H PYLORI OR Helicobacter Pylori
Ulcers afflict over 25 million Americans. Medications for indigestion and stomach pain are among the top sellers of all drugs on the market today! And it may be totally unnecessary for you!
There may be simple and natural effective solutions for you that are free of synthetic ingredients that your liver cannot process. Liver toxicity, even with small amounts of synthetic chemicals, can cause cellulite, tumors, cysts, acne, mucous in various organs of the body, overweight, headaches, joint pains, aches and pains anywhere in the body, plus numerous other symptoms that are easily avoided should you do the research and find non-synthetic solutions to your health problems. Many if not most health problems do have non-synthetic solutions. I say ‘non-synthetic’ and not ‘natural’ because the word, ‘natural’ is allowed to be used when certain small percentages of the product still contain some synthetic ingredients, unknown to the consumer~ These synthetic ingredients are allowed as preservatives or flavors or scents to make the product more consumer-friendly, but have no real health value and there is mounting evidence that they can do real harm to your health.
What is an Ulcer?
Back to the topic at hand, ulcers! First a definition. Ulcers are any open sores or lesions either of the skin or mucus membrane, including the lining of the stomach and intestines, can be considered an ulcer. The symptoms of an ulcer include spasmodic and gnawing pains in the pit of the stomach, which sometimes radiates to other areas of the back or between the shoulder blades; gas; bloating; and/or nausea. Other symptoms can include lower back pain, headaches, itching and a choking sensation. Ulcers are most often caused by the Helicobacter pylori.
Helicobacter pylori is a virulent bacteria that causes gas, bloating, burping and poor digestion because it interferes with the production of digestive enzymes leading to fatigue, poor absorption of nutrients, pain, and general malaise. If left unchecked, it will cause ulceration of the lining of the digestive system and can become cancer causing.
This type of stomach pain may be relieved by eating, except that spicy foods or heavy foods may cause you discomfort, where the stomach seems sensitive to pressure applied from the outside. If the ulcer is left alone, it usually deepens, reaching blood vessels and causing serious bleeding, making it life-threatening.
A peptic ulcer is one that is in the stomach, known as a gastric ulcer; or one that is in the duodenum, known as a duodenal ulcer. The most common theory used to be, and still is in some circles ~ that ulcers are caused by stress. High amounts of stress increase hydrochloric acid production (HCl). Classically it has been perceived that the hydrochloric acid is so strong that it eats away a portion of the stomach’s protective mucous lining, causing an ulcer.
Aspirin and chronic stress can be important factors in ulcer formation, however, recent research reveals the most common cause of an ulcer is the bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori. H pylori burrows into the stomach’s mucous layer and produces inflammation. Although this bacteria is found in many people’s systems, when it gets into the blood and circulates throughout the body grows out of control it causes the ulcer. When it gains a foothold in the small intestine near the stomach, it can cause inflammation in the duodenum, causing duodenal ulcers.
The medical community is unclear as to why some people appear unharmed by H pylori, while others develop infection. Nutritional consultants and alternative holistic practitioners have theories that have helped many people. Enzyme deficiency and delayed-reaction allergies have been implicated. There are very simple At Home Tests you can take to determine if you have Enzyme Deficiencies or Food Intolerances or Allergies. CARLOS Please link the blue lettering to the correct pages on my website. These tests lead to the non-synthetic answers referred to above, that will help you deal with an ulcer.
H Pylori can be easily transmitted through the saliva from one person to another. To avoid passing this bacteria to and from others, do not share drinks, utensils, beverage containers or share foods with others, especially that infamous veggie dip at parties!
H pylori is suspected in other health problems, ie) some forms of heart disease and cancer (New Scientist, Oct 15, 1994 page 12).
H pylori was first discovered as a cause of gastric ulcers in 1982 by Australian physician Barry Marshall. Because his views differed from his fellow doctors, they would not believe his discover, so in 1984 Dr Marshall experimented on himself. He drank a solution of H pylori and became ill eight days later. Biopsies (small pieces of tissue cut from his stomach) and endoscopies (optical examination from a tube inserted down his throat) showed a definite infection from the H pylori. Dr Marshall’s experiment proved to be one of the greatest medical breakthroughs in decades and by this means he impressed his colleagues enough to generate more studies, several of which have confirmed Dr Marshall’s theories about H pylori causing ulcers.
The H pylori bacteria have a good defense system against the HCl in the stomach and the body’s immune system by excreting an enzyme called urease. Urease reacts to produce ammonia in the stomach, which then neutralizes the HCl. The stomach produces more acid and caustic oxidants that irritate the stomach lining, in response to the urease-production.
Many people feel the extra HCl as stomach acid and take antacids or acid-blocking drugs. These do nothing but aggravate the H pylori into growing more freely, plus these drugs have adverse side effects.
By lowering the stomach’s HCl, the antacids prevent the absorption of important nutrients such as calcium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, potassium and Vitamin B12. These nutrients are needed by entire body, especially the immune system, which is weakened by their lack. This is very important and even serious for the aged in their nervous system and brains.
In conclusion we see that ulcers are not caused directly by the effects of chronic stress on the digestive system, but are aggravated by it. Ulcers are created by the weakening effect of the body’s defenses and the eventual decrease in the HCl production which allows the H pylori to grow uncontrolled.
What Causes an Ulcer?
Potential cause of ulcers are medications, stress, deficient digestive enzymes, and contagion.
- Aspirin can cause breaks in the protective mucosal barrier of the stomach and small intestine, which results in acute gastritis
- Alcohol consumption also damages the mucosal protection
- H pylore causes a crater much deeper and more penetrating than either aspirin or alcohol does
- Corticosteroid drugs may hide the symptoms while an existing ulcer worsens
- Indomethacin and other anti-inflammatory drugs have been implicated in ulcer formation.
- Some types of disease like Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus Erythematosus are associated with a higher incidence of ulcers, whether drugs are administered or not. See FOOD INTOLERANCE SCREENING
HEALTH HINT:
Often a person has trouble getting rid of H pylori bacteria and cannot out figure out why when he seems to be following all the recommended protocol. Your toothbrush could be to blame! It is a method of re-infection and should be discarded at treatment time and a new toothbrush introduced.
To keep your toothbrush bacteria-free, try putting a drop or two of the essential oil of Tea Tree or Lemon on top of the tooth brush or even on top of the toothpaste on your toothbrush. Tea Tree oil and Lemon kill germs in your mouth and on your tooth brush.
References:
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, American Pharmaceutical Association, Washington DC , 9 th Edition 1990, 249 -250.
Independent Audit conducted by the Department of Health Studies, University of York, on behalf of the British Allergy Foundation; the York Nutritional Laboratories Role of IgG and Food Sensitivity in Chronic Disease, IgG ELISA Food Intolerance Test May 19, 2003 at the international Digestive Disease Week 2003 symposium.