Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC – H. pylori treatment – H. pylori protocol.
Disclaimer: This post is not a substitute for medical advise or treatment and is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician before starting any nutritional protocol on your own.
H. pylori – Resources and Links
“Heartburn, chronic active gastritis, GERD, acid reflux, achlorhydria or H. Pylori - that is the question.” William Shakespeare. Are any of these conditions actually due to too much stomach acid (hyperchlorhydria)? Not necessarily. I have to admit here, I experienced a severe bout of gastritis – once, when I started-up my first practice. And yes, it hurt. It felt exactly like someone poured a quart of battery acid down my throat, at the same time I was having a heart attack, while licking a brand-new nine volt battery. I think you get the picture. (The Digestive System)
Well, to make a long story short, my stress wasn’t going to go away in the next five minutes, so I needed to apply my “medical detectiveness” and back-track the pathophysiology of the condition, to figure out the cause. Knowing the cause and predisposing factors would allow me to apply the precise heartburn treatment, H. pylori treatment, chronic active gastritis treatment, GERD treatment or low stomach HCl treatment. The cause and predisposing factors were:
My Predisposing Factors:
1. Chronic Dehydration – There are different types of mucous cells in the stomach and they are easy sources to supply the body with water when dehydrated. The thinning of the gastric mucosa or destruction of that mucous membrane layer, makes the stomach vulnerable to acids – hydrochloric or those produced from fermentation of ingested sugars and purification of ingested proteins. Decreased stomach acid (HCl) also creates the perfect storm for the introduction and/or colonization of the dreaded H. pylori bacterium.
2. Zinc deficiency - I picked-up on this during a hair-mineral analysis. Zinc deficiency as a single factor would, most likely, not cause anything overtly noticeable. When combined with a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, the compounding effects created a more severe inflammatory reaction within the gastric lining.
3. Wine and Beer - Ethanol on its own can create painful erosion and inflammation of the gastric lining, but when combined with the zinc deficiency, it can compound the degree of inflammation and drastically delay healing.
4. H. pylori or Lack of HCl? – After testing it was confirmed the H. pylori was present. Now was my lack of HCl the reason I got the H. pylori or was the H. pylori the cause of the reduced stomach acid?
So, at this point, not only was I up shit-creek without a paddle, I was missing the canoe too.
So What Was the True Cause of My Gastritis?
#1, #2, #3 and #4 all played their individual parts in my condition. A little more on #4 – Achlorhydria (lack of stomach HCl) or H. pylori bacteria: This is the, what came first, chicken or the egg dilemma. Did my lack of stomach acid allow the H. pylori a safe haven to take up residence OR did the H. pylori infection cause the lack of stomach acid? Both are possible and both allow the other to exist, and create a painful condition called atrophic gastritis. This is exactly what I had, and, I am sure, a little erosive gastritis as well.
H. pylori bacteria
Diagnostic Testing:
After some diagnostic testing: allopathic (traditional medicine), which included BioHealth Diagnostics Laboratories 401H ( GI Pathogen Screen w/ H. pylori Antigen $270.00) and energetic testing (Applied Kinesiology & Contact Reflex Analysis), I now knew what was going on, what caused it and what to do to get it completely under control. I confirmed that I did have Helicobacter pylori - H. pylori for short.
The True Cause – H. pylori:
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral-shaped gram-negative bacterium which was identified in 1979[1]. It produces urease in abundance, the activity of which, through the production of ammonia, together with the bacterium’s motility and ability to adhere to the gastric mucosa, enables its survival in the acid environment of the stomach. About half of the worlds population house H. pylori, in their stomach, and are unphased by it. But in about 15 percent of those infected, the microbes cause peptic ulcers and chronic active gastritis, and in an unluckier bunch the H. pylori is a causative agent for gastric cancer and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma[2]. It has also been shown to be associated with extragastric diseases, such as iron deficiency anemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura[3-5].
1. Pajares JM, Gisbert JP. Helicobacter pylori: its discovery and relevance for medicine. Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2006; 98: 770-785
2. Sari YS, Sander E, Erkan E, Tunali V. Endoscopic diagnoses and CLO test results in 9239 cases, prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Istanbul, Turkey. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007; 22:1706-1711
3. Bohr UR, Annibale B, Franceschi F, Roccarina D, Gasbarrini A. Extragastric manifestations of Helicobacter pylori infection — other Helicobacters. Helicobacter 2007; 12 Suppl 1: 45-53
4. Franceschi F, Roccarina D, Gasbarrini A. Extragastric manifestations of Helicobacter pylori infection. Minerva Med 2006;97: 39-45
5. Franceschi F, Gasbarrini A. Helicobacter pylori and extragastric diseases. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2007; 21: 325-334
My H. pylori Treatment Protocol
Pre-treatment – First, I took antacids (over the counter – Zantac OTC) to increase the susceptibility of the H. pylori to treatment/eradication (lesson the need of H. pylori to defend itself so vigorously) and allow my gastric mucosa a chance to heal. Note: The H. pylori form protective bacterial colonies called biofilm, which are made up of a protective, extracellular polysaccharide shield. This protective shield is a defensive barrier against stomach hydrochloric acid and other factors, like antibiotics. Being a complex matrix of proteins and carbohydrates, which are probably interdependent, the H. pylori biofilm could possibly offer a protective haven for the survival of this gastric bacterial pathogen in the extragastric environments (Proteomannans in Biofilm of Helicobacter pylori ATCC 43504).
