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Alex Manos | 20 Nov 2025 | Gut Health

Natural treatments For H. Pylori

By Alex Manos

Natural Treatments for H. pylori: Evidence-Based Solutions for Lasting Stomach Health

If you’ve been diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), you’re far from alone. This spiral-shaped bacterium has infected more than half of the world’s population, making it one of the most widespread infections on the planet. While many people carry H. pylori without symptoms, for millions of others, this persistent pathogen becomes the root cause of chronic digestive complaints, painful ulcers, and even life-threatening complications like gastric cancer.

As a functional medicine practitioner, I’ve witnessed firsthand how devastating H. pylori infections can be—and how frustratingly inadequate conventional treatments often are. Standard antibiotic therapy fails in up to 30-40% of cases in some regions, and even when it works, the side effects can be debilitating. Patients frequently come to me after multiple failed treatment rounds, searching desperately for alternatives that actually work.

The good news? Emerging research reveals that natural compounds can play a powerful role in eradicating H. pylori—either as standalone therapies or as synergistic additions to conventional treatment. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the science behind the most effective natural treatments, explain exactly how they work, and show you how to integrate them into a strategic protocol that addresses this infection at its root.

But before we dive in I do want to address an important point. If around half of the worlds population have it, should we even refer to it as an infection/pathogen? Would it more accurate to consider the bacterium within the context of the host – i.e you or I? After all, if it’s been hanging out in the stomach without causing any issues, and then suddenly it is causing issues, would that not suggest it’s less about the bacterium and more about the relationship between the bacteria and us? This blog is relevant for those with an ‘active infection’ where, based on symptoms and test results, eradication is thought to be the best approach.

Understanding H. pylori: Why This Infection is So Difficult to Treat

Before we dive into solutions, it’s crucial to understand a little more about H. pylori. This bacterium isn’t just sitting passively in your stomach—it’s actively adapting and defending itself using sophisticated survival mechanisms.

H. pylori produces an enzyme called urease that neutralises stomach acid around it, creating a protective alkaline microenvironment. This allows it to thrive where other bacteria would be destroyed instantly. Once established, it burrows into the protective mucus layer of your stomach lining and forms biofilms—complex structures that shield it from both your immune system and antibiotics.

The consequences of chronic H. pylori infection extend far beyond temporary discomfort. This pathogen causes progressive damage to the gastric mucosa, leading to:

Chronic gastritis with persistent inflammation.
Peptic ulcers in the stomach and duodenum.
Nutrient malabsorption, particularly vitamin B12 and iron.
Increased gastric cancer risk—the World Health Organization classifies H. pylori as a Class 1 carcinogen.
Functional digestive symptoms including bloating, nausea, and early satiety.

Many of my patients have suffered for years with vague digestive complaints before finally getting tested and discovering H. pylori was the culprit all along. The longer this infection persists untreated, the more damage accumulates.

Why Conventional Treatment Falls Short

The current medical standard for H. pylori eradication is “triple therapy”—a combination of two antibiotics (typically clarithromycin and amoxicillin or metronidazole) plus a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to reduce stomach acid. In resistant cases, “quadruple therapy” adds bismuth to the mix.

While these regimens were once highly effective, success rates have been steadily declining. Antibiotic resistance, particularly to clarithromycin, now exceeds 30% in many countries. This means nearly one in three patients will fail first-line treatment. Second and third attempts carry their own challenges:

Severe side effects including diarrhoea, nausea, metallic taste, and antibiotic-associated colitis.
Gut microbiome disruption that can take months or years to recover.
Treatment resistance that develops with each failed attempt.
Recurrence rates of 10-15% even after successful eradication

This is where natural therapies shine—not as replacements for medical treatment in serious cases, but as powerful adjuncts that improve success rates while minimising collateral damage.

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The Evidence-Based Natural Approach to H. pylori Eradication

Mastic Gum: Nature’s Most Potent Anti-H. pylori Agent

If I could recommend only one natural treatment for H. pylori, it would be mastic gum. This resinous extract from the Pistacia lentiscus tree has been used for centuries in Mediterranean medicine, but modern science has now validated its remarkable antimicrobial properties.

