Gastritis is a condition where the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or irritated. It can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms including upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and loss of appetite. While gastritis sometimes resolves on its own, there are several things you can do at home to help get rid of gastritis faster and reduce discomfort.
What causes gastritis?
There are several potential causes of gastritis:
- Infection with bacteria like H. pylori
- Regular use of NSAIDs painkillers like ibuprofen or aspirin
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Stress
- Autoimmune disorders
- Bile reflux
Identifying and treating the underlying cause of your gastritis will help it clear up. For example, if H. pylori bacteria are causing your gastritis, a course of antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors can eradicate the infection.
Lifestyle changes
Making some simple lifestyle adjustments can help improve gastritis symptoms and promote healing:
Avoid triggers
Stay away from foods, drinks, medications or stressors that seem to aggravate your gastritis. Common gastritis triggers include:
- Coffee, alcohol, carbonated beverages
- Very spicy, fatty or acidic foods
- NSAID painkillers
- Smoking
- Stress
Keep a symptom diary to identify your personal gastritis triggers.
Eat smaller meals
Having smaller, more frequent meals can ease pressure on your inflamed stomach lining. Try eating 5-6 small meals spaced evenly throughout the day rather than 3 large meals.
Avoid lying down after eating
Don’t lie down immediately after eating, as this allows stomach acid to reflux up into the esophagus, exacerbating gastritis. Wait at least 2-3 hours after a meal before lying down.
Manage stress
Chronic stress can worsen gastritis. Make time for relaxing activities like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or massage. If you’re struggling with serious stress, consider counseling.
Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of fluids, like water, herbal tea, or broth, to stay hydrated. Dehydration can increase gastritis pain.
Dietary changes
Making some strategic dietary changes can also help soothe gastritis:
Choose low-acid foods
temporarily Opt for low-acid foods that are gentle on an inflamed stomach lining, like:
- Oatmeal, rice, potatoes, bananas
- Lean proteins like chicken, fish, or tofu
- Non-citrus fruits like melon, apples, pears
- Cooked non-cruciferous vegetables like carrots, spinach, zucchini
Avoid highly acidic foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and cruciferous veggies.
Incorporate demulcents
Demulcents are soothing foods that coat and protect the stomach lining. Examples include gelatin, broth, honey, aloe vera juice, and licorice root.
Try slippery elm
Slippery elm is an herbal supplement made from the inner bark of the elm tree. It forms a mucilage that coats and protects the gastrointestinal tract. Take up to 400 mg slippery elm capsules per day.
Consider zinc-carnosine
This natural supplement combines zinc with an antioxidant amino acid. Studies show it can help strengthen and regenerate the gastric lining in gastritis patients. Take 75-150 mg twice daily.
Natural remedies
Several natural remedies may also aid gastritis healing:
Marshmallow root
The mucilage in marshmallow root serves as a protective barrier for the stomach lining. Take 2-4 grams powdered root up to 3 times per day.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile is a soothing herb that can reduce inflammation and heal damaged stomach tissue. Drink 2-3 cups of chamomile tea per day.
Probiotics
Probiotic supplements contain beneficial gut bacteria that support digestive health. Look for broad-spectrum formulas containing 5-10 billion CFUs.
Ginger
Ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties. It may curb nausea and gastritis discomfort. Add fresh ginger to meals, brew ginger tea, or take ginger supplements.
Licorice
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) supplements provide localized anti-inflammatory effects in the stomach. Chew 350-500 mg DGL 20 minutes before meals.
Medications
If home remedies don’t fully resolve your gastritis, several over-the-counter or prescription medications may help:
Antacids
Antacids like Tums, Rolaids, or Maalox neutralize stomach acid to relieve gastritis pain and discomfort. They provide quick but temporary relief.
H2 blockers
H2 blockers (Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid) reduce acid production for longer lasting relief. Take as needed for flare ups.
Proton pump inhibitors
PPIs like Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid shut down acid pumps in the stomach for up to 24 hours. They are very effective for chronic gastritis.
Prokinetics
Prokinetics like Reglan or metoclopramide improve stomach emptying if gastritis has delayed digestion.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics like amoxicillin, clarithromycin, or metronidazole eradicate H. pylori bacteria and promote gastritis healing.
