or without food.
  5. The duration of the programme: a programme that is too short may not work, or may only work temporarily.

Scientific research has shown that a number of natural products can inhibit and kill H pylori. However there are also a number of products that are promoted on the Internet and in health food shops that may not necessarily be optimal choices.

  1. BerberineBerberine is a constituent of herbs such as goldenseal, barberry and Oregon grape. It has been shown to have broad-spectrum antibiotic activity. Studies in vitro have demonstrated that berberine can inhibit H pylori, but it may not be potent enough to eradicate the organism.
  2. Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root (DGL)DGL is a well established anti-ulceration and mucosal healing agent. DGL can coat and soothe the intestinal lining and promote the healing of inflamed tissue and ulcers. Research suggests that flavonoids in licorice have impressive antimicrobial activity against H pylori. The flavonoids have actually been shown to have antimicrobial activity against strains of H pylori that were resistant to clarithromycin and amoxicillin, two of the primary antibiotics used in triple therapy. Some forms of liquorice can elevate blood pressure but because DGL has low glycyrrhizin levels it is generally safe to take if you have high blood pressure.
  3. Manuka HoneyManuka honey comes from New Zealand. It is often promoted as a food that can kill H pylori. Whilst this may be the case, it is worth remembering that honey is essentially sugar. We know that Candida and other species of yeast thrive on sugar and we also know that there is a close relationship between H pylori infection and Candida overgrowth. For this reason, I do not recommend the use of manuka honey for people who have digestive problems as I believe there are better alternatives.
  4. Mastic GumThe protocol I originally learned in my functional medicine training involved the use of mastic gum and a supplement called Bio-HPF, which contains several herbs as well as bismuth. Interestingly, bismuth medications are recommended as part of quadruple therapy protocols alongside antibiotics. If you use bismuth products they can turn your stool darker and it is not recommended that you use bismuth for longer than 60-days.Despite doctors and practitioners reporting great success using the mastic and Bio-HPF programme, it didn’t work for me. My symptoms actually worsened when I started taking these supplements. Despite my poor reaction to the mastic programme, there is quite a large body of research demonstrating its efficacy against H pylori and mastic gum has been shown to kill H pylori in vitro.
  5. Matula Herbal Formula™Our preferred cleanse involves a 30-day course of Matula Herbal Formula. Matula Herbal Formula resolved my symptoms very quickly. In fact I was staggered by the speed at which my symptoms eased using the product. I have had detailed discussions with the Matula staff and they have a very open and honest approach to business.I read the technical report on Matula that was put together by Professor Patrick J. D. Bouic of the Department of Medical Microbiology at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and whilst this is not strictly independent research, it makes for impressive reading. In vitro testing on H pylori revealed that every time Matula came into contact with H pylori, it killed 93% of the organisms. Although these tests were performed in vitro (outside the body), the level of clinical success I have observed using Matula has confirmed its effectiveness.
  6. 6. Siberian Pine Nut OilI personally do not have any experience of using pine nut oil. I have read mixed reports about it on the Internet and have received emails from people who have used it without any success. To date I have not seen any research that proves its efficacy. Nevertheless there are some positive testimonials on some websites. Recall that olive oil has been shown to contain antimicrobial properties against H pylori. It is certainly possible that pine nut oil contains similar properties that help it work against the bacteria.
  7. SulforaphaneSulforaphane is a naturally occurring chemical found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts. A number of studies have demonstrated that it has the capacity to inhibit H pylori. Eating cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli sprouts, will ensure that you get plenty of sulforaphane, but it is also available in capsule form from several supplement manufacturers, including a product called Broccomax.
  8. Vitamin CSome studies have suggested that vitamin C may inhibit and even kill H pylori. In a review of the literature, Dr. Alan Gaby, MD concludes that vitamin C therapy for H pylori may be clinically relevant, but that more research is needed to determine the optimal dosing and programme duration. Even if vitamin C does not eradicate H pylori, it is still worth taking a controlled dose because studies clearly show that vitamin C levels in the stomach lining can be reduced when H pylori is present, largely as a result of the inflammatory and oxidative stress caused by the infection. Vitamin C is also an excellent nutrient for assisting with gut healing.
  9. ‘Vitamin U’Vitamin U – also known as MSM – is found in raw cabbage. In fact, vitamin U is not actually a vitamin at all. Cabbage juice has been studied extensively in Russia and other Eastern European countries for the healing of damaged and eroded intestinal mucosa. It is not actually a vitamin per se. It appears to enhance the healing of damaged tissue and may assist in healing ulcers.
  10. Zinc-L-CarnosineTo my knowledge, zinc-l-carnosine has not been shown to have antimicrobial properties against H pylori. However it is excellent for repairing damage to the stomach lining, and may assist in healing ulcers. It can be taken alongside any of the antimicrobial agents to augment the healing process.
  11. LactoferrinLactoferrin is a substance that is found in mother’s milk and has immune enhancing properties. Several studies have demonstrated that lactoferrin from cow’s milk can enhance the eradication rate of H pylori when it is used alongside triple therapy. Lactoferrin can be purchased in capsule form and it is also available in certain whey protein powders. You can purchase lactoferrin at the link below:

Putting It All Together

Even when you know exactly what to take, you also need to know exactly when to take it, whether it works best with food or away from food, how much to take and for how long!

