Gastritis

Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of your stomach. It is not a single disease but rather a group of disorders. Gastritis can "eat away" the stomach lining and cause bleeding. In some cases gastritis does not damage the stomach lining and does not have a specific cause.

Signs and Symptoms

The following are symptoms of gastritis.

• Indigestion and heartburn
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain that is often worse after eating
• Gastrointestinal bleeding (signs of this are vomiting material that looks like coffee-grounds or having very dark stools)

What Causes It?

The causes of gastritis include the following.

• Aspirin use
• Alcohol and tobacco use
• Serious illness
• Reflux injury (such as bile backing up into the stomach and esophagus)
• Trauma (for example surgery radiation chemotherapy severe vomiting having swallowed a foreign object)
• Bacterial viral fungal and parasitic infections
• Pernicious anemia
• Systemic disease (for example Crohn's disease)

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Your health care provider will take your medical history and conduct a physical examination. Your provider will refer you to a gastroenterologist if you need further examination such as an endoscopy or a gastroscopy. A biopsy may be taken of the tissues of your esophagus or stomach to determine the cause of your discomfort.

Treatment Options

Treatment Plan

Gastritis treatment varies depending on the cause of your problem. With some types of gastritis you will need to stop ingesting irritating substances. These may include alcohol tobacco aspirin and spicy foods. Drug treatment for specific types of gastritis usually involves a combination of drugs.

Drug Therapies

Prescription

• Pepto-Bismol metronidazole and tetracycline (or amoxicillin if you cannot take tetracycline)—for treatment of Helicobactor pylori a common bacterial cause of gastritis and ulcers; treatment takes two weeks
• Omeprazole clarithromycin and metonidazole—for treatment of peptic ulcers; reduces the production of acid in your stomach; treatment takes one week

Over the Counter

N/A

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Nutritional and herbal support help to heal the stomach lining fight infection and reduce recurrence.

Nutrition

• Avoid dairy products caffeine alcohol and sugar. Coffee even decaffeinated should be eliminated because it contains potentially irritating oils.
• Eliminate any known food allergens from your diet.
• Include sulfur-containing foods such as garlic onions broccoli cabbage Brussels sprouts and cauliflower in the diet. Sulfur is the basis for forming glutathione which provides antioxidant protection to the stomach lining. N-acetyl cysteine (200 mg twice a day between meals) is also the basis for forming glutathione.
• Vitamin C (1 000 mg three times per day) decreases nitrosamines substances that have been linked to stomach cancer.
• Zinc (30 to 50 mg per day) helps you heal.

Herbs

Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy it is important to work with your provider on getting your problem diagnosed before you start any treatment. Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules powders teas) glycerites (glycerine extracts) or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day.

• DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) 250 mg four times per day 15 to 20 minutes before meals and one to two hours after the last meal of the day increases circulation and healing to stomach lining. This preparation is safe for people with high blood pressure or to take long-term. If you have high blood pressure talk with your health care provider before taking any medications.
• Powders of slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) and marshmallow root (Althea officinalis) may be taken singly or together 1 tsp. two to three times per day to decrease inflammation and encourage healing.
• Ginger root tea (Zingiber officinalis) increases circulation and enhances digestion. Drink 2 to 3 cups per day with meals.
• For H. pylori bismuth subcitrate (120 mg four times per day for eight weeks) may be helpful in eliminating the bacteria and reducing recurrence of gastritis. Do not use this long-term. Be sure to take it under the supervision of your health care provider since you may still need antibiotics if the H. pylori is not gone after eight weeks.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy may be useful as a supporting therapy. There are three remedies to consider: nux vomica aresenicum album and lycopodium.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may be helpful in reducing stress and improving overall digestive function.

Massage

Therapeutic massage can reduce stress and increase your sense of well-being.

Following Up

Return to your health care provider if your symptoms do not get better or if they get worse.

Special Considerations

Do not ignore potentially life-threatening symptoms such as vomiting blood or blood in your stool. Be sure to see your health care provider regularly and call him or her if there is any change in your symptoms. If you are pregnant nutritional guidelines and herbal support are safe but talk with your health care provider before taking any medicine or supplements. Do not take bismuth subcitrate if you are pregnant.

Supporting Research

Blumenthal M ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Boston Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998:427.

Fauci AS Braunwald E Isselbacher KJ et al eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. New York NY: McGraw-Hill; 1998: 941–943 1610–1614.

Murray MT Pizzorno JE. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Rocklin Calif: Prima Publishing; 1998:522–523.

Sklar M ed. Gastoenterologic problems. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine. 1991;7:235–238.

Sleisenger MH Fordtran JS Scharschmidt BF et al. Gastrointestinal Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia Pa: WB Saunders; 1993:545–564.

Copyright © 2000 Integrative Medicine Communications

The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application use or misuse of any of the information contained herein including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability negligence or otherwise. No warranty expressed or implied is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor pharmacist nurse or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage precautions warnings interactions and contraindications before administering any drug herb or supplement discussed herein.