The big pharmaceutical companies are not telling you everything about Helicobacter pylori, gastritis and ulcers. Peptic ulcers and gastritis are a $10 billion business, and they want it all to themselves. Read on to learn the whole story about H. pylori and gastrointestinal disorders.

Frequently asked questions about H. pylori, gastritis, and peptic ulcers

1. What are Helicobacter pylori, peptic ulcers and gastritis and how are they related?

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral shaped bacterium that lives in the stomach. It has a unique way of adapting to the harsh, acidic environment. Since its discovery back in 1983, it has been studied rather extensively and believed by many in the allopathic medical community to play an important role in the development of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Consequently, there has been a fundamental shift in mainstream ulcer care from the widespread use of antacids (which temporarily alleviated some symptoms, but did nothing to address the root cause of the problem) to the "treatment" of gastritis and ulcers with potent antibiotics intended to kill H. pylori. The results of this approach, however, have been mixed.

H. pylori and its effects on the human body are still very poorly understood. While promoting the use of a combination of two or more strong antibiotics to get rid of H. pylori, the pharmaceutical industry and mainstream medical science still cannot explain why only a small portion of those "infected" with these bacteria ever develop even a single peptic ulcer, while the vast majority of these "infected" individuals fail to develop any symptoms whatsoever. In some countries, as many as 90 percent of the population are "infected" with H. pylori, yet the frequency of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease in these countries is rather limited. The mechanisms of H. pylori transmission and spreading have not been ascertained, either. Nobody seems to know for sure how these bacteria spread from one person to the next.

An untreated or improperly treated peptic ulcer (left) may cause internal bleeding (right) and perforation, leading to life-threatening consequences. Click on the image for a larger picture.

An ulcer is an open sore, or lesion, usually found on the skin or mucous membrane areas of the body. An ulcer in the lining of the stomach or duodenum, where hydrochloric acid and the digestive enzyme called pepsin are present, is called a peptic ulcer (this includes gastric [stomach] and duodenal ulcers). Peptic ulcers occur when the mucous lining of the stomach or duodenum is too weak to protect them against the corrosive action of stomach acid and pepsin.

Ulcers affect about 5 million Americans each year, and more than 40,000 people annually have ulcer-related surgery. More often than not, ulcers occur as a result of an inflammation of the stomach lining called gastritis (when it is the duodenum that gets inflamed, the condition is called duodenitis). Each year, approximately 15,000 people in the US die of ulcer- and gastritis-related complications, the worst of which are an internal bleeding and a phenomenon called perforation. A perforation occurs when an untreated or an improperly treated ulcer eats a hole in the wall of the stomach or duodenum, releasing bacteria and partially digested food through the opening into the sterile abdominal cavity and causing peritonitis - an inflammation of the abdominal cavity and wall.

I wake up every day thinking: is this real?

I received my pine nut oil last Friday, on 4/07/06. I'm writing this to thank you for this wonderful product. I've suffered from a stomach ulcer for over two years. I had this awful burning pain in my stomach 24 hours a day, plus bloating from it. Tried everything, like Prilosac, antacids, Zantac, acid reducers, changing my diet. Nothing worked well. After two days of using the pine nut oil three times a day, I noticed the burning in my stomach wasn't as bad. Now, one week later, it seems to be nonexistent. I can't believe it and wake up every day thinking is this real that after two years of pain, that horrible feeling is gone! Even my stomach bloating is gone. Thank you so very much. This is like a miracle natural cure.
Karen C., Elk Grove, CA

2. What really causes gastritis and peptic ulcers?

Traditionally, it has been thought that lifestyle factors, such as alcohol abuse, physical and emotional stress, unhealthy eating habits and smoking, cause peptic ulcers and gastritis. This approach to the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers/gastritis has been based on many centuries of practical observation and treatment of ulcer and gastritis patients, and is still upheld by many practicing physicians today.

However, in recent years, a popular point of view (which has started to acquire the all-too-familiar features of an official dogma) is that peptic ulcers and gastritis may be caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This theory validates the use of a combination of potent antibiotics and acid-suppressing drugs (also called histamine blockers or proton pump inhibitors) to "treat" ulcers, and is now enthusiastically endorsed by the official medical and pharmaceutical establishment, which has previously ridiculed it for quite a long time after H. pylori was discovered in rural Australia back in 1983. It is, indeed, a very profitable theory for certain synthetic patented drug manufacturers, who make several billion dollars every year from the sales of these drugs.