Treatment – Second, my personal H. pylori bomb consisted of: x,xxx mg’s 2x/day of Monolaurin (xxx mg’s lauric acid per cap – also see coconut oil, which is 50% lauric acid by weight) and x caps x times per day of H-PLR (Supports bacterial elimination) from Apex Energetics. I also juiced 1/4 cabbage every day (cabbage contains S-Methylmethionine also known as Vitamin U, a great healer of ulcers and gastritis). After 4 weeks on my protocol I was feeling like a new man! I rechecked myself, after 8 weeks, and was free of the foreign invaders, breath test confirmed the same.
Note: As of September 2009, I’m also adding Klaire Labs – InterFase Plus, x caps x per day on an empty stomach to my H. pylori treatment protocol. InterFase Plus is now an important and mandatory part of the protocol. InterFase Plus aids in the eradication of biofilm, especially H. pylori biofilm colonies. This is a major advancement in my protocol. Understanding BIOFILM is extremely important for a variety of reasons. Please follow any biofilm link to read more about it and also see my biofilm protocol. Additional products taken during the treatment phase: Probiotic Defense Powder (multi-strain pro-biotic and pre-biotic formula), NAC by Now Foods and Psyllium Husk Fiber.
Certain dietary restrictions and additions will need to be taken. These are determined on a case by case basis.
Prevention – Third, was to keep the H. pylori bacteria from coming back and keep the healing process moving forward. I took digestive enzymes w/HCl* – x w/ea. meal, plant based enzymes – x w/ea. meal, zinc** – xx mg’s x per day, L-carnosine** – xxx mg’s x times per day, mastic gum*** x,xxx mg’s x times per day, TheraAloe**** – x ounce x times per day, chlorophyll – xxx mg’s x per day (chlorella or spirulina can be substituted for chlorophyll), a daily broad-spectrum probiotic (Probiotic Defense Powder or Probiotic-10 from Now Foods), psyllium husk fiber (x heaping Tbsp x-x times per day) and tons of distilled water, for 6 weeks. I was now better than before my first symptom.
All-in-all, it was a learning experience, and one that has made me a better doctor and a more diligent medical detective.
FYI: Gastritis is not a single condition, but several different conditions that all share inflammation of the stomach lining as a common symptom. Gastritis, most often, is caused by prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or aspirin, drinking too much alcohol or infection such as Helicobacter pylori bacteria (H. pylori). It may also occur after a major surgery, severe infections, trauma-injury-burns, or severe infections. Some diseases, such as pernicious (B12 deficiency) anemia, autoimmune diseases, and chronic bile reflux, can cause gastritis as well.
*Microscopy studies of the motility of H. pylori in gastric mucin at acidic and neutral pH in the absence of urea show that the bacteria swim freely at high (alkaline – achlorhydria) pH, and are strongly constrained at low (acidic) pH. Also, H. Pylori, through enzyme reactions promote increased ammonia production, which raises the pH of its environment – allowing it to move more freely.
(**)A combination of zinc and L-carnosine has been shown to prevent gross visible damage to gastric mucosa caused by ethanol ingestion. This combination also acts as a potent antioxidant, specifically benefiting the gastric mucosa.
***There is conflicting data on whether mastic gum kills H. pylori effectively in vivo (live human trials). Killing it in a test tube or mice is one thing, but I am interested in living human beings. There is evidence that it aids in the healing of the gastric mucosa, possessing anti-inflammatory properties. I used it for healing rather than as an agent to kill the H. pylori bacteria. Note: there are studies that have shown that mastic gum kills H. pylori. The problem is that it is in less than 30% of the trial groups. So it works in about 1 out of every 3 that try it as a primary treatment (at dosages of 500mg’s 3x/day).
****TherAloe is a high molecular weight polysaccharides containing aloe vera juice product. Its healing capabilities, as far as I am concerned, are quite profound on the gastric mucosa.
Important Note on Purchasing Products:
All dosages will be provided if you purchase some or all of your products through my office. I truly do want to help all who are interested, but it’s finally gotten to the point where too many people want free advice and an increasing amount of my time, and then buy all of their products elsewhere. I am a firm believer in fair exchange and I feel I have done that by providing the information in this post.
I also offer tailor made protocols for your individual situation, please contact our office for product prices and distance patient information (714) 639-4360
H. Pylori Articles:
Updates:
September 13, 2009 Update – I am now taking, Source Naturals – Broccoli Sprouts Extract, which provides 2,000mcg’s sulforaphane daily. This is equivalent to eating more than a pound of fresh broccoli. Dietary Sulforaphane-Rich Broccoli Sprouts Reduce Colonization and Attenuate Gastritis in Helicobacter pylori–Infected Mice and Humans
October 03, 2009 Update - H. pylori most likely will live in biofilm colonies which make them even harder to kill or be identified by our host defenses. Read more about biofilms here and my protocol to remove them. BIOFILMS
November 03, 2009 Update – In my never ending quest for knowledge, I just came across this interesting piece of data. The H. pylori bacteria is thought to have been with us for around 58,000 years and migrated with modern man out of east Africa. Here is the link to this article. – An African origin for the intimate association between humans and Helicobacter pylori
November 18, 2009 Update – Here are two PubMed articles validating the effectiveness of Monolaurin for the prevention and/or eradication of H. pylori.
Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2002 Oct;20(4):258-62
Bactericidal effects of fatty acids and monoglycerides (Monolaurin) on Helicobacter pylori
Bergsson G, Steingrímsson O, Thormar H. Institute of Biology, University of Iceland, Grensasvegur 12, 108, Reykjavik, Iceland. bergsson@here.is
The susceptibility of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori to fatty acids and monoglycerides was studied. None of the lipids showed significant antibacterial activity against Salmonella spp. and E. coli but eight of 12 lipids tested showed high activity against H. pylori; monocaprin and monolaurin being the most active. The high activity of monoglycerides against H. pylori suggests that they may be useful as active ingredients in pharmaceutical formulations.
Mol Cell Biochem. 2005 Apr;272(1-2):29-34
Minimum inhibitory concentrations of herbal essential oils and monolaurin for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria
Preuss HG, Echard B, Enig M, Brook I, Elliott TB. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA. preusshg@georgetown.edu
New, safe antimicrobial agents are needed to prevent and overcome severe bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Based on our previous experience and that of others, we postulated that herbal essential oils, such as those of origanum, and monolaurin offer such possibilities. We examined in vitro the cidal (def. killing, as in bactericidal) and/or static effects of oil of origanum, several other essential oils, and monolaurin on Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus anthracis Sterne, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and Mycobacterium terrae. Origanum proved cidal to all tested organisms with the exception of B. anthracis Sterne in which it was static. Monolaurin was cidal to S. aureus and M. terrae but not to E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Unlike the other two gram-negative organisms, H. pylori were extremely sensitive to monolaurin. Similar to origanum, monolaurin was static to B. anthracis Sterne. Because of their longstanding safety record, origanum and/or monolaurin, alone or combined with antibiotics, might prove useful in the prevention and treatment of severe bacterial infections, especially those that are difficult to treat and/or are antibiotic resistant (also see biofilm, as a source of antibiotic resistance).
Note: Monolaurin has been shown to inactive many forms of bacteria and virus’ that are protected by an outer lipid membrane, known as an envelope (H. pylori cell envelope). The mechanism is due to monolaurin’s ability aid in the disintegration of this lipid membrane.
May 02, 2010 Update - A recent review, just published, of available literature on the use of probiotics in the treatment or prevention of H. pylori infection, validated that, “Both in vitro and in vivo studies provide evidence that probiotics may represent a novel approach to the management of H. pylori infection.”
Helicobacter. 2010 Apr;15(2):79-87.
Role of probiotics in pediatric patients with Helicobacter pylori infection: a comprehensive review of the literature.
Lionetti E, Indrio F, Pavone L, Borrelli G, Cavallo L, Francavilla R. Department of Paediatrics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. elenalionetti@inwind.it
March 28, 1011 Update – Helicobacter pylori infection has been associated with diverse extra-digestive morbidity, including insulin resistance (IR) syndrome (1), atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (2). Insulin resistance is the pathophysiologic background of the clinical features of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
Morbidity – The rate of incidence of a disease. (Medicine / Pathology) Also called morbidity rate the relative incidence of a particular disease in a specific locality.
1. Gunji T. Helicobacter pylori infection significantly increases insulin resistance in the asymptomatic Japanese population. Helicobacter. 2009 Oct;14(5):144-50.
2. Polyzos SA. The Association Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Insulin Resistance: A Systematic Review. Helicobacter. 2011 Apr;16(2):79-88. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-5378.2011.00822.x.
Tags: Atherosclerosis, Biofilm, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cell Envelope, Coconut Oil, Enveloped Virus, Gastritis, GERD, H. pylori, Heartburn, Insulin Resistance, Lauric Acid, Monolaurin, Sulforaphane
I took Mastic Gum and it killed the H.pylori. I have proof that the test was positive and two months of taking Mastic Gum and the test was negative. So, I do believe it kills the H.pylori, if not why would a medical test show it negative?
Hi Dr. Ettinger,
I have a really complex issue and was wondering (based on your article) if you could offer me any help in any way. I do not live in your area. I saw that you posted on Amy’s website about H Pylori and was hoping you could offer me your insight just the same.
I had the flu about 12-13 weeks ago. I was in bed and really really sick. During the flu, I took antibiotics (azithromycin). While sick with the flu, I developed upper left abdominal pain. Post-flu I just wasn’t the same. I was worn out, having memory lapse, was so fatigued and emotionally off. I soon developed bad acid reflux, burning in my chest and then anxiety. I did not know what was wrong with me. I was so nauseous, could barely eat anything and developed increasing pain in my upper abdomen. I was so bloated, burping, flatulence, etc. I felt like I just was missing something I had previously.
