Can eradicating h.Pylori get rid of SIBO?

In my practice, I’ve noticed that clients with both h. pylori (bacterial infection of the stomach) and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), experience a huge improvement in digestive symptoms after treating h. pylori only.

I observed this many times with clients, and have now found a scientific explanation for this backed up by three studies.

Low stomach acid, as I’ve written about previously, plays a big role in the development of SIBO.

When you don’t digest your food fully, due to low stomach acid, it feeds bacteria and yeast instead of you.

If you want to know more about the two most common conditions I see among clients, I wrote a guide about h. pylori and a guide about SIBO, full of recipes and remedies for both. In the guides I go deeply into how to address each conditions naturally.

Antibiotics are conventionally used to address both conditions, but can potentially weaken the biome and make things worse by increasing inflammation.

What this means

These findings don’t mean that treating H. pylori only is enough to clear most SIBO infections for everyone. But address H. pylori is often a required to get rid of SIBO. Especially tough and stubborn cases.

For some people, it can get rid of symptoms, and it their body is strong enough, it may be able to clear SIBO by itself.

Clearing SIBO without herbs requires well flowing bile, a strong immune system and often, but not always, nervous system work.

The point is that an active H.pylori infection, (most of them are hidden) could be the reason that SIBO won’t budge.

Getting rid of H.pylori could be the missing link for successful SIBO eradication.

Now, let’s look at other causes of low stomach acid.

Low stomach acid

While things like stress or lack of minerals can also cause low stomach acid, H. pylori is a leading cause. Stress actually flares H. pylori by suppressing immune strength.

When it’s eradicated and stomach acid rebounds, the bacteria in the small intestine slowly starve. And bile, which flow from the liver into the small intestine, acts like an antibacterial agent, clearing out overgrowth. The immune system finishes the job.

Not everyone has healthy bile flow, so liver support may be another part of clearing a tough case of SIBO.

Links to three studies

Below are three scientific studies that validate what I observed with clients.

Study 1 highlights available evidence on the relationship between an H. pylori infection and SIBO, as well as their association with other pathologies.

Study 2 looks at the influence of an H.pylori infection and its eradication on small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Study 3 concludes that an H.pylori infection was associated with higher prevalence of SIBO and IMO (intestinal methane overgrowth), both of which led to more pronounced abdominal symptoms. H. pylori eradication also achieved therapeutic effects on SIBO and IMO accompanied by relief of abdominal symptoms.

The problem with H. pylori testing

Many people with H. pylori, don’t realize they have it because the tests at their doctor’s office frequently produce false negatives. Even biopsies can miss an H. pylori infection if they don’t sample the correct place.

Clients who took the GI Map, were surprised to get a positive result for H. pylori when previous other tests showed negative.

While the GI Map is the best test for H. pylori, it’s also not perfect at catching a hard to find infection that hides itself under biofilm and sheds unevenly in the stool.

There are clues on the GI Map that H. pylori is there, even when it doesn’t show up. I have written about the specific markers in my guide and in past blog posts.

The missing link for SIBO may be eradicating h. pylori

If you have a case of SIBO that does not go away, despite treatment. Turning your attention towards stomach acid and testing for H. pylori could be promising.

With SIBO it is always important to get to the root of what is driving it.

You can treat and eradicate SIBO, but if the root cause is low stomach acid, the overgrowth and symptoms will eventually return.

Bottom line for SIBO

If you have SIBO, test for H. pylori with the GI Map, or test for low stomach acid with the Hair Mineral Analysis test. Identify other root causes of low stomach acid.

It could be low mineral reserves. You need potassium, sodium, zinc and cobalt to produce enough acid. Or your stomach acid may be suppressed due to living in constant fight of flight.

Remember, stress flares H. pylori and thus SIBO. It disrupts the nervous system and immune system.

Disrupted motility (also a nervous system issue) is the other primary root cause of SIBO. Supporting motility with prokinetic agents (herbal or prescription) and leaving 3 to 4 hours between eating (meals or snacking) is also a consideration for addressing SIBO.

Motility refers to the migrating motor complex (MMC) in the small intestine that cleans the small intestine out. It has nothing to do with bowel movements and can’t be supported by magnesium or laxatives.

Best case scenario

Focusing on stomach acid (H. pylori) and nervous system regulation may be all some people need to clear a mild or moderate case of SIBO.

But it can also be instrumental for setting the body up for a successful herbal protocol that previously failed.

Add in liver support to cover all the bases.

There are more root causes for SIBO (I provide a comprehensive list in my SIBO guide). But some others common root causes of SIBO are antibiotics, intestinal adhesions or a slow thyroid. Trauma can also be a big one.

My upcoming course, the Self Healing Body, features all the testing, nervous system support and root cause sleuthing that makes it easier to heal the gut without endless supplements.

The symptoms for H.pylori and SIBO often overlap and they have a symbiotic relationship.

For example, the gases produced by the SIBO hydrogen bacteria can feed and fuel an H. pylori overgrowth.

Next steps

The worst part about SIBO and H. pylori is the anxiety they both cause (for different reasons).

Getting support and understanding your body better can help you get to the other side.

The GI Map, and hair tissue mineral analysis are useful test to identify the problem, and when you know what is wrong and WHY it is much easier to fix it.

Support stomach acid and bile flow. Always address H. pylori first, if that is a root cause and don’t forget about your nervous system.