As you will see from the answer to question 3, the story of H. pylori and its role in the formation of peptic ulcers and gastritis is far from being as simple or straightforward as certain vested interests may try to picture it (for example, only a small minority of people who have H. pylori in their system ever develop a peptic ulcer). In fact, many independent researchers now suggest that the presence of H. pylori in the majority of peptic ulcer patients does not necessarily mean that these bacteria cause ulcers, rather than just add to the severity of the problem. Moreover, there is extensive and mounting evidence of the fact that all of the above-mentioned possible causes of gastroduodenal inflammation and ulceration merely compound the real underlying cause: free radical damage and oxidative stress.^1,2

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All known risk factors for erosive/ulcerative gastric and duodenal disorders (for example, the lifestyle-related factors described above) deplete the natural antioxidant shields of our body and cause a free radical overload. The much discussed Helicobacter pylori bacteria merely contributes to the general free radical overload by producing an enzyme called urease, the action of which eventually leads to the release of more free radicals, causing damage to the epithelium. As a result, the gentle, fragile mucosal lining of the stomach and duodenum becomes one of the first tissues to suffer from the damaging chain reactions induced by free radicals.

Therefore, according to the currently forming new scientific consensus, any effective treatment and prevention of peptic ulcers and gastritis must be based on using the best available natural antioxidant complexes in order to enhance our body's depleted antioxidant shields. One such healing antioxidant complex, abundant in very potent and effective free radical scavengers, is contained in extra virgin pine nut oil.

You made me a believer!

I had severe digestion problems since I was a child. In my twenties, I have developed chronic gastritis, and was later diagnosed with a large stomach ulcer.

My doctor performed testing for H. pylori, but I tested negative. For years, I stayed on Zantac and other acid suppressors. The pain was somewhat relieved, but I have suffered from severe, unstoppable diarrhea, and the ulcer still didn't go away.

Then someone told me about your pine nut oil. I started taking three teaspoonfuls daily, but after two weeks I did not feel any improvement. However, I decided to persevere, since I had no other options left. I also increased the dosage to five teaspoonfuls daily, taking two additional teaspoons of the oil at bedtime.

Boy, am I thankful that I did! Slowly but surely, things started to change. I kept taking the oil, and after two and a half months I asked my doctor to see if the ulcer was still there...

You should have seen the expression on his face when he saw that the ulcer was completely healed. There were no signs of gastritis, either!

You made me a believer. Thank you so much.
Carolyn B., 34, Dallas, Texas

3. So what is the real story with H. Pylori? Isn't it enough just to kill this "bug" to get rid of peptic ulcers and gastritis?

This "kill the bug - get rid of the ulcers" paradigm is nothing but a gross oversimplification of the real facts surrounding the role of Helicobacter pylori in the pathogenesis of gastric inflammation and peptic ulcers.

Unlike regular pathogenic bacteria, H. pylori do not invade the cells of the surrounding tissue, they just "habitate" there. Moreover, in sharp contrast to "regular" pathogenic bacteria, H. pylori do not cause our immune system to eliminate them or develop immunity to a repeated "infection".

In a large percentage of peptic ulcer sufferers, H. pylori is not even present (these cases are called H. pylori-negative). And isn't it interesting that, in spite of being blamed for 90 percent of all duodenal ulcers, H. pylori is never even present in the duodenum?

It is a well-known fact that the number of people who have the H. pylori bacteria present in their gastrointestinal systems far exceeds the number of people who actually develop peptic ulcers. In fact, nowadays as many as 50 percent of Americans (and 90-95 percent of people in some other countries) have H. pylori in their systems, but only a small minority of them ever develop ulcers. On the other hand, many ulcer sufferers (especially those with stomach ulcers) are not affected by H. pylori.

Moreover, an increasing number of doctors and medical researchers, led by Dr. Martin Blaser, President-elect of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and founder of the Foundation for Bacteriology, think that Helicobacter pylori may be protective against gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus, and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and stomach cardia - a particularly deadly form of cancer that is becoming more and more widespread. According to Dr. Martin, H. pylori and humans have co-evolved for many thousands of years, and, until very recently, all humans were colonized by these bacteria. This means that H. pylori must be a long-established part of our normal bacterial flora, or "indigenous biota".