From there, a whole cascade of symptoms popped up. I was prescribed another antibiotic due to chest congestion and residual issues post flu. Other symptoms I had were a racing pulse, panic/anxiety, burning/stinging skin, spasms in various places, bizarre head sensations (pressure in my head/ears) or tingling, shortness of breath, extreme thirst (sometimes), unintended weight loss, etc. I started becoming increasingly reactive to food- with pressure in my head, shortness of breath, a coating in my throat, racing heart, burning skin, hive-like feelings all over, etc. I am now consuming only organic eggs, organic chicken and asparagus. I was eating apples but had an intense reaction to those yesterday.
I am only 23 years old. I do not have any health conditions (but an obvious issue right now). I have had blood work done and all thyroid, endocrine, blood counts, infectious disease and such come back normal. I have also had extensive tests – ultrasound, MRI and these were okay. My blood work test for H. Pylori came back elevated and it was in the past too.
I am reactive to even supplements. I was on Ultra Flora and became reactive to it after a period of about 5 days. I actually tolerated this the best of most other things. B vitamins have caused my heart to race, magnesium caused extreme shortness of breath, mineral supplements and others have turned my nose and chest bright red with again shortness of breath. Others cause pressure in my head.
I know that I cannot resort to the conventional medical community. I have tried. They don’t recognize leaky gut and such things. I have recently been prescribed even more antibiotics for H. Pylori.
I get really disoriented (especially at night). I sometimes see strips of light in front of my face. My surrounding environment looks like a movie– my perception is distorted- hard to describe. It doesn’t look blurry but rather just different- like a movie’s view of the world and not real life (fast movement for example or different depth perception). I have been told that gut toxins and such can migrate to my brain. Also, deficiencies do not help.
I am really confused as to how to help myself. I know that I am in need of nutrients very much so. I have tried to take Metagenics medical food and even react to this. I need to provide my body with what it needs.
I know this seems so extreme and it is. I have had cold laser therapy and been desensitized to minimize these reactions. I have been tested kinetically to determine what my body needs. I then react to taking what it is needing.
If you can make any suggestions whatsoever, I would be ever so so grateful.
I am not sure how much H. Pylori can contribute to this? I know with some people it doesn’t cause near as many issues as it does others. I also have not read of it causing such extreme food intolerance and cognitive effects, etc.
I know that with all of this, I do not need H. Pylori. I am not sure how to go about eliminating it with all of these sensitivities. Have you heard of H. Pylori causing such things? Can it? Can it contribute to a leaky gut? I am aware of candida and replenishing natural flora. Can H. Pylori cause such symptoms and food reactions?
I know that I need Probiotics very much so. I reacted to what I was taking, so am not sure what else to do. I have so many Probiotics- Xymogen, Ultra Flora, Flora Plus, etc, etc.
Please any insight would be most appreciated. I am trying so hard.
-Mary
Sharon,
That’s great that it handled your H. pylori. In your case it was all you needed, in others it’s not. Maybe you had a mild case, maybe it was just the right thing for your body, maybe you had the bacteria for just a short time and it needed a mild treatment. Regardless I am glad it’s gone.
Now that it’s gone, it’s time to start on a broad spectrum probiotic and HCl to keep it from returning. Thank you for the comment.
I was diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in May.09, but I’ve been having problems for much longer that that. This bacterial situation has actually been on and off for several years, but in 2009 it got much worse. It got so bad that I wasn’t able to do a urea breath test, because I couldn’t stand without the proton pump inhibitor (acid blocker), Losec, in my case. So I had an endoscopy to be diagnosed with H. pylori. As a first round therapy I had the standard "triple therapy" (2 antibiotics and one antacid). In May I first tested positive, again in July, and again in August, so this time I was put on "quadruple therapy." I finished that up and after just one week off the drugs all my symptoms came back. My biggest symptom was lots of heartburn, really bad. I was having heartburn from everything, even from plain water.
Seeing that antibiotics didn’t help, I decided to look for help on the internet. I found different forums where people were sharing same stories as mine. Than I found Matula tea: I bought one month supply, 150$ US dollars (I’m in Canada). The tea helped for exactly one moth and after that my
symptoms came back. I never gave up, I looked again for help; this time I found Amy King’s blog, sending a link towards Doctor Ettinger’s website. There I found his story; he actually, himself, had H. pylori at one time, and shared his experience of how he treated it. I decided to follow his protocol step by step.
This was happening in November 09. After 2 weeks of Monolaurin + H-PLR + Enzymes, I was felling better. I had to give up on the H-PLR, as I wasn’t feeling to well from that. Dr. E said maybe it was to strong for me. I replaced it with Mastic Gum. I finished 2 moths of treatment to kill the bacteria and now I’m following
the maintenance treatment. By now it feels so good not to have heartburn, it’s almost gone.
Now what you have to remember is that besides treatment you have to change your life style, what you eat and how you exercise. Exercise with more cardio than weights. About food, try to avoid all foods which will cause you heartburn like oranges, tomatoes, pasta, all greasy stuff and junk food. I
bought a juice maker. During my killing treatment I was juicing everyday: 3 carrots + piece of cabbage + one raw potato which will make you 500ml glass of juice. Even now, every other 3rd day I drink that. You have to make your body more alkaline than acidic. Dr. Ettinger assisted me through this phase, answered any questions I had and supplied me with all of the products. Now I’m felling normal again.
Thank you, Dr. E.
