How Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Helicobacter Pylori Infections

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can lead to a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, including acid reflux, belching, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and chest discomfort behind the breastbone. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the treatment approach combines herbal remedies with lifestyle modifications to address both the infection and the body's overall balance.

A core principle of TCM is syndrome differentiation, or identifying specific patterns of disharmony within the body. H. pylori infections are often linked to chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers, and from a TCM perspective, these conditions may fall under several diagnostic categories such as liver-stomach disharmony, spleen-stomach deficiency, stomach yin deficiency, or blood stasis in the stomach network. Each of these syndromes guides the selection of customized herbal formulas tailored to the individual patient's needs.

Scientific studies have shown that certain medicinal herbs commonly used in TCM possess antibacterial properties against H. pylori. These include Panax notoginseng (Sanqi), Coptis chinensis (Huanglian), Scutellaria baicalensis (Huangqin), Taraxacum mongolicum (Pu Gong Ying), and Rheum palmatum (Dahuang)—many of which are known for their heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. These herbs are often incorporated into prescriptions based on modern pharmacological evidence supporting their efficacy against H. pylori.

Beyond herbal therapy, managing H. pylori effectively also involves making key lifestyle changes. Stress reduction plays a crucial role in digestive health, and adopting mindful eating habits—such as practicing portion control and eating meals at regular intervals—can support healing. Additionally, maintaining good hygiene, particularly through the use of separate dining utensils, helps reduce the risk of bacterial transmission. Lifestyle adjustments are therefore considered an essential complement to herbal treatments in TCM protocols for H. pylori.