What Kills H Pylori Naturally?
H Pylori

What Kills H. Pylori Naturally? 5 Herbs That Fight Back (And What the Studies Really Show)

Reece Mander MSc Clinical Nutrition

Reece Mander

18 min

It starts as a gnaw under your ribs. Then the burn climbs your throat at 3am. You sleep propped up on three pillows. You eat half a plate and feel stuffed. You burp. You bloat. You cancel plans because you can't trust your own stomach.

Your GP says it's stress. Here's some omeprazole. Maybe you got 14 days of antibiotics. The metal taste. The runs. The wiped-out feeling. Then a few months later, it all came back.

So now it's late and you're typing "H. pylori natural treatment" into Google. You're sick of being fobbed off. And there's a thought you keep pushing away. What if this turns into something worse?

Here's the hard truth. If nothing changes, a year from now looks the same. Same pill every morning. Same fear of food. Same burn at night. Only now the germ has had 12 more months in your stomach lining.

It doesn't have to go that way. Below are the 5 herbs that studies show can fight H. pylori. You'll see what each study really was, from lab dish to human trial. And you'll see where most people go wrong.

What Is H. Pylori (And Why Won't It Go Away)?

H. pylori is a spiral-shaped germ. It digs into the lining of your stomach and lives there. It can stay for years. The whole time, it keeps that lining sore and inflamed.

You are far from alone. About 4.4 billion people carry it [1]. Most have no idea. Two Australian doctors, Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, found it in 1982. Before that, ulcers were blamed on stress and spicy food. Some people still get told it's stress today.

H. pylori is linked to gastritis, stomach ulcers and acid reflux. Over time, it's also linked to stomach cancer. That's why "just live with it" is not a plan.

Why So Many People Want a Natural Treatment for H. Pylori

The usual fix is triple therapy. That's two antibiotics plus an acid pill, for 10 to 14 days. For some people it works. For many, it brings sickness, the runs and a gut that feels wrecked for weeks.

And it doesn't always clear the germ. H. pylori is getting better at shrugging off antibiotics. Some of it also hides inside the cells of your stomach lining. There, it's much harder to reach [2]. So you do the course. You suffer through it. Then the breath test comes back positive again.

That's why so many people now look for natural remedies for H. pylori. Herbs tend to be gentler. They don't flatten your good gut bugs the way antibiotics can. And you can use them alongside your doctor's plan. Here are the natural herbs that have been shown to work against H. pylori.

What Kills H. Pylori Naturally? 5 Herbs Backed by Studies

These are the 5 H. pylori herbs with the most research behind them. They are the core of any Helicobacter pylori natural treatment. For each one, you'll see exactly what kind of study it was. A lab test is a strong first clue. A human trial is the real test.

1. Mastic Gum: The Herb With the Most Human Proof

Mastic gum resin tears in a bowl, a natural treatment for H. pylori

Mastic gum is a resin from the mastic tree. It grows on the Greek island of Chios. People have used it for stomach trouble for about 2,500 years.

  • Lab study: In 1998, the New England Journal of Medicine ran a short report. Its title said it all: "Mastic gum kills Helicobacter pylori" [3]. Other lab work found the same [4].
  • Human trial (randomised pilot): In 2010, 52 people with H. pylori were split into 4 groups [5]. Some took mastic gum alone for 14 days, with no antibiotics. About 3 in 10 cleared the germ. On the higher dose, it was nearly 4 in 10.

That's one herb, for just 2 weeks. Want to know the best way to take it? Read our step-by-step guide to mastic gum for H. pylori.

2. Mango Ginger: Hits the Germ and the Acid Pump

Fresh mango ginger root (Curcuma amada) sliced open on a board

Mango ginger (Curcuma amada) is an Indian root that smells like raw mango. It's a cousin of turmeric. It has long been used in Ayurveda for the gut.

  • Lab study: In 2007, scientists tested mango ginger extracts [6]. They slowed the growth of H. pylori. They also blocked the stomach's acid pump. In that test, they were 9 to 27 times stronger than lansoprazole, a common acid pill.
  • Lab study: In 2009, scientists in Japan tested 50 healing plants against 8 strains of H. pylori [12]. Mango ginger was one of just 4 with strong killing power. It killed the germ at low doses.

So in the lab, one root went after both the germ and the acid.

3. Curcumin (Turmeric): Calms the Fire in Your Stomach Lining

Fresh turmeric root and turmeric powder, source of curcumin for H. pylori

Curcumin is the bright yellow part of turmeric. It fights swelling and it fights germs.