Hi Dr. Ettinger,
I also have been to Amy’s website have found a lot of great info there. I was scared with the heart palpitations and the immense pain I felt in my side and back. It has subsided greatly since I have started with the monolaurin, mastic gum and Manuka honey, probiotic VSL#3. I did start off with the triple antibiotic treatment from my doctor back in November, but to no avail. My question is when I stopped the triple antibiotics I have had a pain in my very lower back or upper buttock region that I can’t explain, almost like it is my tailbone but not quite. It has been there since I finished the antibiotics and also my left heel has tremendous pain in it sometimes(most of the time) when I walk on it, so therefore I limp. Did not have this before antibiotic treatment. Could the h-pylori have anything to do with this?? I have only been on the natural treatments for a week now and I am hoping to feel better in a few months. Also should I take the H-PLR with the rest of the stuff I am taking?? Thanks so very much for any help you can offer me.
Patty,
Were you on: Cipro, Avelox, Proquin XR or Levaquin? As these can all cause spontaneous Achilles tendon rupture or Achilles tendonitis.
H-PLR with the rest of your supplements is perfect.
Hi again Dr.E, I have redone my urea breath test for HP at the end of January ’10 and it came negative! voila!
Dr. Ettinger,
what brand of Monolaurin do you recommend for pylori patients?
Ecological Formulas 600mg caps – 2/2x/day. 2,000mg’s is a daily therapeutic dose, more is not better.
Thanks for the quick response. As far as mastic gum goes, are
you still prescribing it for “healing” purposes, as opposed to treating
pylori?
I’ve been on a regimen of aloe vera juice, cabbage juice, slippery elm and
mastic gum (2 grams a day) for the past month and have progressed
a lot. Is this too simplistic for you?
Doctor Ettinger,
Hello. How is your gut doing since treating H. pylori?
do you or any of your patients have experience with Manuka honey?
Thanks and Best of health to you
Ryan
Ryan,
My stomach and digestive tract is 100% back to normal. I have not recommended Manuka honey. Not because it’s not good for you or that it wont’ help, its just that their are better, more effective products out there.
Dr. E
Thank you. Glad to know there is hope in dealing with this! I have gradually lost 20 lbs of weight from this infection!
Quickly, would you recommend one to get on HCl pills and probiotics once we test negative?
I have heard mixed reviews about bottled probiotics. Some claiming they are dead even before they hit your front door. Can I get your 2 cents on this Dr.
Ryan
Dear Dr. E,
Firstly, thank you for your H. pylori info – about the most informative site I have seen. I think I have H. pylori. No pain or discomfort, but a lot of burping. I took mastic gum religiously for a month – the Solaray one – it said on the bottle you had to take it for 28 days to cure H. pylori – after that you take a maintenance dose. I’ve been a bit lax with the maintenance dose though. One problem is that I feel very tired. Is this the mastic gum or the H. pylori causing tiredness? I am so, so tired, it’s affecting my life. It’s awful. I have heard that some of these natural remedies – like Siberian pine nut oil which is also supposed to kill H. pylori too – have detoxing effects which include tiredness. What is one to do? Does monolaurin also cause fatigue? I am thinking of trying it because I have started burping again.
Linda,
Mastic gum, monolaurin or the pine nut oil shout NOT cause you any tiredness or detox type reactions. If the burping has come back it can be do to many factors. The H. pylori may not be gone, your food combining may be causing the gas, there may not be enough friendly bacteria in the gut, and or you may have candida.
The monolaurin combined with Ulcetrol from Now Foods and a potent probiotic, like Probiotic Defense, also from Now foods, should do the trick. Just to hedge your bets, you may also want to add a plant based digestive enzyme. I like Plant Enzymes for Now Foods – 1-2 with each meal.
If you need any help getting these products give us call us at 714-639-4360 and we can get them right out to you.
Ryan,
I like Super Enzymes from Now Foods. It is a great digestive enzyme with HCl and is something I recommend after H. pylori has been handled. Probiotics from reputable companies are very stable. I like GR8 from Now Food. I have used it for years with great success.
Let me know if you need any help getting these products.
I have h-pylori and it has been making me feel awful. I feel bloated all the time, heartburn and just feel week. My potassium has dropped to 3.5 from 4.5. A naturopath put me on candicin which has oregano oil and wormwood, ginger and clove oils. She also told me to take bee propolis cuz it will help. I started to think that I need to take antibiotics cuz I am not feeling any better. I’m wondering if you can help me on what to take or if what i am taking is good enough. Thanx
Chris,
I have never used that combination of products before to kill H. pylori, so I really can’t say if it will or won’t handle it. I do know that the combo is good for candida and parasites. Personally, I would switch courses and go for a tried-and-true protocol, like the one listed on my H. pylori blog post. Antibiotics may just make things worse for you. Meaning, it may kill the H. pylori but cause all kinds of GI side effects (most antibiotics do). So, you are H. pylori free but now have a raging candida over-growth, depleted beneficial gut bacteria and generalized irritation to the stomach and intestines.
I hope this is of some help.
Dr. E
So what exactly should I take it seems like ur adding a bunch of different things. I started to eat broccoli sprouts right now to, maybe it will help and im taking the candicin. Would adding coconut oil be just as good as the monolaurin?
