Manuka Honey, H Pylori & Stomach Disorders

A few days ago I started using active Manuka Honey to see if I can stop, once and for all, my ongoing stomach pain problems. These I have had since I was 19 and I'm now 48.

I should add that I eat a very balanced, mostly organic, diet. I rarely eat junk food, I drink alcohol about 4 times a year and rarely drink fizzy drinks, eat sweets or fatty foods etc. I only use olive oil to cook with and mostly steam or bake my food (not fry). I have never smoked or drank to excess.

My diet is not and has never been the cause of my problem.

I have taken Pariet (a proton pump inhibitor) for many years now as a maintenance device, as if I don't I'm immediately in horrible pain, as well as often feeling sick (due to excess acid and the pain mostly). Also, even while taking the Pariet, I only have to sniff asprin, or any asprin related drug like NSAIDS, and it starts.

As I was not offered the simple Urea Breath Test to see if I have H Pylori or not (please see previous post), I decided not to wait to discuss endoscopies with a consultant (not required anyway in this instance and in my case dangerous as I have severe sleep apnea and choke during the procedure, meaning I stop breathing, as it involves an anesthetic).

Taking the Active Manuka Honey has zero side effects, unless you are diabetic or allergic to honey, in which case you can't take it. So it's 100% safe for me.

It slowly, over a period of between 2 and 4 months, kills off all the H Pylori bacteria totally. Which means no more pain !

The only draw back is the cost, about €40 for a weeks supply of the 400+/20+ strength. This is the strongest version I have found around where I live in Ireland.

I will report here as to how I am improving with it (I am positive and I really would like this to solve my stomach problems).

About 30 minutes before every meal, I eat 1 good teaspoon of the honey on about an inch square of bread. The bread is important to keep the honey in your stomach longer, to keep it working there longer. I also take 1 dose in the same way, just before bed.

I am still taking the Pariet, as this does not affect the action of the Manuka Honey in any way, and complementary practitioners will mostly advise that you continue with it through the treatment until cured.

There is another complementary medicine alternative to this treatment for killing off H Pylori, called Mastika. You buy this in capsule form from a good health food store and take several capsules each day.

If this doesn't work for me, then I don't have H Pylori and I will know for certain that my stomach problems were caused by the high dose asprin I took for Stills Disease (a form of juvenille RA) throughout my young childhood.

Helicobacter Pylori & The Urea Breath Test

My latest run-in with NSAIDS (Mobic this time) has caused my stomach to act up again (I had duodenal ulcers from age 19).

So, thinking that with my history there is a good chance I have H Pylori bacteria in my stomach, I asked my GP to test for it. I was told that she would have to refer me to my gastrointestinal consultant and he would do an endoscopy (which would include a biopsy) to see if I had H Pylori.

This is utter madness.

In the UK (and almost all other countries) H Pylori is tested for using a simple test in a GP's surgery or even in some pharmacies. It is called a Urea Breath Test and costs a maximum of £20 to the GP & the NHS in the UK, so about €25 here. This is the accepted industry standard first line of testing for H Pylori. And it is incredibly accurate and easy to administer. No anesthetics, no consultant, no invasive procedure which is horrendous for the patient.

The HSE are causing patients much distress and using an invasive procedure when a very simple 30 minute test would suffice.

WHY ?

One can only assume to make more money for the consultants and anesthetists etc.... because there can be no other reason. Any excuse they might make is just that, twaddle to perpetuate a third world health service.

Mary Harney would do well to read this blog, and try saving the HSE hundred's of thousands of pounds every year, if not millions. GPs can diagnose and treat H Pylori in the stomach (at least 80% of ulcers and excess acid etc are caused by this, and even probably stomach cancer. FACT).

A consultant is only actually required when the industry standard 1 week triple therapy fails (3 drugs, 2 antibiotics and 1 proton pump inhibitor, which often kill off the H Pylori).

So - Ms Harney - any chance of introducing the Urea Breath Test into Ireland so that the GPs can diagnose and treat patients efficiently, simply and cheaply ?

Any chance you might like to save the HSE a massive amount of money ?

I wonder...