  • Lab study: Curcumin stopped the growth of all 19 strains of H. pylori it was tested on [7]. That included cagA+ strains, the type most tied to ulcers and cancer.
  • Lab study: In 2005, a London team tested 25 kitchen plants, boiled the way you'd cook them [13]. Of all the plants that killed H. pylori, turmeric was the best. It also stopped the germ sticking to stomach tissue.
  • Human trial (RCT): In a 2017 trial, people with H. pylori gastritis got antibiotics, with or without curcumin [8]. They were checked again after 8 weeks. The curcumin group had less inflammation in the stomach lining. More of them cleared the germ, too.
  • Human trial (RCT): In a 2016 trial, curcumin was added to standard ulcer treatment [9]. Indigestion went away in 27.6% of the curcumin group. With a dummy pill, it was just 6.7%.

One catch: plain curcumin is hard for your body to absorb. That's why the form matters.

4. Nutmeg: The Kitchen Spice That Topped the Lab Test

Whole nutmeg, grated nutmeg and a split nutmeg fruit

  • Lab study: In 2005, scientists tested nearly 20 plant extracts against 15 strains of H. pylori [10]. Nutmeg stopped the germ at the lowest dose of any of them. It beat ginger, rosemary and a turmeric-ginger mix.
  • Lab study: The 2009 test of 50 plants backed this up [12]. Nutmeg was one of just 4 with strong killing power.

Yes, the same nutmeg that's in your spice rack. In two separate lab tests, it was one of the strongest plants tested.

5. Broccoli Sprouts: Goes After the Strains Antibiotics Miss

Fresh broccoli sprouts in a jar, rich in sulforaphane for H. pylori

Young broccoli sprouts are rich in a compound called sulforaphane. It is one of the best-studied natural ways to kill H. pylori.

  • Lab study: In 2002, a Johns Hopkins team found sulforaphane stopped 48 strains of H. pylori [2]. It worked even on strains that resist antibiotics. A short dose killed the germ. It even cleared H. pylori hiding inside human cells.
  • Mouse studies: The same 2002 study found it blocked stomach tumours in mice [2]. A 2009 study found broccoli sprouts cut H. pylori and stomach swelling in mice [11].
  • Human trial (RCT): In that 2009 study, 48 people with H. pylori ate 70g of broccoli sprouts a day for 8 weeks [11]. Others ate alfalfa sprouts as a dummy. The broccoli group had lower H. pylori levels on breath and stool tests. Their stomach inflammation markers fell, too. The alfalfa group saw no change.

But here's the part most people miss. Two months after they stopped, their levels went right back up. The sprouts held the germ down. On their own, they didn't finish it off.

Why Taking These Herbs One by One Usually Fails

You could try to do this yourself. Buy 5 jars. Chew mastic gum 3 times a day. Grow and eat 70g of sprouts every day for 2 months. That's a big handful, every single day. Guess the doses. Hope the curcumin gets absorbed.

Most people last a week. Life gets busy. The burn eases a bit. They stop. The broccoli study showed it. One herb alone held the germ down. It didn't finish it off.

H. pylori needs hitting from more than one side. That's why clinical nutritionist Reece Mander made PyloPurge.

PyloPurge bottle - mastic gum, mango ginger, curcumin, broccoli sprout and nutmeg in one capsule

  • All 5 herbs in one capsule: mastic gum, mango ginger, bioavailable curcumin, broccoli sprout extract and nutmeg.
  • The first supplement to combine all 5 in one formula.
  • No antibiotics. 3 capsules a day on an empty stomach.
  • Relief in 7–10 days for most people. The full course is 60 days (2 bottles), so the germ doesn't get a second chance.
  • Over 37,000 bottles sold.

"I suffered from H pylori and acid reflux and i was scared of taking the PPI. I came across reece video and i bought pylopurge. Let me tell you this, after taking pylopurge for 1 week, my throat pain, reflux, bloating, burping and difficult swallowing all stopped and i feel much better. Am so happy it is working for me." – Faiza A.

Start your 60-day PyloPurge course today

H. Pylori Home Remedies That Help

  • Eat broccoli sprouts. Add a handful to salads and sandwiches. They're the one herb on this list that's also an easy food.
  • Cook with turmeric and nutmeg. Food amounts are small, though. You'd struggle to eat enough to match the studies.
  • Finish what you start. Don't stop at day 10 because you feel better. That's when the germ gets its second chance.
  • Get your family checked. H. pylori spreads in homes. If you clear it and they don't, you can catch it again.

If reflux is your worst symptom, see our natural products for acid reflux.

Other Natural Remedies for H. Pylori: What the Science Really Says

You've been told to try yogurt. Or a spoon of manuka honey. Or green tea, cranberry juice, a few drops of oil. You've maybe tried some of them already. And the burn came back anyway.