Also the biggest problem to is that i lost so much weight. I used to weigh around 180 and now im down to 146 and i cant seem to go up in weight. I can’t seem to figure out why. Would H pylori make you lose that much weight?
Chris,
I am sure you can appreciate this, It’s almost impossible for me to give you competent advise without seeing you and having test results and a in-depth consultation.
There is definitely a GI problem still, we both know that. As an experiment, I would try 2 tbs of psyllium fiber, 1/4 tsp Now Foods Probiotic Defense Powder (to start), mixed in yogurt and 1 Now Foods GR8 capsule. This should be done 2x/day. Call if you want to buy these – 714-639-4360.
This will normalize the environment of the GI tract. Let’s see what gets better and what stays the same. By ruling things out or in, you will be better able to figure out what is the primary cause(s).
Thank You…
Should I add the monolaurin or coconut oil to what i take to help get rid of the h pylori?
Chris,
Coconut oil is 50% lauric acid by volume and Monolaurin is 100% lauric acid. I recommend 2 600mg Monolaurin caps 2x/day, mainly because it is easier. Also, I take 1 tbsp of flax oil and 2 tsp of fish oil per day, and I use a lot of EVOO for cooking and salads. I don’t really want another two tbsp of oil in my diet.
I hope this helps.
Hi Dr. Ettinger, I had a consult with you about 8 weeks ago, and at the time I had severe stomach pain, sleeplessness, weight loss, depression/anxiety problems. Since then, I have progressively been getting better. I started a detox elimination diet that has worked wonders, and I am down to trying to wean off the prevacid. My H-pylori stool test came back negative about 1 month ago. I am still having stomach pain, but it is mild compared to before. I am sleeping well and anxiety/depression symptoms are gone. I did find out that I am sensitive to wheat (gluten), and I have some problems with peanuts and maybe soy. I am just wondering what I should do now to heal up my stomach completely and get off the prevacid? Any ideas.
Do you still recommend the antacid for pretreatment? Is there a natural version of that? Plus, it seems the opposite of the HCL I take in order to get anywhere with digesting food. Am I understanding correctly? So would you recommend no HCL and antacids for pretreatment? And for how long?
By the way, I am doing the Gut and Psychology Protocol (GAPS) and it has been very helpful and a great way to heal the digestive tract – but I need to get rid of both H pylori and klebsiella pneumonia. I really appreciate your clear protocol for treatment. Thank you.
Thanks for this information Dr Marcus. My mother and me have helicobacter, after 7 days of antibiotics abdominal pain goes on. Yet no new test of helicobacter, we suppose it has not gone. We are trying natural approaches with mastica gum, manuka, 2 probiotics, vitamin C Pure-way, aloe vera, zinc-carnosine formula, broccoli extract, origanum oil and maybe also siberian pine nut oil. We already consume Omega3 and vitamin D3 time ago.There is a tea called Matula but I think its not serious. Thanks from Spain
Susie,
That’s great! It sounds like you are doing all the right things. For healing, I like Ulcetrol by Now Foods, a daily probiotic, cabbage juice or eat a lot of cabbage, brussels sprouts and/or broccoli. If you need help with digestion, I like Plant Enzymes by Now Foods. I hope this helps.
Elli, you are correct, no HCl during the killing phase. A generic antacid is fine. There isn’t a natural alternative. As long as you are trying to kill the H. pylori you will want to keep the HCl to a minimum.
Make sure you are using the Monolaurin and the InterFase Plus. Biofilm is the main reason chronic infections don’t resolve. You have to remove them to get to the infection.
Is curious. Yesterday I finished 7 days of antibiotics and place of my pain has changed in these day: before in lower esophagus and top stomach and in last week and now only in lower stomach.
I cant find on internet InterFase for european customers. I will try monolaurin. I feel I will have to be done an endoscopy (Helicobacter was detected with blood and breath 15 days ago after 1 month of pain).
I have read there are some positive studies about lemongrass oil against Helicobacter but I consider it too strong for my sensitive stomach now :S
David,
“The current guidelines suggest the use of triple therapy as first choice treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, although the eradication failure rate is more than 30%.” Department of Paediatrics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy – April 2010
H. pylori is more effectively treated, in my opinion, naturally. You may want to get retested to make sure it is gone. Stool testing is my preference.
Since you have these products available, get started on them. Probiotic (1 3x/day), vitamin C Pure-way (1,000mg’s per day), aloe vera (if juice – 1 oz. 3x/day), zinc-carnosine formula (1 3x/day) and broccoli extract 1 3x/day). This will aid in the healing of the membranes in the GI tract.
Let me know the results of the follow-up testing.
Hi again. I started 4-5 weeks ago with Source Naturals Mastic Gum (2/day), coconut oil, Source Naturals broccoli extract (3/day), different probiotics (2/day), zinc-carnosine with DGL (2/day), some of manuka honey, quercetin (250mg a day), Pure-Way C (500mg 2 per day), siberian pine nut oil (1 spoon per day), aloe vera and InterFase Plus, then I added origanum oil 4 drops a day and HPLR from Apex.. 4th week I improved so much that I felt as almost healed, but 5th week my stomach pain returned, not so strong like in the beginning but I felt bad again. Now I have added Broccolive from New Chapter and Fungal Defense from Garden of Life.
