Gastritis
Creating balance. Restoring function.
​
Calming stomach inflammation with root-cause treatment.
​Stomach inflammation can to discomfort, including pain, nausea, and digestive issues A functional medicine approach aims to calm the gut lining, identify triggers, and restore balance for lasting relief.
What is it?
Gaining insight into your condition
Gastritis is the inflammation of the lining of your stomach This soft tissue, known as the mucosa, serves a protective barrier against the acids, enzymes, and microorganisms that your stomach encounters daily. When your immune system identifies a threat to this barrier, it responds by triggering inflammation in the tissues to combat infections and facilitate healing.
Gastritis symptoms
Gastritis may not present any noticeable symptoms. However, if symptoms do occur, it could indicate a more severe condition or that it has persisted for an extended. Symptoms typically arise when the stomach lining is damaged and can no longer protect from its own acids and enzymes. This can lead to indigestion or stomach ulcers, which may be painful and cause bleeding.
​
Possible symptoms include:
-
Loss of appetite or feeling full shortly after eating.
-
Stomach pain and bloating.
-
Nausea and/or vomiting.
If you have a bleeding ulcer, you might notice:
-
Black stools (melena).
-
Black vomit (coffee ground emesis).
What are the causes of gastritis?
​
Gastritis occurs as a reaction your immune system to underlying issues in your stomach. Inflammatory cells are dispatched to your stomach lining to combat infections and aid tissue repair, leading to inflammation that may cause symptoms. However, the root cause is often an external factor threatening your stomach lining, with various possibilities.
​
Infections
Infections are a cause of gastritis, particularly acute gastritis. Bacterial and viral infections linked to stomach flu can result a temporary reaction that typically resolves on its own. Chronic gastritis can be caused by the common H. pylori bacterial infection, along with less frequent cases of parasitic and fungal infections.
​
Chemicals
Both alcohol and certain medications can lead to either acute or chronic gastritis, depending on usage frequency and quantity. These substances can chemically erode the stomach lining. Overuse of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), like aspirin and ibuprofen, is a frequent cause of acute gastritis, while some recreational drugs, such as cocaine, may also contribute.
Autoimmune disease
Autoimmune diseases can lead to chronic inflammation, where the immune system errone attacks the body's own cells. Chronic autoimmune gastritis may occur spontaneously or as a rare side effect of another autoimmune condition.
​
Reduced blood supply
Acute gastritis can result from major surgery, trauma, or critical illness. Severe physiological stress can redirect blood flow away from the digestive system toward vital organs, compromising the stomach lining's defenses against harmful substances.
​
Additional causes
Other factors that can contribute to gastritis include radiation therapy (mucositis), chemotherapy, and bile reflux.
Functional testing for gastritis
The advanced route to diagnosing gastritis
Some common functional tests that we use at Balance Functional Medicine to investigate your condition include:
​
-
Organic acid test (OAT)
-
SIBO breath test
-
H. pylori test
-
Food sensitivities, intolerance and allergies
-
Gut microbiome testing
-
Nutrient absorption testing
-
Toxin exposure test
Ready for a personalized, natural functional medicine treatment?
Our unique model of care was designed with you in mind. Find out how, then book a call today.
​
​