Some of these do help. Some barely touch the germ. Here's what each study really found, and what kind of study it was.

1. Probiotics: Make Antibiotics Work Better and Hurt Less

If you're facing a round of antibiotics, this is the one to know. Probiotics are friendly gut bugs. The two with the most proof are a yeast called Saccharomyces boulardii and a germ called Lactobacillus reuteri.

  • Human trials (meta-analysis): A 2015 review pooled 11 trials with 2,200 people [14]. Adding S. boulardii to antibiotics raised the clear rate from 71% to 80%. It cut side effects by more than half. The runs and sickness both dropped.
  • Human trials (meta-analysis): A 2024 review pooled 8 trials of L. reuteri against a dummy pill, with 1,087 people [15]. 80% cleared the germ, against 72.6% without it. They had fewer side effects and less gut pain.
  • Human trial (RCT): In 2023, 90 people did 2 weeks of triple therapy [16]. Then they took L. reuteri or a dummy pill for 4 weeks. 91.1% of the L. reuteri group cleared it. On the dummy pill, it was 68.9%.
  • Human studies (review): On their own, with no antibiotics, probiotics cleared H. pylori in just 1 in 7 people [17].

What about food? Yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha all carry friendly bugs. Kefir has one of the clearest trials. People on triple therapy drank 250ml twice a day. 78.2% cleared H. pylori, against 50% on plain milk. They had fewer and milder side effects, too [18].

See the pattern? Probiotics are a sidekick. They help the drugs hit harder and hurt less. Want the full list? Here's which probiotic works best against H. pylori.

2. Green Tea: Hits Drug-Resistant Strains in the Lab

  • Lab study: In 1999, scientists tested 6 green tea compounds [19]. One called EGCG was the strongest against H. pylori.
  • Animal study: In the same study, tea compounds cleared H. pylori in 10% to 36% of infected gerbils [19]. There was less bleeding and damage in their stomach lining.
  • Lab study: In 2003, EGCG was tested on 56 strains [20]. 19 of them shrugged off common antibiotics. EGCG hit those just as hard. It also worked alongside the drugs.

But here's the catch. EGCG killed the germ in a neutral dish, not in acid at pH 5 or below [19]. And your stomach is full of acid.

3. Manuka Honey: Strong in the Dish

  • Lab study: In 1994, a New Zealand team tested manuka honey on H. pylori from ulcer patients [21]. Just 5% honey stopped all 7 strains growing for 3 days. A normal honey, even at 40%, did nothing.
  • Animal study: In 2026, manuka extract was as strong as standard drugs in the lab [22]. In infected rats, it cut the germ load in the stomach. It eased the swelling and helped the lining heal.

So far, that's dishes and rats. Not people with a burning stomach at 3am.

4. Licorice Root: Two Human Trials Behind It

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is an old remedy for sore stomachs. DGL is a form with most of the glycyrrhizin taken out.

  • Human trial (RCT): In 2013, 107 people with H. pylori took a licorice root extract or a dummy pill for 60 days [23]. 56% of the licorice group had a clear stool test. On the dummy pill, just 4% did. 48% had a clear breath test.
  • Human trial (RCT): In 2016, 120 people took triple therapy, with or without licorice, for 2 weeks [24]. 83.3% cleared it with licorice. Without it, 62.5%.

5. Cranberry Juice: Months of It, Twice a Day

  • Human trial (RCT): In 2005, 189 adults in a Chinese area with high stomach cancer rates drank 2 boxes of cranberry juice a day for 90 days [25]. 14 of 97 tested clear. On a dummy drink, it was 5 of 92.
  • Human trial (RCT): In 2021, 522 adults took cranberry juice, cranberry capsules or dummies for 8 weeks [26]. The strongest juice, twice a day, did best. 20% tested clear, against 7.35% on the dummy drink. The capsules didn't work.

That's juice twice a day, for months. And at best, about 1 in 5 tested clear.

6. Essential Oils: Germ-Killers That Didn't Breed Resistance

  • Lab study: In 2003, a Japanese team tested essential oils on H. pylori [27]. 13 oils fully stopped it growing. Lemongrass and lemon verbena killed it at tiny doses, even in acid.
  • Lab study: The germ was hit again and again [27]. It learned to resist the antibiotic clarithromycin. After 10 rounds, it still couldn't resist lemongrass.
  • Mouse study: Mice given lemongrass had far less H. pylori in their stomachs [27].

Here's the bottom line. Most of these remedies prop up your gut or help the drugs work. The 5 herbs in PyloPurge are the ones aimed at the germ itself.