Few days ago I went again to my doctor and I will be under a endoscopy next July 1st to check out current state of my stomach and to discard any other possible problem like any kind of ulcer, hiatal hernia.. (but its impossible my pain come from a hernia because I feel pain even fasting when I wake up and typical treatment for hiatal hernia, Omeprazole, doesnt solve me anything).
If Helicobacter persists in next weeks most probably I will have to be under a new round of antibiotics.
I have been sick since January 31. Stool test showed no H. pylori but a dysbiosis that includes E coli. Since I had a colonoscopy in April, gastritis has gotten worse. I have been taking Natren’s Healthy Trinity… and stools have become regular, but gastritis worse. I lost weight and have trouble keeping it on, nervousness and anxiety. I have been told that Mastic Gum can kill bacteria other than H. pylori that may be the cause of my digestive disorder. I noticed you have shown there that the coconut oil doesn’t kill E coli.
Any suggestions for me?
Thanks
Debby,
Try Ulcetrol (1/3x day – has mastic gum in it) and GR8 1/2x day – probiotic formula). Both are from Now Foods and can be found online or in most good health food stores. Without knowing more about you it is had to give more recommendations. This is a good start.
Hi, Dr. Ettinger, a few questions about your protocol before I start. I’m assuming that the treatment period is 8 weeks? Also do you have to remove certain foods like dairy, gluten, sugar when on this. (Remove known allergens?) Thank you
John,
The protocol, on average, is eight weeks. Yes, I would eliminate gluten, dairy and tomato based products.
Dr. Ettinger, I have had these symptoms for probably over 10 years now. I also have constant nasal congestion, white coating on tongue, and constant bad breath. I have seen my regular physician and tried many different medications however nothing has helped even 1%. I saw an ENT about 2 years ago and got sinus surgery done as he said I had a deviated septum. The surgery did absolutely nothing and I still have the same symptoms to date. I have never seen a GI or got tested for H pylori, but I believe this may be the cause of all my symptoms. I was recently tested for parasites, and it came back clean. Where should I start? Please help.
Thanks so much for your reply. I am allergic to dairy including casein. Would I react badly to L. Casei in a probotic. Finally, my gasto doctor just prescribed Refaximin to kill of the E Coli. I took it for two days and got very constipated. Have you heard of using Refaximin (Xifaxan) to treat those with dysbiosis that causes constipation? Thanks for your reply.
Debby,
All probiotic bacteria are perfectly safe! E. coli is a normal constituent of our intestinal tract and should not be treated as a pathogen. E. coli induced food poisoning is acute and is a totally different issue. Just my opinion – stop the antibiotics.
Now is the time to get on a high dose of probiotics, fiber and a healing agent like Ulcetrol.
Dr. E
Dr. Ettinger, my father, 70 yrs old, generally of good health, was diagnosed with H. pylori last November. He has had three treatments with antibiotics without results. The level of the bacteria remains high, although he can eat without getting sick and has no stomach pains. We started looking for alternative remedies. Nine days ago he implemented a new diet consisting of fresh raw garlic, lemon grass tea, ginger, oregano, & curry. Only eats fish and chicken for meat. We also found lemon grass oil and ordered it, however it has not yet arrived. We had read an article about scientific research in Kyoto Japan that says H. pylori did not build resistance, even after ten sequential passages using mice.
We need someone to tell us what to do.
Can you make any recommendations?
By the way, he lives in Panama Central America, and we understand the strands vary significantly by regions.
Thank You.
About six months ago I started feeling weak in the morning and very anxious. Recently I was diagnosed with H. pylori bacteria and was put on triple regimen (amoxicillin, clarithromycin,and lansoprazole). I, however have no pain only burping and flatulence. I have no appetite in the morning but it comes on in the evening. Now I feel weak in the morning after taking the tablets but okay at night after taking them. I have ordered pine nut oil. Should I stop the triple regimen and use only the oil or use all four to get me feeling better
I would continue on the triple regimen and the oil. Now is the time to add a potent probiotic like GR8 or Probiotic Defense Powder. Both by Now Foods. I would also add some vitamin C and extra fiber to your daily program.
Get retested with a stool test around 30 days post antibiotic therapy.
Last year I read someone’s blog/abstract about biofilms and it was so scientific and overwhelming, I glazed over and kept driving. Yesterday I was trying to figure out why I could not handle the oxalates in this new green juice I’ve been making that my body seems to have a love/hate relationship with (parsley, celery, cilantro, unheated honey, green papaya, vco). All roads pointed to biofilms.
I have to pinch myself that I found your website and blog. I’m 42 and carry an extra 50lbs. I have been dealing with weight and gut issues for many years; ACL replacement in Oct. ’02 at which time I took 2-3 800mg ibuprofen and (several) vodka tonics every day until Jan. ’05 when I got pregnant. My health was not good during the pregnancy and it is a wonder I didn’t give birth to a GMO alien. For the last two years, I have been really serious about healing. In ’08 we started with a Weston Price type lifestyle and I thought this would cure whatever was going on with my gut.