The Research: Laboratory studies demonstrate that mastic gum has direct bactericidal activity against H. pylori at concentrations as low as 0.06 mg/mL, and it works regardless of whether the strain is antibiotic-resistant. In one randomised clinical trial, patients taking 350mg of mastic gum three times daily showed significant improvements in H. pylori eradication. More impressively, a 2023 study found that adding mastic gum to standard triple therapy increased eradication rates from 63.3% to an impressive 92.2%.

How it works: Mastic gum contains bioactive triterpenes that disrupt the bacterial cell membrane, causing structural damage that makes H. pylori unable to survive. Unlike antibiotics that target specific metabolic pathways (allowing resistance to develop), mastic gum’s physical disruption of the cell membrane makes resistance far less likely.

What makes it essential: Beyond its direct antibacterial effects, mastic gum reduces inflammation in the gastric lining and supports healing of damaged tissue. Patients consistently report improvement in symptoms like stomach pain, burning, and indigestion within days of starting supplementation.

Recommended Product: Mastic Gum

My clinical experience aligns perfectly with this research. I’ve seen patients who failed multiple rounds of antibiotics achieve complete eradication with a protocol that includes high-quality mastic gum. The key is using a pharmaceutical-grade extract at the right dosage—typically 1,000-2,000mg daily split into multiple doses.

Probiotics: Protecting Your Gut While Fighting Infection

One of the most frustrating aspects of H. pylori treatment is watching patients clear the infection only to develop secondary problems from antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis. This is where strategic probiotic supplementation becomes absolutely essential.

The Research: A comprehensive 2024 meta-analysis of hundreds of randomised controlled trials found that adding probiotics to standard H. pylori therapy significantly increased eradication rates while reducing adverse effects. Specifically, probiotics reduced the incidence of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and taste disturbances—the very side effects that cause many patients to abandon treatment.

The most effective probiotic strains include:

Lactobacillus reuteri (particularly the Pylopass strain)
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Bifidobacterium species
Saccharomyces boulardii

How they work: Beneficial bacteria compete with H. pylori for adhesion sites in the stomach, produce antimicrobial compounds that directly inhibit bacterial growth, modulate immune responses to enhance H. pylori clearance, and restore healthy gut microbiome balance disrupted by antibiotics.

Recommended Product: Pylopass

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC): Breaking Through Bacterial Defences

Here’s a problem most practitioners overlook: H. pylori doesn’t just exist as individual bacteria floating in your stomach. It forms biofilms—dense, protective matrices that antibiotics struggle to penetrate. This is one major reason why treatment fails.

The Research: A groundbreaking clinical trial found that pretreating patients with NAC before antibiotic therapy increased H. pylori eradication rates from 20% to 65%—more than tripling success. A 2021 systematic review confirmed that NAC destabilises biofilm structure, acts synergistically with antibiotics, and has independent bactericidal effects.

How it works: NAC cleaves disulfide bonds in the mucus glycoproteins that form biofilm structures, essentially “dissolving” the protective shield around H. pylori colonies. This makes the bacteria vulnerable to both antibiotics and your immune system. Additionally, NAC reduces the thickness of the gastric mucus layer (where H. pylori hides), supports glutathione production for antioxidant defence, and helps repair oxidative damage in the stomach lining.

Recommended Product: NAC

Black Cumin Seed Oil: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science

Black cumin seed oil (Nigella sativa) has been revered in traditional medicine systems for millennia, often called “the remedy for everything but death.” Modern research is now confirming its specific value in H. pylori treatment.

The Research: Clinical trials demonstrate that black cumin seed, when used alongside standard therapy, enhances eradication rates and improves gastric symptoms. The key active compound, thymoquinone, has been shown to disrupt H. pylori cell membranes and exert potent anti-inflammatory effects on the gastric mucosa.

How it works: Thymoquinone penetrates bacterial cell membranes causing structural damage, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines that contribute to gastritis, supports healing of ulcerated tissue, and provides antioxidant protection against H. pylori-induced oxidative stress.

Recommended Product: Black Cumin Seed Oil

Ginger: More Than Just a Digestive Soother

While ginger is often dismissed as merely a folk remedy for nausea, research reveals it has legitimate antimicrobial activity against H. pylori alongside its well-known digestive benefits.