In February 2005, Dr. Martin Blaser has published a landmark article about H. pylori, entitled An Endangered Species in the Stomach, in Scientific American magazine. In this article, he has convincingly demonstrated that the decline of H. pylori in developed countries over the past 100 years has paralleled an upsurge in potentially fatal diseases of the esophagus. Here are some of Dr. Martin's conclusions presented in the article:

"The possibility that this bacterium may actually protect people against diseases of the esophagus has significant implications. For instance, current antibiotic treatments that eradicate H. pylori from the stomach may have to be reconsidered to ensure that the benefits are not outweighed by any potential harm. To fully understand H. pylori's effects on health, researchers must investigate the complex web of interactions between this remarkable microbe and its hosts. Ultimately, the study of H. pylori may help us understand other bacteria that colonize the human body, as well as the evolutionary processes that allow humans and bacteria to develop such intimate relations with one another."¹

Consequently, the jury is still out with regard to the exact role of Helicobacter pylori in health and disease. While there is a possibility that this bacterium plays a certain role in ulcer development, there is also extensive data supporting the opposite point of view: namely, that H. pylori may, under certain adverse circumstances, become a contributing factor to the disease, but not its underlying cause. And, taking into account the mounting evidence of a protective role played by Helicobacter pylori in relation to esophageal diseases, the currently popular medical practice of wholesale eradication of H. pylori by antibiotics may create more serious problems than the ones it is supposed to solve.

Without doubt, this issue requires a lot of additional research before any final conclusions can be drawn. However, it is definitely premature to recommend strong antibiotics as the "default" allopathic cure for peptic ulcers, if only because bacteria tend to develop resistance toward antibiotics, leading to the appearance of new, antibiotic-resistant strains. The strongly negative side effects of antibiotics, namely the extermination of the numerous beneficial strains of bacteria, leading to further damage to the gastrointestinal system, should not be overlooked, either. When a so-called "triple therapy" (two antibiotics plus an acid suppressor) is used, patients are required to take up to 20(!) pills a day. Side effects of "triple therapy" include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dark stools, metallic taste in the mouth, dizziness, headache, and yeast infections in women.

Another serious and potentially life-threatening condition that sometimes develops after the use of antibiotics is called pseudomembranous colitis. On average, it develops in 0.5 to 4 percent of those treated with antibiotics to eliminate peptic ulcers.

As was already noted above, all known risk factors for erosive/ulcerative gastric and duodenal disorders, including smoking, alcohol, stress, and poor diet, deplete the natural antioxidant shields of our body and cause a free radical overload. H. pylori just "adds its two cents" to the total free radical assault on the protective lining of the stomach and the duodenum. Therefore, unless the ulcer treatment addresses the underlying issues of a free radical overload and weakened antioxidant shields, achieving long-term ulcer healing and non-recurrence is simply not possible.

Under normal circumstances, i.e. when the antioxidant status of our body is not compromised or stretched too thin, the natural antioxidant defenses are able to withstand this assault (whether it is caused by H. pylori or not) and keep the fragile gastroduodenal lining from inflammation and ulceration. However, when these antioxidant shields become depleted or otherwise inadequate, our body loses its ability to successfully cope with free radicals, resulting in peptic ulcers. A vivid example of such a situation may often be seen in emergency rooms, where patients who have suffered from head trauma or burns tend to develop peptic ulcers on a massive scale in a matter of days or even hours, because the body is using all of its available antioxidant reserves to fight the life-threatening condition.

The bottom line of this rather long explanation is that the nature and functions of H. pylori are far from being well understood by scientists, but one thing should be clear to any unbiased observer: it definitely should not be viewed simply as a "bug" that must be killed to cure peptic ulcers or gastritis. Yes, it may contribute to the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers, but only as one of many other causative factors. Therefore, the elimination of H. pylori by antibiotics does not guarantee anything, because, if the antioxidant shields of the gastroduodenal mucosa continue to be inadequate, sooner or later it will again fall victim to inflammation and ulceration, and peptic ulcers will return.

4. Has the assumption that peptic ulcers and gastritis are caused by free radicals and oxidative stress been validated by clinical studies?

Yes, there were many studies done worldwide to confirm that peptic ulcers and gastritis are caused and mediated by free radicals, and to justify using natural antioxidants to treat them. All of these studies pointed to the correctness of this assumption, but one of them merits particular attention.

The study in question, entitled The Role of Free Radicals in Peptic Ulcers and Gastritis,² took place in Turkey in 2003, and covered 42 people. In a total group of 42, there were 15 cases of peptic ulcers, 14 cases of gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the stomach), and 13 controls. All 29 patients with peptic ulcers and gastritis were H. pylori-positive.