Earlier this year I saw a Chiro/ND who did Kinesiology and had me taking all kinds of supplements (my stomach could not process/utilize). The HCL he gave made me double over in pain. He said there was no H. pylori. That was difficult to believe when I found and started taking mastic gum and started feeling a whole lot better. If it’s not H. pylori, it’s something else causing inflammation/ulcers because the green juice set it off. I thought I had found the missing link with mastic gum. I was/am already on to zinc, Ulcetrol, dgl licorice, coconut oil and anything fermenty and drinkable I could get my hands on. Now’s Plant Enzymes with a big spoonful of coconut oil feels pretty good.
It seems now, that biofilm (and fixing it) is the missing link and I intend to implement your full regime. I wish I had another $270 to get formal testing and a good crack. I see that if I drive to your office, I can stop at Desert Hot Springs and take a soak – is it true there are trace amounts of lithium on those springs?
Speaking of which, dead sea salt has been my best friend lately – I thought my guts for sure would heal with soaking in dds and doing the awesome new green juice (Aajonus recipe). Maybe that can be my woobie for when this is all over. Biofilm seems to build its network using magnesium, iron and calcium. Unfortunate.
The only thing I’m somewhat concerned about with the EDTA is the herxing/detox. I take livery stuff, but not really anything for kidneys.
Thank you so much for providing this information, making all these things available and accounting what you did for your own guts. Mucho gracias!
Vanessa in Tucson, AZ
Ramon,
Please read my post on H. pylori treatment. The post contains the information needed to make an informed decision on which products to use and why H. pylori is so hard to treat. Minimally your day needs a potent probiotic.
Chris,
The reason that nasal symptoms haven’t cleared-up is because the bacteria are encased in a biofilm. Please read my posts on biofilm and you will finally have the answers to your questions. If you need to order the biofilm protocol nutrients, please call our office 714.639.4360
Biofilm Basics
Quorum Sensing and Biofilm
Biofilm Protocol
Thanks, when you say bacteria, are you referring to H pylori? Should I start the h pylori regimen you mention above in the post?
It’s not H.pylori. The biofilm protocol will help to breakdown the protective coating that has protected the bacteria from being killed by antibiotics or your own immune system. I have no idea how long it will take but it’s the best treatment advise I can give you.
BACTERIAL BIOFILMS IN SURGICAL SPECIMENS OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS (sinusitis).
Sanclement JA, Webster P, Thomas J, Ramadan HH. Department of Otolaryngology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9200, USA.
CONCLUSIONS: Biofilms were demonstrated to be present in 80% the 30 patients undergoing surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS); none of the (control) patients without CRS had any evidence of biofilms.
I see, so Klaire Labs – InterFase Plus, 2 caps 3x/day on an empty , is what I should I take? Do you recommend anything else to take along side with this? Should I still take the monolaurin and the Herbal anti-bacterial?
Thanks for the e-mail, I understand your situation. I was reading your biofilm protocol and you mentioned seeing big differences around day 66. Can you go into a little more detail on what you saw around that time? Thanks
I have had H. pylori for over a year now. I have been on two courses of antibiotics. I just started the tea. Very apprehensive . I really don’t know what to take . I’m changing my diet trying to eliminate gluten and dairy. Please help. What really works.
I need to add that I took a lot of antibiotics in my life since i use to suffer from sinus infections. I am also suffering from anxiety which has to be related to the H. pylori as both started at the same time. I started taking tranquility from Steiner (Don Quay) and it helps with the anxiety. The anxiety comes and goes.
Thanks Gloria
Hi Dr. Ettinger:
Your website has been very informative! I’ve enjoyed reading about your experiences and advice! I also have H. pylori and have been battling this nasty bug for many years off and on. I took Prev-Pac in January only to find out recently that I’m still positive. This time my gastroenterologist prescribed Pylera but after reading all the serious side effects, especially with the CNS I’ve decided to try the alternative treatment. I’m not willing to take a chance on Peripheral neuropathy, tingling in arms/legs and the worse one convulsive seizures! I just started taking Monolaurin but after reading that it has Isodine in it, I have stopped. I am allergic to Iodine and I wasn’t sure if it’s the same as Iodine. I will buy Monolaurin without the Isodine. I’m also taking the Manuka Honey, Garden of Life Ultra Probiotics. I have Diabetes II and have maintained it for several years with taking Glucophage and watching the diet. The last couple of days I did not take the Glucophage thinking the diet with no sugar, white flour, pasta’s, etc. my B.S. would be O.K. This morning after taking the Manuka honey and Probiotics I took my B.S. and it had spiked to 280. Can these products cause the B.S. to go high? Since I just started this regimen I’m still learning about these products. Any help you could advise would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.
Marcia,
Sorry for the late reply. For some reason this slipped through the cracks. First, check your bottle and see it the ingredient is “Inosine.” The brand that I sell is by Ecological Formulas and is 600mg’s Monolaurin and 7.5mg’s Inosine. Inosine has been shown to exert potent effects on the immune, neural, and cardiovascular systems. I don’t think the ingredient is Isodine.
Manuka Honey will definitely raise your blood sugar! I treat a ton of pre-diabetic and diabetic patients. The key to reversing it is to avoid ALL sugar sources, including starches. That means no: milk, bread, corn, pasta, potato, cooked carrots, rice, oatmeal….