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Gastritis is defined as inflammation of the lining of the stomach. This inflammation occurs when H. pylori or one of several other organisms infect the stomach. This is often associated with low levels of stomach acid. When stomach acid levels are very low, or chronically neutralized by antacids, H. pylori is less likely to be the cause and the overgrowth of others becomes more likely.
Causes & Development
Other causes, some of which act through low stomach acid, include medications, alcohol, ingestion of corrosive substances and extreme physiological stress. Acute gastritis is often associated with a sudden and severe illness or trauma. The incidence is about 8 out of every 1,000 people.
Signs & Symptoms
Some people do not have symptoms, but if present then they usually include one or more of:Diagnosis & Tests
Sometimes the inflammation of the stomach lining can become so serious that an ulcer develops. Gastritis can be diagnosed by biopsy and specimen examination under a microscope, where the presence of increased white blood cells is seen.
Laboratory Findings:- Occult blood in stool due to gastric mucosal erosions
- Hypochromic, microcytic anemia due to chronic blood loss
- Macrocytic anaemia due to pernicious anemia following atrophic gastritis of long duration
- Early decrease in gastric acid due to increased acid formation by injured and atrophic gastric parietal cells
- Late absence of gastric acid which is unresponsive to Histalog or pentagastrin stimulation
- Increased serum gastrin due to lack of gastric acid and loss of acid inhibition of gastrin secretion
- Parietal-cell antibodies frequently occur in atrophic gastritis
- Intrinsic-factor antibodies occur in many cases of autoimmune chronic gastritis that result in pernicious anaemia
- Decreased serum vitamin B12 due to decreased formation of intrinsic factor by atrophic gastric parietal cells
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Signs, symptoms & indicators of Gastritis:
Conditions that suggest Gastritis:
Risk factors for Gastritis:
Recommendations and treatments for Gastritis: | | | | | Botanical |  Neem | Neem extracts reduce the concentration of acid in the stomach and have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can provide relief from the effects of gastritis. Drink neem tea or ingest neem leaf powder as needed to protect the stomach and reduce discomfort. |
Mastic Gum| | For peptic ulcers and gastritis, 500mg to 1gm twice per day for 2 weeks causes structural changes in H. Pylori (of which there are at least 7 strains) resulting in its weakening and death. [Mastic Gum kills H. Pylori, NEJM 1998 Dec 24;339(26): p.1946] |
 Robert's Formula| | See the link between Gastritis and Slippery Elm. |
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Digestion |
Hydrochloric Acid (Trial)| | Once the stomach lining has been healed by the use of other agents, a hydrochloric acid (HCl) trial is often useful since it may have been an HCl deficiency that contributed to bacterial overgrowth and subsequent inflammation in the first place. Do not take HCl until the stomach lining has fully recovered, which usually takes at least a month. |
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Drug |
Antibiotics| | Antibiotics are used to treat H. pylori and should be used to treat other bacterial overgrowths in the stomach as well. Since these overgrowths are usually responsible for the inflammation, eradication allows the stomach to heal and normal acid-control mechanisms to be restored. |
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Lab Tests/Rule-Outs |
Test for Helicobacter Pylori Infection |
Mineral |
 Calcium-2AEP |
Oxygen / Oxidative Therapies |
Ozone / Oxidative Therapy |
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KEY | | Weak or unproven link |  | | Strong or generally accepted link | | | May do some good | | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Abdomen (Abdominal)
That part of the body between the chest and the hips that contains the stomach, intestines, liver, bladder, pancreas and other organs.
Acute
An illness or symptom of sudden onset, which generally has a short duration.
Anemia (Anaemia, Anemias)
A condition resulting from an unusually low number of red blood cells or too little hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The most common type is iron-deficiency anemia in which the red blood cells are reduced in size and number, and hemoglobin levels are low. Clinical symptoms include shortness of breath, lethargy and heart palpitations.
Antacid (Antacids)
Neutralizes acid in the stomach, esophagus, or first part of the duodenum.
Antibody (Antibodies)
A type of serum protein (globulin) synthesized by white blood cells of the lymphoid type in response to an antigenic (foreign substance) stimulus. Antibodies are complex substances formed to neutralize or destroy these antigens in the blood. Antibody activity normally fights infection but can be damaging in allergies and a group of diseases that are called autoimmune diseases.
Anti-inflammatory (Antiinflammatory)
Reducing inflammation by acting on body mechanisms, without directly acting on the cause of inflammation, e.g., glucocorticoids, aspirin.
Atrophic Gastritis
Chronic inflammation of the stomach that causes the breakdown of the mucous membranes and a reduction in the number of functioning stomach cells. Seen mainly in the elderly.
Autoimmune Disease (Autoimmune, Autoimmunity)
One of a large group of diseases in which the immune system turns against the body's own cells, tissues and organs, leading to chronic and often deadly conditions. Examples include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, Bright's disease and diabetes.
Bacteria (Bacterial, Bacterium)
Microscopic germs. Some bacteria are "harmful" and can cause disease, while other "friendly" bacteria protect the body from harmful invading organisms.