Cytoprotectants
Sucralfate coats ulcers to prevent further damage and promote healing of the inflamed tissue.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor promptly if you experience any of the following:
- Severe pain, nausea, or vomiting
- Inability to keep down food/liquids for over 24 hours
- Blood in vomit or stool
- Unexplained weight loss
- Gastritis symptoms that persist for over 2 weeks
These may indicate a gastric ulcer, malignancy, or other complication requiring medical treatment. People over 55 with new onset gastritis should also see a doctor to rule out serious conditions.
Diagnosis
To diagnose gastritis, a doctor will typically:
- Ask about your symptoms and medical history
- Conduct a physical exam
- Order blood tests to assess inflammation or infection
- Perform an endoscopy to examine your stomach tissue directly
Based on test results, they can determine the cause of your gastritis and appropriate treatment.
Medical treatments
Depending on the underlying cause, doctors may prescribe:
- Antibiotics for H. pylori infection
- Medication to reduce stomach acid
- Protective medications like sucralfate
- Immune-modulating drugs for autoimmune gastritis
- Steroids to reduce inflammation
They may also recommend temporary nutritional support through IV fluids or tube feeding if gastritis makes eating very difficult.
Prevention tips
You can reduce your risk of recurrent gastritis by:
- Treating underlying conditions like H. pylori promptly
- Limiting alcohol, NSAIDs, and coffee
- Avoiding known food triggers
- Managing stress through relaxation techniques
- Not lying down right after eating
- Eating smaller, more frequent meals
Maintaining a generally healthy lifestyle supports good digestive health.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis for gastritis depends on the cause:
- Mild, temporary gastritis often resolves fully with conservative treatment in 1-2 weeks.
- Chronic gastritis related to long-term NSAID use may improve with medication, but some inflammation may persist.
- H. pylori gastritis has an excellent prognosis when the infection is successfully eradicated.
- The prognosis is poorer if extensive damage to the stomach lining has already occurred.
Healing also depends on making lifestyle changes to control triggers and prevent recurrence or complications.
Potential complications
Without proper treatment, gastritis may lead to:
- Chronic atrophic gastritis
- Stomach ulcers
- Persistent nausea and vomiting
- Internal bleeding
- Anemia
- Increased risk of stomach cancer
Prompt treatment helps prevent serious complications. Contact your doctor if symptoms aren’t improving quickly.
When to see a gastroenterologist
See a gastroenterologist promptly if you have:
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Frequent abdominal pain
- Bleeding or anemia
- Persistent problems eating or drinking
- Unexplained weight loss
- Family history of stomach cancer
A gastroenterologist can provide specialized care and screening for high risk patients. They may perform additional diagnostic tests like an upper endoscopy.
Gastritis FAQs
Is gastritis permanent?
For many cases of acute gastritis, the inflammation resolves completely with proper treatment. However, long-standing chronic gastritis may cause permanent changes to the stomach lining in some patients.
How long does it take for gastritis to go away?
Mild acute gastritis often improves within 1-2 weeks with conservative treatment. If H. pylori bacteria are causing chronic gastritis, symptoms may resolve within 4-6 weeks after completing antibiotic treatment. But NSAID-related gastritis may recur unless the medication is stopped.
What is the fastest way to cure gastritis?
The fastest way to treat gastritis is to immediately address the underlying cause – for example, stopping NSAID painkillers or taking antibiotics to eradicate H. pylori infection. Making dietary changes to avoid aggravating foods can provide rapid symptom relief.
What foods neutralize stomach acid?
Foods that may help neutralize stomach acid include dairy products, bananas, papaya, oatmeal, grains, lean proteins, eggs, and non-citrus fruits. Avoid acidic foods like coffee, citrus fruits, spicy foods, and alcohol.
What can I drink to coat my stomach?
Soothing drinks that can coat and protect the stomach lining include herbal teas like chamomile, marshmallow root tea, aloe vera juice, bone broth, ginger tea, low acid vegetable juice, and dairy drinks like kefir. Avoid acidic drinks like coffee, alcohol, and soda.
The bottom line
Gastritis results from inflammation of the stomach lining. While mild cases may resolve on their own, making specific lifestyle changes can help treat the condition faster. Avoiding triggers, eating smaller meals, managing stress, and taking stomach-soothing supplements can all support healing. For chronic or severe gastritis, medications that reduce acid production are often needed. See a doctor promptly if your symptoms are severe or persist longer than 2 weeks. With proper treatment, most people with gastritis recover fully within 1-6 weeks.