Fire in the Belly...or Belly on Fire?

It feels like molten lava rising from the belly up into to the throat, then into the mouth and nose, scalding everything in its path. This is the unwelcome experience of acid reflux. GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is serious business. I mean that literally. Pharmaceutical houses generate a significant portion of their income from medications designed to suppress stomach acid. But, is that the answer for those who suffer?

Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori for short, is a bacterium that inhabits the stomach. It looks a little bit like a corkscrew with the main rotor of a helicopter on top. This allows it to drill itself deep into the mucous lining of the stomach. H. pylori is resistant to heat, stomach acid and antibiotic therapy. It causes ulcers, gastritis and GERD, and has been shown to increase the risk gastric, lymphoma, and possibly pancreatic cancer. H. pylori secretes an enzyme that allows it to live in the harsh environment of the stomach.

Australian researchers Barry J. Marshall, M.D., and J. Robin Warren, M.D. won the Nobel Prize in 2005 for demonstrating the role of H. pylori in ulcer formation. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors and other medical interventions fails to help a high percentage of those afflicted. I spent the last two weekends reading about natural methods that show some promise of helping the multitudes of people who suffer with burning in the GI tract. If antacid (Rolaids, TUMS, Pepto Bismol, etc.) sales are any indicator, the little devil is adapting just fine to new medicines.

I did find an herbal combination online in tea form that has worked quite well for me and my wife. Yes, I experiment on myself before recommending things to my patients. Unlike the heroic Dr. Marshall, I didn't have to infect myself intentionally with H. pylori to prove a point to skeptical colleagues. No, I became infected un-intentionally!

Like Candida albicans, the troublesome yeast that most of us are born with, H. pylori is easy to acquire. Food, water and sexual contact--including kissing--can allow H. Pylori to get into the body. Even the temperatures used to fry chicken may not be enough to kill it. Many people are hosts to both H. pylori and Candida.

According to my reading, once someone has been infected with H. pylori for two years or more, the bacterium tends to be found in the gall bladder as well as the stomach and intestine. So, we had to do a gall bladder flush, as well. But my wife and I are both feeling better. It gets complicated, doesn't it?

I mentioned earlier that there are some natural treatment, and that one herbal combination has a great track record. That herbal combination, unfortunately, is a bit pricey. Which leads me to my next seminar...

The Herbal Seminar I'm Taking This Weekend

From 8 to 5 this Saturday, I'll be studying with Australian herbal expert, Dr. Kerry Bone. His company, MediHerb, is part of the Standard Process company. I use their supplements in my practice for everything from allergies to zinc deficiencies: anything related to healing, digesting, detoxifying and strengthening organs. The Standard Process and MediHerb supplements are favorites of mine because they are purely and naturally made, highly effective and reasonably priced.

The seminar will be on using herbs to help in three major areas:

• Adrenal issues
• Tissue repair and regeneration
• Intestinal health and related health issues