Stop patching the damage. Go after what's causing it.

H. Pylori Natural Treatment: FAQs

Can you clear H. pylori naturally?

Many people do clear it without antibiotics. In a randomised pilot study, 2 weeks of mastic gum alone cleared H. pylori in about 3 in 10 people [5]. Your best shot is several herbs that hit the germ in different ways. Take them for the full 60 days. Then retest to see it's gone.

Does ginger kill H. pylori?

In lab tests, yes. Common ginger stopped 15 strains of H. pylori at low doses [10]. Mango ginger is a cousin of turmeric. In the lab, it slowed the germ and blocked the stomach's acid pump [6]. PyloPurge uses mango ginger.

Do broccoli sprouts kill H. pylori?

Sulforaphane, the compound in broccoli sprouts, killed H. pylori in the lab, even antibiotic-resistant strains [2]. In a human trial, 70g of sprouts a day for 8 weeks lowered H. pylori levels and stomach inflammation [11]. Levels rose again 2 months after people stopped.

What is the strongest natural treatment for H. pylori?

Of the 5 herbs, mastic gum has the most human proof. Broccoli sprouts and curcumin have human trials too. In the lab, nutmeg was the strongest of nearly 20 plants tested. No one herb does it all, which is why PyloPurge combines all 5.

How long does it take to get rid of H. pylori naturally?

Most people on PyloPurge feel relief in 7–10 days. But feeling better is not the same as clearing it. Plan on the full 60 days (2 bottles), then retest.

Do probiotics kill H. pylori?

Not well on their own. With no antibiotics, probiotics cleared H. pylori in just 1 in 7 people [17]. Their power is as a partner. Added to antibiotics, S. boulardii raised the clear rate from 71% to 80% and cut side effects by more than half [14]. L. reuteri raised it from 72.6% to 80% [15].

What is the best natural antibiotic for H. pylori?

Of the 5 herbs, mastic gum has the most human proof. In a pilot trial, 2 weeks of mastic gum alone cleared H. pylori in about 3 in 10 people [5]. Sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts killed even antibiotic-resistant strains in the lab [2]. Licorice root did well too: after 60 days, 56% had a clear stool test, against 4% on a dummy pill [23]. No one herb does it all, which is why PyloPurge combines 5.

Two Roads From Here

Picture a year from now if nothing changes. Still on omeprazole every morning. Still scanning menus for what won't hurt. Still lying awake with that burn, and that fear. Another round of antibiotics, maybe two. And the germ, still there, still digging in.

Now picture the other road. Day 10, you eat dinner and forget about your stomach. Week 4, you sleep flat for the first time in years. Day 60, you finish the course. Food is just food again.

You've tried managing the symptoms. Now go after the cause.

Get PyloPurge and start your 60 days today

Written by Reece Mander, Clinical Nutritionist

Reece Mander is a clinical nutritionist and the founder of GoodGut Nutrition. He has an MSc in Clinical Nutrition. Since 2014, he has run his own health studio in Canary Wharf, London, where he tests clients' gut bugs. He made PyloPurge to go after the cause of gut pain, not just mask it. Over 37,000 bottles have now been sold.

Last updated: 24 October 2026

References

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  3. Huwez FU, et al. Mastic gum kills Helicobacter pylori. N Engl J Med. 1998;339(26):1946.
  4. Marone P, et al. Bactericidal activity of Pistacia lentiscus mastic gum against Helicobacter pylori. J Chemother. 2001;13(6):611-614.
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  12. Zaidi SF, et al. Bactericidal activity of medicinal plants, employed for the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments, against Helicobacter pylori. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009;121(2):286-291.
  13. O'Mahony R, et al. Bactericidal and anti-adhesive properties of culinary and medicinal plants against Helicobacter pylori. World J Gastroenterol. 2005;11(47):7499-7507.
  14. Szajewska H, et al. Systematic review with meta-analysis: Saccharomyces boulardii supplementation and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015;41(12):1237-1245.
  15. Li M, et al. Lactobacillus reuteri compared with placebo as an adjuvant in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ther Adv Gastroenterol. 2024;17:17562848241258021.
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  17. Losurdo G, et al. Probiotic monotherapy and Helicobacter pylori eradication: a systematic review with pooled-data analysis. World J Gastroenterol. 2018;24(1):139-149.
  18. Bekar O, et al. Kefir improves the efficacy and tolerability of triple therapy in eradicating Helicobacter pylori. J Med Food. 2011;14(4):344-347.
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Reece Mander MSc Clinical Nutrition

Reece Mander

Content Writer

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