The study pursued two goals: 1) to verify that peptic ulcers and gastritis are closely related with the activity of free radicals; and 2) to see if there are signs of antioxidant depletion in the affected tissues. The findings of the study have clearly confirmed that oxygen-derived free radicals that can initiate membrane damage by lipid peroxidation do play a major pathological role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers and gastritis .

Many other unbiased researchers in the United States and worldwide have come to the same conclusions. For example, in 2000 a group of Indian scientists has shown that infection with H.pylori is associated with generation of free radicals, which leads to oxidative stress in the gastric mucosa.³ Another group of scientists, which has studied the role of glutathione in the anti-ulcer effect of black tea, showed that GSH plays a major role in cytoprotection against ulceration.⁴   Finally, a number of studies have investigated the influence of free radical scavengers (antioxidants) on the healing of gastric and duodenal ulcers resistant to therapy and found that antioxidative therapy stimulates the healing of therapy-resistant ulcers.⁵
All of these studies clearly confirm that gastric and duodenal ulcers are primarily caused by oxidative stress and free radical damage. If our diet is supplemented by natural antioxidants, we provide the stomach lining with the much-needed protection from the ulcer-causing effects of free radicals. As was already noted above, particularly good results with alleviating gastric pain and eventually healing gastritis and peptic ulcers have been achieved with the use of extra virgin pine nut oil.

5. What is Extra virgin pine nut oil (EVPO)? How does it work to heal gastritis and peptic ulcers?

Most pine nuts contain a fairly large amount of edible oil – up to 60% of their total weight. In Russia and China, it has been traditionally cold-pressed from pine nuts collected from wild-growing pines by a delicate process using unique wooden oil presses. The resulting richly fragrant, golden-colored oil with a delicious nutty flavor is called extra virgin pine nut oil (EVPO).

Extra virgin pine nut oil has a very long history of therapeutic use in Russian and Chinese traditional medicine to treat peptic ulcers and optimize digestion and metabolism. It is an outstanding concentrate of powerful free radical scavengers fully capable of preventing or reversing even the strongest oxidative stress leading to gastritis and peptic ulcers. Many centuries of documented remedial use of extra virgin pine nut oil, confirmed by recent clinical studies, convincingly prove that it is an effective and permanent natural stomach lining healer.

6. Does extra virgin pine nut oil relieve ulcer- and gastritis-related abdominal pain?

Yes, it does. In some patients, pain relief comes practically right away. In a recent clinical study of 25 peptic ulcer and 5 chronic gastritis sufferers, abdominal pain was completely gone in all 30 patients after 21 days of pine nut oil use.

The oil worked so fast I almost couldn't believe it

I am a cab driver from New York City. For years now, I have been suffering from chronic gastritis, and recently it got worse: I was diagnosed with a large gastric ulcer.

My doctor put me on triple therapy (two antibiotics plus a prescription antacid), but the ulcer did not go away. In fact, I started feeling worse because of the side effects that included severe diarrhea and vomiting. I tried a number of home remedies, too, but nothing seemed to work.

I almost gave up hope, and started thinking about surgery. Then, a friend of mine from Queens told me about extra virgin pine nut oil. I was in so much pain I was ready to try almost anything, so I ordered a bottle. And in just a week - what a turnaround!

I took a teaspoon of oil three times a day, and my symptoms started improving virtually on day one. After five weeks of taking pine nut oil, I felt so good that I decided to have my doctor do an endoscopy. He was very sceptical, but - guess what! - I was right. The ulcer was completely healed.

I would like to thank you guys for bringing this wondeful product to the United States. Keep up the good work!
David F., 47, New York City

your gastric pain and start healing your stomach lining today. To order ulcer- and gastritis-healing extra virgin Siberian pine nut oil for just $29.95 and take advantage of our limited-time flat rate shipping offer, press the Order Now button below:

7. Were there any clinical studies performed to ascertain the effectiveness of extra virgin pine nut oil as a peptic ulcer and gastritis remedy?

Yes, there was extensive scientific research and many clinical studies conducted to this effect in both Russia and China.

In one recent 30-patient clinical study conducted in Russia in 2002, after 21 days of treatment stomach pain caused by peptic ulcers, as well as dyspeptic abnormalities (such as nausea, heartburn, and vomiting), were completely alleviated in all 30 patients. According to the results of gastroduodenoscopy performed on all patients 21 days after the treatment, 10 patients have experienced a complete healing of all gastric ulcers. In all of the remaining 15 patients with erosive/ulcerative disorders the gastroduodenal inflammation has become considerably less pronounced, with a corresponding drastic decrease in the size of the ulcers. Additionally, there has been a 50 percent decrease in the number of patients with duodenogastric reflux.

