Gastritis

Gastritis: Overview

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 and 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 and Symptoms

Some people do not have symptoms, but if present then they usually include one or more of:

Diagnosis and 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

Gastritis

Information On This Page
Signs and symptoms Conditions that suggest it Contributing risk factors Recommendations

Signs, symptoms & indicators of Gastritis:

Symptoms - Abdomen

Epigastric pain is often a sign or symptom of GastritisEpigastric pain

Symptoms - Bowel Movements

(Very) frequent stools may be a sign or symptom of Gastritis(Very) frequent stools

Symptoms - Food - General

Weak/loss of appetite is often a sign or symptom of GastritisWeak/loss of appetite

Symptoms - Gas-Int - General

Frequent unexplained nausea is often a sign or symptom of GastritisRegular/occasional/frequent unexplained nausea
Frequent unexplained vomiting is often a sign or symptom of GastritisRegular/occasional/frequent unexplained vomiting

Conditions that suggest Gastritis:

Digestion

Gastric/Peptic/Duodenal Ulcers often suggests GastritisGastric/Peptic/Duodenal Ulcers
Severe inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis) can result in ulceration.

Risk factors for Gastritis:

Supplements and Medications

Regular/frequent aspirin use often increases risk of GastritisRegular/frequent aspirin use

Recommendations for Gastritis:

Botanical

Neem is highly recommended for GastritisNeem
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 is highly recommended for GastritisMastic 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]
Roberts Formula often helps with GastritisRobert's Formula
See the link between Gastritis and Slippery Elm.

Digestion

Hydrochloric Acid (Trial) often helps with GastritisHydrochloric 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.

Drug

Antibiotics is highly recommended for GastritisAntibiotics
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.

Lab Tests/Rule-Outs

Test for Helicobacter Pylori Infection is highly recommended for GastritisTest for Helicobacter Pylori Infection

Mineral

Calcium-2AEP may help with GastritisCalcium-2AEP

Oxygen / Oxidative Therapies

Ozone / Oxidative Therapy may help with GastritisOzone / Oxidative Therapy
Cubans are using capsules filled with ozonated oil to treat gastroduodenal ulcers, gastritis, giardia and peptic ulcers.

KEY

Weak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of
Weak or unproven link:
may be a sign or symptom of
Strong or generally accepted link: is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk of
Strong or generally accepted link:
is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk of
May be useful: may help with
May be useful:
may help with
Moderately useful: often helps with
Moderately useful:
often helps with
Very useful: is highly recommended for
Very useful:
is highly recommended for
Last updated: May 05, 2013