Gastritis
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- What is gastritis?
- Symptoms of gastritis
- Causes of gastritis
- Prevention of gastritis
- Risk factors for gastritis
- Complications of gastritis
- When to see a doctor about gastritis
- Diagnosis of gastritis
- Conventional treatment of gastritis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of gastritis
- Living with gastritis
- Caring for someone with gastritis
Alternative/complementary treatment of gastritis
Anyone who suspects they may have gastritis, should never try to self-medicate. Any type of medical condition needs to be diagnosed by a medical professional as the same symptoms could be confused with many other gastric disorders.
Always talk to your doctor about any supplements you want to take before trying them as they could interfere with the actions of any prescription medications.
Herbs
There are a number of excellent herbs which may help to provide relief for symptoms:
- Chamomile - the herb chamomile has calming and also has anti-inflammatory properties which can be used in cases of mild to moderate gastritis to relieve symptoms and relax the digestive system so that it can heal more quickly. In addition to this, chamomile tea is used to help the body relax, which can help reduce the symptoms associated with stress
- Marshmallow - a mucilaginous herb which provides protection of the stomach lining in the same way as slippery elm does; one caution is that it can lower blood sugar levels and cause "avitaminosis" (prevent proper absorption of vitamins and minerals) if used for prolonged periods
- Peppermint - as a tea, peppermint can help to calm the stomach and helps with proper digestion, especially if taken after a meal
- Slippery elm - this is an excellent herb which provides a protective mucilaginous (mucous-like, moist and sticky) layer around the stomach lining, protecting it from the acid in the gastric juices and greatly relieving symptoms and allows the stomach lining to heal and can assist with all types of gastritis, from mild to severe. Slippery elm is available in tablet or powder form - the powder needs to be mixed with water (or a little juice) and quickly drank to get the most benefits. This is a very safe herb that is not known to produce any adverse side effects when it is used correctly
Vitamins
There are a number of vitamins which may help to provide relief for symptoms:
- Folic acid - studies show that folic acid, the B-vitamin cofactor may be especially not properly absorbed in people with gastritis, so supplementation may be advised
- Vitamin A - the antioxidant vitamin A is essential in keeping the mucous membranes of the stomach lining healthy, which are damaged by the gastric acids and supplementation may be necessary
- Vitamin B12 - this B vitamin is required as it particularly stimulates the immune system to work properly and repair damage caused by helicobacter pylori. In addition to this, vitamin B12 may be not be able to be absorbed properly as the intrinsic factor may not be produced adequately
- Vitamin C - the antioxidant vitamin C is lowered when conventional medication is used to treat gastritis that is caused by helicobacter pylori. In addition to this, supplementation is advised as this vital nutrient may help to heal the tissues of the stomach lining more effectively and more quickly. Studies have shown that vitamin C (together with the bioflavonoids) can heal gastritis caused by helicobacter pylori in some people who may not be absorbing enough of this vitamin in the first place
- Vitamin E - studies have shown that vitamin E may be beneficial in preventing malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract, especially in those people with chronic gastritis
Minerals
There are a number of minerals which may help to provide relief for symptoms:
- Magnesium - this is an excellent mineral to calm muscles and other body tissue, which are inflamed and may be tense due to gastritis. Magnesium is required not just by the stomach, but every smooth muscle in the body, in order to function properly
- Zinc - the antioxidant mineral zinc has been shown in studies to help promote quicker healing of gastritis (and also ulcers) and provides a quicker reduction in symptoms, especially if it is combined with carnosine
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Other nutrients
There are a number of other nutrients which may help to provide relief for symptoms:
- Bromelain - this is an enzyme which is found naturally in pineapples and can help with proper digestion. Bromelain is found to reduce stomach pain and other gastritis symptoms, especially if it is used with other digestive enzymes
- Digestive enzymes - these enzymes may be beneficial to assist with digestion in the stomach and intestine
- Essential fatty acids - the essential fatty acids omega 3 and GLA especially, provide anti-inflammatory properties to reduce severity of symptoms and promote healing
- Probiotics - the ratio of "good" and "bad" bacteria may be disturbed by gastritis and supplementation is required to rebalance the intestinal flora with the probiotic acidophilus
Dietary modifications
There are a number of dietary modification strategies which may help to provide relief for symptoms:
- Avoid alcohol - alcohol is a known irritant to the stomach lining and should be completely avoided until symptom are resolved; heavy drinking can cause gastritis
- Avoid certain foods - some foods can make symptoms worse in some people - coffee, tomato and tomato products, chocolate, citrus foods and juices and in some really sensitive people the herbs peppermint and spearmint can also aggravate symptoms
- Cabbage juice - the juice of cabbage contains "substance U" which has proven ulcer healing properties and it can help to reduce the ulceration of the stomach (or even eosophagus) mucosa and provide relief for symptoms, reducing their severity and duration
- Chew food properly - chewing allows the food to be broken up into smaller portions which do not require as much gastric juices to be produced in the stomach to break them down further for absorption
- Eat easily digested foods - to prevent high acid production in the stomach, it is advised to eat foods which are easily digested - bananas, rice, thin porridge, toast, crackers - while symptoms are at their worst
- Eat small meals - while the stomach lining is inflamed it is recommended to eat small meals to prevent the high and prolonged acid production required to break down a large meal
- Increase fibre intake - fibre can help with symptoms of chronic gastritis especially the soluble and mucilaginous fibres which protect the stomach lining from further damage (such as those in oats and psyllium). Try adding a small amount of fibre each day, to build up tolerance and help relieve symptoms slowly
- Limit liquids with meals - do not drink lots of water with a meal, drink it about 15 minutes before or 30 minutes after the end of a meal; the excessive water may dilute gastric juices which can cause insufficient digestion and abortion which can cause chronic gastritis and other digestive disorders
Lifestyle modifications
There are a number of lifestyle modifications which may help to provide relief for symptoms:
- Avoid reclining after meals - it is important to sit up straight after meals to allow proper digestion to take place; lying down can interfere with this process in a gastrointestinal system that is compromised and cause acid to come into the eosophagus which can burn
- Relax - stress is a trigger that can cause over- production of the acidic gastric juices, which make gastritis symptoms worse. Learn to relax by utilising any type of relaxation strategy - deep breathing, qi gong, meditation, tai chi, visualisation, yoga
- Stop smoking - smoking irritates the mucous lining of the stomach, making symptoms worse and preventing complete healing
Alternative treatments
- Naturopath - a naturopath can provide a regimen of dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as a herbal tincture (or tablets) to help heal symptoms. Each person's symptoms are different, so you will need to consult a naturopath in person, to get a proper diagnosis and be provided treatment options
Always ensure that you notify your medical practitioner of any supplements that you want to take - it may interfere with other medication or conditions you have. Confirm with your doctor it is safe to take BEFORE you try it.
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< 9: conventional treatment 11: living with gastritis > Last reviewed: 10 November 2007 || Last updated: 27 January 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