The effectiveness of extra virgin pine nut oil in the treatment and prevention of peptic ulcers and gastritis was also established in several additional studies conducted in Russia and China. On the basis of these studies it was concluded that pine nut oil has a strong curative effect on patients with peptic ulcers and gastritis, is well tolerated by patients, and may be used effectively for the treatment of peptic ulcers as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) remedy, especially when acute pain is experienced. For a sustained therapeutic effect, it was recommended to administer pine nut oil on a daily basis until a lasting improvement is achieved (usually for 2 to 4 weeks), and repeat the treatment course as needed. It is recommended to take one teaspoon (5 ml) of pine nut oil three times a day 30 to 60 minutes before a meal. Currently, in Russia and China, as well as in several Eastern European countries, extra virgin pine nut oil has been officially approved as an effective peptic ulcer and gastritis remedy.

8. Is your Extra virgin pine nut oil 100% natural?

Yes, it surely is. We start with the choicest pine nuts obtained from the pristine forests of Siberia, where they are harvested in full conformity with the USDA Organic Standards. Our state-of-the-art oil pressing operation uses the latest technology and the most advanced equipment to make sure that all the health benefits of EVPO are brought to you in their fullest, unadulterated form. We use the no-heat, “true cold-pressing” technology achieved through unique oil presses that are made according to traditional Russian designs.

To make sure that you enjoy only the freshest and healthiest pine nut oil available, we use air freight to deliver the fresh-pressed oil to our bottling facility located in the heart of Northern Vermont, USA. There, the oil is carefully poured into bottles and kept in a refrigerated storage facility until ready to ship to our customers. Although extra virgin Siberian pine nut oil is highly resistant to oxidation due to the presence of natural antioxidants, these additional precautions ensure that it is delivered to you in its freshest, most beneficial state.

9. Are there any side effects associated with the use of extra virgin pine nut oil?

No, there are absolutely no side effects. Extra virgin pine nut oil is a traditional, all-natural healing food which has been used in Russia and China for many centuries.

10. My doctor has prescribed antibiotics and antacids for my ulcer. Can I combine extra virgin pine nut oil with these medications?

First of all, although it is a good idea to consult a qualified health professional with any health problem (we think that, in most situations, a naturopathic physician is the best available option), you must be informed that all synthetic antibiotics and stomach acid suppressors have very strong and serious side effects.

For example, the antibiotics prescribed to eliminate Helicobacter pylori may fail to destroy their intended target, but are guaranteed to kill billions upon billions of beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract, effectively annihilating normal gastrointestinal flora. It may take months or even years to bring it back to normal (in some people, it never recovers).

Another serious and potentially life-threatening condition which sometimes develops after the use of antibiotics is called pseudomembranous colitis. On average, it develops in 0.5 to 4 percent of those treated with antibiotics to eliminate peptic ulcers. Additional side effects associated with the use of antibiotics, to name just a few, are severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. The incidence of these side effects currently stands at an alarming 30%.

Synthetic drugs meant to suppress the production of stomach acid have many nasty side effects of their own. It is important to know that, when our stomach loses its ability to produce gastric acid, we become unable to digest protein and assimilate protein-bound vitamins, including vitamin B12. As a result, incompletely digested protein is flushed into the duodenum, leading to food allergies and amino acid deficiencies. A deficiency of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) may lead to macrocytic anemia and has been implicated in a spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders. Additionally, stomach acid suppressors may cause impotence and breast enlargement in men.

If you still decide to undergo a course of antibiotic/acid suppressor therapy, you may (or, rather, should) definitely combine these medications with extra virgin pine nut oil. Pine nut oil will partially offset the negative consequences of synthetic drugs and provide important pain relief and healing benefits of its own.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Your oil literally worked wonders for me. For years, I was suffering from recurring duodenal ulcers. Doctors tried antibiotics, histamine blockers and proton pump inhibitors, but they all only helped temporarily, if at all.

Then, I felt like I couldn't take it any more. Although my doctor kept telling me that emotional stress has nothing to do with my ulcers, somehow I thought otherwise. So, I decided to get away from it all and take a three-week vacation in Vermont.

21 days and 2 bottles of your pine nut oil later, I felt like I was born again! My ulcers have been completely cured, and they have not come back for more than three years now. I still take a spoon of pine nut oil in the morning to protect my stomach lining and prevent inflammation.

Your oil is wonderful. I can't thank you enough.
Jennifer L., 55, Boston, Massachusetts

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