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Citric Acid Shown to Naturally Cure Stomach Ulcers and Kidney Stones
In the January 2011 edition of the Middle European Journal of Medicine, researchers from the General Medical Center, Allgemeines Krankenhaus in Linz, Austria have demonstated how citric acid prodives a powerful approach to eradicating Heliobacobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible for a class of stomach ulcers in humans. Roughly 50 percent of all people around the globe are infected with various strains of this bacteria Helicobacter pylori.
Well documented research shows Helicobacter pylori as the primary cause of peptic ulcers in humans. As a consequence, drug companies have rushed to patient drugs to eliminate H. Pylori. However, some people are resistant to these individual stomach ulcer drugs, and multi-drug therapies are expensive. Furthermore, strains of H.pylori have become increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatments, providing a limiting factor to the continued use of these treatments.
To explore other options, researchers tested the inhibitory effect of solutions of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 8.4% sodium bicarbonate, 2% ascorbic acid individually, and citric acid in combination with sodium citrate,7% and 14% citric acid solutions, on 9 different Helicobacter pylori strains.
Of all the solutions tested, the citric acid solution showed the most potent inhibitory growth activity on Helicobacter pylori strains in vitro.
Citric acid is an inexpensive substance naturally present in many fruits, such as oranges, lemons and limes. The food industry uses citric acid as a flavor additive and preservative. However, since citric acid is not a novel compound, plus it's easily availble and inexpensive, making it difficult to patent citric acid for monopoly and profit. Researchers conducting this study have called for further evaluation of citric acid for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Source: PMID:21240685
Citric Acid Treatment for Kidney Stones
According to other published research, in a joint research projected between the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, "Citrate is a naturally occurring inhibitor of urinary crystallization or kidney stones called calcium urolithiasis.
Of all kidney stone treatments, citrate is considered by researchers as "the most clinically significant, administered by either diet orpharmacologic therapy."
Researchers state, "fresh lemon and lime juice, as well as their concentrates, provide more citric acid per liter than grapefruit juice, orange juice, and fresh squeezed orange juice."PMC:2637791
Comparison chart of citric acid concentrations of fruit juices and juice products.