The Research: Laboratory studies show that ginger extracts, particularly the bioactive compounds gingerols and shogaols, can inhibit H. pylori growth and reduce inflammatory markers in gastric tissue. While clinical trials in humans are still limited, the safety profile and traditional use make ginger a valuable addition to any H. pylori protocol.

How it works: Gingerols and shogaols inhibit H. pylori growth through multiple mechanisms, reduce stomach inflammation and nausea (common H. pylori symptoms), support digestive motility to prevent bacterial overgrowth, and provide antioxidant protection.

Recommended Product: Organic Ginger

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The Mediterranean diet’s protective effects against gastric disease may be partly explained by extra virgin olive oil’s anti-H. pylori properties.

The Research: Studies demonstrate that polyphenolic compounds in high-quality extra virgin olive oil—particularly hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein—have antimicrobial activity against H. pylori strains. Even more fascinating, olive oil polyphenols remain stable in the acidic stomach environment, maintaining their antibacterial effects exactly where they’re needed.

How it works: Regular consumption of extra virgin olive oil provides ongoing antimicrobial pressure against H. pylori, reduces inflammation in the gastric lining, supports healing of damaged mucosa, and delivers cardiovascular and metabolic benefits.

Additional Supportive Therapies

While the treatments above form the core of an evidence-based natural protocol, several other compounds show promise:

Cranberry extract contains proanthocyanidins that prevent H. pylori from adhering to stomach tissue—essentially making the bacteria unable to establish infection. Studies suggest it may be particularly useful for preventing reinfection after successful eradication.

Manuka honey has demonstrated direct antibacterial effects against H. pylori in laboratory studies, along with tissue-healing properties that support recovery of damaged gastric mucosa.

Zinc and Vitamin C support immune function and tissue repair, making them valuable adjuncts during and after treatment. Many H. pylori-infected patients are deficient in these nutrients due to chronic inflammation and impaired absorption.

Integrating Natural and Conventional Approaches: The Best of Both Worlds

Let me be clear: in cases of active peptic ulcers, severe gastritis, or high cancer risk, conventional antibiotic therapy remains the gold standard and should not be delayed. However, the integration of natural therapies with medical treatment offers the most comprehensive approach to H. pylori eradication.

My recommended integrative protocol:

Pre-treatment phase (7-14 days). Begin NAC to start breaking down biofilms, add high-dose probiotics to establish beneficial flora, and incorporate mastic gum for its antimicrobial effects.
During antibiotic therapy. Continue all natural treatments alongside prescribed antibiotics, add ginger for nausea management, and maintain probiotics (dosed separately from antibiotics).
Post-treatment recovery (8-12 weeks). Continue probiotics to restore gut microbiome, maintain mastic gum to prevent recurrence, add olive oil and cranberry extract for ongoing protection. Support tissue healing with zinc and vitamin C.

This integrative approach consistently delivers better outcomes in my practice than either conventional or natural treatment alone. Patients experience higher eradication rates, fewer side effects, faster symptom relief, and lower recurrence.

In milder cases, which arguably is the majority of cases, antibiotics may not be necessary and some of the additional supplements discussed above can be introduced. I have seen countless clients eradicate H. Pylori taking a completely ‘natural’ approach.

Testing and Monitoring: Confirming Success

Regardless of which treatment approach you choose, proper testing is essential. I recommend:

Pre-treatment testing: Stool antigen test, urea breath test, or endoscopy with biopsy to confirm active H. pylori infection.
Post-treatment testing: Repeat testing 4-6 weeks after completing therapy to confirm eradication (stool antigen and breath tests are most reliable for follow-up).
Symptom monitoring: Keep track of symptom changes throughout treatment to assess clinical response.

Don’t assume treatment worked based on symptom improvement alone—H. pylori can remain present even when symptoms resolve, continuing to cause silent damage.

Taking Action: Your Next Steps

H. pylori infection is not something to ignore or simply “live with.” Left untreated, it causes progressive damage that increases your risk of serious complications including ulcers, bleeding, and gastric cancer. But with the right approach—combining evidence-based natural therapies with medical treatment when appropriate—complete eradication is absolutely achievable.

Your stomach health is foundational to your overall wellbeing. Digestive symptoms that have plagued you for months or years can resolve completely when we address their root cause. And that root cause could be H. pylori. With the right treatment approach, lasting relief is within reach.

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