If you don’t get these parameters right, the products – as wonderful as they are – may not bring you the results you want.

Based on my clinical experience, as well as the experience of the brilliant doctors and practitioners who taught me this work, we have put together a range of 60-day natural supplement packages to help you not only effectively reduce H pylori symptoms, but to also eradicate parasites, yeast and fungal overgrowth and heal your delicate stomach and intestinal lining.

 

Sulforaphane

Fahey, J et al. 2002. Sulforaphane inhibits extracellular, intracellular, and anti-biotic resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori and prevents benzo[a]pyrene-induced stomach tumours. PNAS: 99:11, 7610-7615.

Cabbage Juice / Vitamin U

Cheney G. Rapid healing of peptic ulcers in patients receiving fresh cabbage juice. Calif Med. 1949 Jan; 70(1):10–15. 219

Cheney G. Vitamin U therapy of peptic ulcer. Calif Med. 1952 Oct; 77(4):248–252.

Cheney G. The nature of the antipepticulcer dietary factor. Stanford Med Bull. 1950 Aug; 8(3):144–161.

Cheney, G. Vitamin U concentrate therapy of peptic ulcer. Am J Gastroenterol. 1954 Mar; 21(3):230–250.

Tsimmerman, IaS, Golovanova, ES. Clinical effect and an analysis of the mechanism of action of vitamin U (S-methylmethioninesulfonium chloride) in peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. Ter Arkh. 1976; 48(3):29-35. Russian.

Mastic Gum

Pataschos S, Magiatis P, Mitakou S, et al. In vitro and in vitro activities of Chios mastic gum extracts and constituents against Helicobacter pylori. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2007. Feb; 51 (2):551-9. Epub 2006 Nov 20.

Marone P, Bono L, Leone E. Bacterial activity of Pistacia leticus mustic gum against Helicobacter pylori. J Chemother. 2001 Dec; 13(6):611-4.

Huwez FU, Thirlwell D, Cockayne A. Mustic gum kills Helicobacter pylori. N Engl J Med. 1998; Dec 24; 339(26):1946.

Al-Habbal MJ, Al Habbal Z, Huwez FU. A double-blind controlled clinical trial of mastic and placebo in the treatment of duodenal ulcer. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 1984; 11:541-544.

Bouic, P 2006. BioActivity Screening Services. Matula Tea Technical and Reference Manual. Synexa Life Sciences.

Vitamin C

Zhang HM et al. 1997. Vitamin C inhibits the growth of a bacterial risk factor for gastric carcinoma: Helicobacter. Cancer 80:1897-1903.

Jarosz M. 1998. Effects of high dose vitamin C treatment on Helicobacter pylori infection and total vitamin C concentration in gastric juice. Eur J Cancer Prev 7:449-454.

Zinc-L-Carnosine

Odashima M. Zink L-carnosine protects colonic muosal injury through induction of heat stock protein 72 abd suppression of NF-kappaB activation. Life Sci. 2006 Nov 10; 79(24):2245-50.

Mahmood A, Fitzgerald AJ. Zinc carnosine, a health food supplement that stabilizes small bowel integrity and stimulates gut repair process. Gut. 2007 Feb; 56(2):168-75.

Mikami K, Otaka M, Watanabe D. Zink L-carnosine protects against mucosal injury in portal hypertensive gastropathy through induction of heat stock protein 72. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006. Nov; 21(11):1669-74.

Mishkin S. Intriguing gastrointestinal properties of bismuth: a folk remedy brought into the realm of clinical and investigative medicine. Can J Gastroenterol 1998; 12:569-570.

Lactoferrin

Imoto, I et al. Suppressive Effect of Bovine Lactoferrin against Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter 2004 (A11.27); 9: 487-604.

Di Mario, F. Efficacy of bovine lactoferrin for Helicobacter pylori eradication: Results of a multicenter study. Helicobacter 2004 (A11.03); 9: 487-604.

Aragona, G et al. Lactoferrin in a 1-Week Triple Therapy.

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