Results of Tibetan Medicine Treatment of Symptomatic Patients with Helicobacter Pylori (Hp) Infection

Abstract

This study gathered data on the curative benefits of traditional Tibetan medicines for treatment of symptomatic patients with Hp positive infection. Our research questions were two-fold: 1) can Tibetan medicine eradicate Hp infection and 2) what is its effectiveness in relieving symptoms putatively related to Hp infection? The research was conducted on two populations (n = 86) in rural Lhasa prefecture, Tibetan Autonomous Region, P. R. China. The two study populations showed infection rates of 82 % and 93 % respectively among those reporting known gastric symptoms prior to medication. Hp positive patients were identified by C13 UBT test before and after treatment. Traditional Tibetan diagnostic methods were used to identify symptomatic patients. These methods include pulse reading, tongue reading, urinalysis and questioning. Eight significant clinical Hp symptoms were chosen for evaluation: abdominal pain, abdominal distension, borborygmus, diarrhea, acid regurgitation, vomit, dyspepsia and constipation. Hp-positive patients with significant symptoms were treated with traditional Tibetan medicines. Treatment lengths in various medication groups did not exceed eight weeks in total. A 5-month follow-up survey was also performed for 21 of the patients in the first population. We found that of the Tibetan medicines used, none was able to eradicate Hp bacteria infection. However, significant improvement of most debilitating symptoms was shown. Reported improvement for the eight categories of symptoms ranged from 83.3 % to 100 % in the first population and from 76.3 % to 94.1 % in the second population (p < 0.001). Furthermore, eradication rates within the improvement category ranged from 50 % to 100 % for all symptoms except one in the second population (p < 0.001). In the 5-month follow up group, there was no statistically significant Hp symptom recurrence. Other research suggests no spontaneous symptom relief for symptomatic patients with Hp infection. Moreover, patients reported uninterrupted and moderate to severe symptoms in these populations for a period of from five to twenty years prior to the study. Our findings suggest that Tibetan medicines are incapable of bacteria eradication. However, they suggest some promise in symptom relief and control.

Summary

• We report that Tibetan medicines have positive curative effect for symptom relief and control in Hp positive patients.

• Our findings also suggest that Tibetan medicines are incapable of Hp eradication.

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