May 14, 2009 - 2 Comments - permalink
Gallbladder Problems
The gallbladder is a digestive organ located in the upper right portion of the abdomen, directly underneath the liver. It is responsible for storing and concentrating bile that is produced by the liver. Bile is a greenish-yellow color and is composed of bile acids, water, electrolytes, bilirubin, cholesterol, and phospholipids. As food enters the small intestine, hormonal and nervous system activity causes the gallbladder to contract and sends bile through the common bile duct into the beginning portion of the small intestine, known as the duodenum. Bile has several different functions, which include the digestion and the absorption of fats, and the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients, the retention of water in the colon to promote bowel movements, the excretion of bilirubin (degraded red blood cells), the elimination of drugs and other compounds in the body, and the secretion of various proteins involved in gastrointestinal function. As you see, dysfunction in bile production and secretion can result in many different health problems.
The most common problem associated with the gallbladder is gallstones. It is estimated that 20 percent of people over the age of sixty-give have gallstones. Every year, more than 500,000 people have surgery to remove their gallbladders. The symptoms of gallstones can greatly vary, from person to person. Most people with gallstones often have no symptoms throughout their lives, as the stones pass without problems. Symptoms may include right-sided abdominal pain (or pain anywhere in the abdomen) and radiating pain that goes to the right shoulder blade. Abdominal bloating, gas, belching, and recurrent pain are common, too. Most often, gallstones have been found with a routine exam, and if they are causing no symptoms, they are left alone. Gallstones that cause pain and other symptoms are treated conventionally, with surgery (often using laparoscopy), bile acids taken orally (for stones that are noncalcified), or, more commonly, lithotripsy, the use of shock waves to fragment the stones so that they will pass.
Gallstones are formed as a result of the bile becoming saturated with cholesterol and calcium. This can be due to an increase in cholesterol secretion or decreased bile and lecithin secretion. This then causes other particulate matter to attract cholesterol and sets the stage for stone formation. As you will read in this chapter’s treatment section, there are natural ways to decrease the saturation of cholesterol in the bile via diet and nutritional supplementation.
Risk factors for gallstones include:
· Sex: women are two to four times more likely than men to have gallstones. This, in part, may be due to the use of oral contraceptives and synthetic hormone replacement.
· Race: Gallstones are more common in women of North American Indian ethnicity.
· Obesity: Causes an increased secretion of cholesterol into bile. Also, it should be noted that rapid weight loss (during the initial phases) can contribute to gallstone formation.
· A Western diet is a contributing factor.
· A positive family history predisposes one to this problem.
· Digestive tract diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, increase one’s risk.
A persistent obstruction of the bile duct can also result in fever, nausea, and vomiting. At this point, the condition is termed acute cholecystitis. This is an acute inflammation of the gallbladder wall as a response to the gallstone obstruction. In rare cases, infection and pus may fill the gallbladder or cause perforation of the gallbladder wall. These situations are dangerous and require immediate surgery. While most cases of acute cholecystitis are surgically treated, people who improve greatly within one to two days may not require surgery if the gallstones are small enough to pass through into the intestinal tract. Ultrasound and x-rays are used to diagnose gallstones and acute cholecystitis.
The natural approaches in this chapter are highly successful in preventing further gallstone formation and gallbladder inflammation/attacks, as long as the present stones are not too large. People with asymptomatic or ”silent” gallstones should not require surgery, if the proper diet and supplemental measures are followed.
One study found that 100 percent of a group of patients were symptom free after following an elimination diet that included beef, rye, soy, rice, cherries, peaches, apricots, beets, and spinach for one week. Eat more fiber to rid the body of cholesterol. Foods that were most likely to cause gallbladder symptoms in this study included eggs, pork, and onion. Other common triggers included fowl, citrus fruits, milk, coffee, corn, beans, and nuts. Dr. Breneman believes that food allergies cause inflammation and swelling of the bile duct, which restricts bile flow from the gallbladder.
Once study found that men who drank coffee had a lower risk of gallstones that men who did not drink coffee. However, coffee initiates gallbladder contractions, so people with known gallstones should avoid its use.
Super Prescriptions – Gallbladder Problems
· Prescription #1 – Wild yam root (Dioscorea villosa)
Take 2 to 3 ml or 500 mg of the capsule form every hour for the relief of gallbladder spasm and pain. Wild yam root has an antispasmodic effect on the bile duct.
· Prescription #2 – Milk thistle
Take a milk thistle extract standardized to contain a daily total of 420 mg a day. Milk thistle increase bile flow and decreases bile cholesterol saturation.
· Prescription #3 – Lipase enzymes
Take 1 to 2 capsules of lipase enzymes with each meal to improve fat digestion.
· Prescription #4 – Homeopathic China
Take a 30c potency twice daily for two weeks and then stop using it, unless symptoms return. This remedy is helpful for people with gallstones and gallbladder disease that causes bloating, nausea, flatulence, and diarrhea, as well as gallbladder pain.
· Prescription #5 – Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale)
Take 2 ml of tincture or 500 mg of the capsule form with every meal. Dandelion root improves bile flow.
· Prescription #6 – Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Take a product standardized to contain 150 mg of curcumin with each meal. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, improves bile flow, and relaxes the bile duct.
· Prescription #7 – Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
Take 1 to 2 ml of the tincture or 500 mg of the capsule form with each meal. Globe artichoke improves bile flow.
Prescription #8 – Magnesium
Take 250 mg daily.
2 Responses to “Gallbladder”
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Thanks for the gallbladder symptoms information. Definitely helpful.