A Functional Medicine Protocol for Gastritis

Gastritis is a condition of the stomach lining. Acute gastritis is common, with eight out of every 1,000 people having it. Chronic gastritis is less common, occurring in two out of every 10,000 people. This article will discuss what gastritis is, including its symptoms and causes. We’ll then discuss functional medicine testing and treatments that may be effective for gastritis.

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What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is defined as inflammation of the stomach lining. The stomach lining functions to protect the stomach tissues from the acid that breaks down foods. When there are insults to the stomach lining, it may begin to break down, and inflammation can occur.

Gastritis Symptoms

Gastritis symptoms can vary from person to person. They may be similar to other conditions, so it's important to always see a medical provider to ensure the proper diagnosis. Common symptoms of gastritis include:

• Burning or feeling of fullness in the stomach
• Stomach pain and bloating
• Skin conditions and rashes
• Burping and hiccups
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach bleeding, including blood in vomit or stool

Gastritis Causes

Diet and lifestyle habits, health issues, and diseases can cause gastritis.

Diet and Lifestyle Causes

Common diet and lifestyle causes of gastritis include consuming foods you are allergic to or sensitive to, excessive alcohol intake, smoking, and high stress levels. The chronic use of pain and fever-lowering medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids are also causes of gastritis.

Health Issues and Other Diseases

Past surgeries, traumatic injuries, and burns may cause gastritis, often from the high stress associated with the health issue. Bacterial and viral infections can also lead to gastritis. Specifically, the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most common cause of gastritis worldwide.

Other diseases, including chronic bile reflux, pernicious anemia, and autoimmune disorders, can also be at the root of gastritis.

If gastritis is not correctly treated, it can lead to gastric polyps, stomach tumors, and peptic ulcer disease.

Functional Medicine Labs to Test for Root Cause of Gastritis

Integrative medicine practitioners commonly use specialty labs to find the root cause of disease. Below are the most commonly run labs on gastritis patients.

Comprehensive Stool Test

A comprehensive stool test such as Diagnostic Solutions GI-MAP test can be helpful in order to get to the root cause of gastritis. The GI-MAP tests for the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria often indicated in gastritis. Not only does it test for the presence of the bacteria, but it also tests for virulence factors. Virulence factors help H. pylori attach to and damage its host. H. pylori has numerous virulence factors, and knowing if any are present allows for a targeted treatment plan that will most likely have a high success rate. GI-MAP also tests for inflammation and takes an in-depth look at the microbiome, a collective group of organisms that aid in digestion and absorption, immune function, and more.

Food Allergy and Sensitivity testing

A food sensitivity panel that assesses both food allergies (IgE) and sensitivities (IgG), such as the 88 Food Antigen IgE/IgG4 & IgG test, may aid in getting to the root cause of gastritis. Food allergies and sensitivities can lead to inflammation and irritation within the GI tract, including the stomach, and thus lead to gastritis.

Stress Testing

As high levels of stress can cause gastritis, testing the body's primary stress hormone, cortisol, may be indicated. ZRT Laboratories offers an Adrenal Stress Profile that will assess cortisol levels throughout the day, as well as DHEA, another stress hormone.

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Additional Labs to Test

Other testing may include an upper endoscopy, where a tube is inserted into the mouth and shows what the lining of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and the beginning of the small intestine look like. A biopsy, or a small piece of tissue, can also be taken for further examination. An x-ray called an upper GI series or barium swallow may also be done. This x-ray series shows the same areas as an upper endoscopy.

Functional Medicine Protocol for Gastritis Treatment

Functional medicine treatments use diet and supplementation to heal gastritis at its root causes. Below are the top evidence-based treatments that functional medicine practitioners use:

Therapeutic Diet and Nutrition Considerations for Gastritis

If food sensitivity and allergy testing are done, food allergies should be removed completely. Food sensitivities should be removed for six weeks to three months, as it can take up to three months for the cessation of the creation of antibodies to occur. After that period of time, retesting or food reintroductions can be done. For food reintroduction, typically, one food is reintroduced at a time. Patients will be advised to watch for symptoms up to three days after the reintroduction to see if a sensitivity is still present.

In the absence of food sensitivities and allergies, a high fiber, nutrient-rich anti-inflammatory diet may be recommended. Avoiding common food triggers such as coffee, acidic foods, spicy foods, processed sugars, alcohol, nitrates, and overly processed foods can also aid in healing the stomach lining.

Supplements Protocol for Gastritis

The following are supplements commonly used to manage this condition. However, it’s vital to individualize treatment based on lab results.

Marshmallow Root

Marshmallow root, Althaea officinalis, has been used medicinally for thousands of years. The active property of marshmallow root is mucilage, a soothing substance. Mucilage can soothe the tissues of the stomach. Marshmallow root can be taken as a tincture, tea, or capsule.

Dose: 30-40 drops of tincture in water; several glasses of tea per day; 6g of powdered root in divided doses per day

Duration: Until symptoms subside or retesting confirms stabilization of markers

Licorice

Glycyrrhiza glabra, commonly referred to as licorice, has been historically used as a medicinal plant. A form of licorice called deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is more widely used, as this form does not contain a blood pressure raising component that regular licorice contains. DGL has been shown to heal the gastrointestinal lining by increasing blood flow to the damaged area, increasing mucus producing cells and the amount of mucus the cells produce, and increasing the lifespan of the intestinal cell. Several studies have also shown DGL’s effectiveness against H. pylori infections.

Dose: 760mg -1,520 mg between or before meals

Duration: 8-16 weeks depending on symptoms

Zinc Carnosine

Zinc carnosine is a combination of the mineral zinc and l-carnosine. Both zinc and l-carnosine have repair properties, but it is thought that the combination of them is superior to each in isolation. Zinc carnosine can promote the healing of damaged tissues of the GI tract, including the stomach lining. Additionally, a randomized control study showed that zinc carnosine, in combination with the standard of care triple antibiotic therapy for H. pylori eradication, is superior to triple antibiotic therapy alone.

Dose: 75 mg once or twice a day

Duration: Until symptoms start to improve or lab markers stabilize. For H.pylori specifically, retesting should be done to confirm eradication.

Ashwagandha

If stress, and thus cortisol levels, are at the root of gastritis, Ashwangdha may be able to help. Ashwagandha is a botanical that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Ashwagadha is classified as an adaptogen which are botanicals that help the body to adapt to stress. A study on chronically stressed adults given ashwagandha had lower cortisol levels after the treatment.

Dose: 300 mg per day

Duration: 60 days

When to Retest Labs for Gastritis

Comprehensive gastrointestinal tract and food sensitivity testing are usually redone 6-12 weeks after initiating treatments.

Stress/cortisol testing may be done 3-6 months after testing.

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Summary

Gastritis is a common condition that may be due to lifestyle factors, health habits, and underlying diseases. Functional medicine can help get to the root cause of certain causes of gastritis by assessing gastrointestinal functioning, food allergies and sensitivities, and stress markers. Functional medicine treatments, including diet and supplementation, can then be applied in a personalized fashion in order to resolve gastritis.