Biopsy
Removal of a sample of tissue from a living being for diagnosis. A pathologist later uses a microscope to look for certain features, such as cancer cells, in the sample. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy involves inserting a thin needle to remove a small amount of tissue, sometimes using CT or ultrasound to guide the needle. A core biopsy involves obtaining a sample of tissue with a thick needle or by inserting a thin, lighted tube (laparoscope) into a small incision in the abdomen. Another biopsy method is to remove tissue during an operation.
Chronic (Chronicity)
Usually referring to chronic illness: Illness extending over a long period of time.
Cobalamin (B12, B-12, Cobalamine, Vitamin B12)
Essential for normal growth and functioning of all body cells, especially those of bone marrow (red blood cell formation), gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, it prevents pernicious anemia and plays a crucial part in the reproduction of every cell of the body i.e. synthesis of genetic material (DNA).
Diarrhea
Excessive discharge of contents of bowel.
Gastric
Of, relating to, or associated with the stomach.
Gastritis
Inflammation of the stomach lining. White blood cells move into the wall of the stomach as a response to some type of injury; this does not mean that there is an ulcer or cancer - it is simply inflammation, either acute or chronic. Symptoms depend on how acute it is and how long it has been present. In the acute phase, there may be pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting. In the chronic phase, the pain may be dull and there may be loss of appetite with a feeling of fullness after only a few bites of food. Very often, there are no symptoms at all. If the pain is severe, there may be an ulcer as well as gastritis.
Giardiasis (Giardia)
An intestinal tract infection caused by Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoa now common to much of the world. It is not normally a very serious infection, but nevertheless unpleasant.
Gram (gm, gms, Gramme, Grammes, Grams)
A metric unit of weight, there being approximately 28 grams in one ounce.
Helicobacter Pylori (Pylori)
H. pylori is a bacterium that is found in the stomach which, along with acid secretion, damages stomach and duodenal tissue, causing inflammation and peptic ulcers. Although most people will never have symptoms or problems related to the infection, they may include: dull, 'gnawing' pain which may occur 2-3 hours after a meal, come and go for several days or weeks, occur in the middle of the night when the stomach is empty and be relieved by eating; loss of weight; loss of appetite; bloating; burping; nausea; vomiting.
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)
An inorganic acidic compound, excreted by the stomach, that aids in digestion.
Intrinsic Factor
One of two proteins secreted from the lining of the stomach whose sole purpose is (it seems) to cradle B12 and carry it through the digestive system until it reaches the absorption sites in the last foot of small intestine. There it slips from one protein to the other, and into the cell membranes where its handed over to the specialized blood protein that can carry it safely to the final target tissues (3 times out of 4, the bone marrow). Apparently cyanocobalamin (B12) has "parts that fall off", radicals that twirl around in five directions on three charge potentials, and is generally not very durable.
Milligram (mg, Milligrams)
0.001 or a thousandth of a gram.
Nausea
Symptoms resulting from an inclination to vomit.
Occult Blood
Usually detected through an occult blood test: A test used in screening for blood found in the stool, sputum or urine. The most common test is for hidden blood in the stool, also known as a stool guaiac or hemoccult test, which usually indicates the presence of ulceration or cancer.
Peptic Ulcer (Duodenal Ulcer, Duodenal Ulcers, Gastric Ulcer, Gastric Ulcers, Peptic Ulcers)
A general term for gastric ulcers (stomach) and duodenal ulcers (duodenum), open sores in the stomach or duodenum caused by digestive juices and stomach acid. Most ulcers are no larger than a pencil eraser, but they can cause tremendous discomfort and pain. They occur most frequently in the 60 to 70 age group, and slightly more often in men than in women. Doctors now know that there are two major causes of ulcers: most often patients are infected with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori); others are regular users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which include common products like aspirin and ibuprofen.
Pernicious Anemia
Anemia caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Serum
The cell-free fluid of the bloodstream. It appears in a test tube after the blood clots and is often used in expressions relating to the levels of certain compounds in the blood stream.
Stomach
A hollow, muscular, J-shaped pouch located in the upper part of the abdomen to the left of the midline. The upper end (fundus) is large and dome-shaped; the area just below the fundus is called the body of the stomach. The fundus and the body are often referred to as the cardiac portion of the stomach. The lower (pyloric) portion curves downward and to the right and includes the antrum and the pylorus. The function of the stomach is to begin digestion by physically breaking down food received from the esophagus. The tissues of the stomach wall are composed of three types of muscle fibers: circular, longitudinal and oblique. These fibers create structural elasticity and contractibility, both of which are needed for digestion. The stomach mucosa contains cells which secrete hydrochloric acid and this in turn activates the other gastric enzymes pepsin and rennin. To protect itself from being destroyed by its own enzymes, the stomach’s mucous lining must constantly regenerate itself.
Ulcer (Ulceration, Ulcers)
Lesion on the skin or mucous membrane.
White Blood Cell (WBC, White Blood Cells)
A blood cell that does not contain hemoglobin: a blood corpuscle responsible for maintaining the body's immune surveillance system against invasion by foreign substances such as viruses or bacteria. White cells become specifically programmed against foreign invaders and work to inactivate and rid the body of a foreign substance. White blood cells are composed primarily of neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are either T-cells or B-cells. T-cells (CD3 cells) are divided into T-helper (CD4 cells) and T-suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8 cells) cells.
Last updated: Apr 13, 2008
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