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Gallstones are
hard, round lumps of solid material usually composed of either cholesterol or bile.
What to look for
Gallstones develop in the
gall bladder (a small, organ that stores bile which a digestive juice produced by the
liver. The stones may be as small as a pinhead or as large as a golf ball… They may
be different consistencies and hardness. You may have several gallstones or just one.
People often have
gallstones and do not realise it as there may be no obvious symptoms. When symptoms do
occur, it's usually because the gallstone has moved and become lodged in the bile duct
which is at the side of the gall bladder. Now the symptoms may begin especially after
eating a large meal.
Causes
The responsibility of the
gall bladder is to store bile, a brown or greenish fluid that helps the body break down
fatty food. The bile is produced in the liver and drains from the liver to the bile duct.
When you eat a meal, the
gall bladder releases its stored bile into the cystic duct. From there the fluid passes
through the common bile duct and into the small intestine.
Bile consists of bile acids
and cholesterol. Normally, the concentration of bile acids is high enough to break down
the cholesterol in the mixture and keep it in liquid form. However, when we eat too much
fat, the liver will produce extra cholesterol - too much for the bile acids to break down.
As a result, some of this excess cholesterol begins to solidify into crystals, which we
call gallstones.
Gallstones can develop in
people who are on low fat diets as well. As the gall bladder hardly gets used, the
cholesterol has more time to solidify. Other factors can cause gallstones to form by
reducing the activity of the gall bladder and these include;
cirrhosis,
the use of oral contraceptives, and pregnancy.
Traditional Treatment
In a lot of cases people do
not realise they have gallstones and therefore no treatment is necessary however it may be
advisable to start procedures to alter your lifestyle a little to prevent them from ever
becoming a problem. Often when the pain from gallstones becomes unbearable, doctors will
recommend the removal of the gall bladder.
Some alternative treatments
have also been found to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of troublesome
gallstones.
Sometimes a person will
have a once only attack and the stone dislodges itself and never returns. Doctors in this
case will wait to see if you have any further problems.
If you have further trouble
with your Gall stones, your Doctor may recommend one of several techniques.
Some gallstones can be
dissolved through the use of a bile salt
A method called contact
dissolution can also be used to dissolve gallstones.
Surgical Removal of the
Gall bladder. The operation is done by ‘keyhole’ surgery and usually involved
one night in hospital. It is very effective and safe.
Always limit the fat you
eat after having this operation.
Alternative/Natural
Treatment
These options may eliminate
some of the gallstone symptoms.
Chinese Herbs -
Very small gallstones may be dissolved through the ingestion of Chinese herbs such as
pyrrosia leaf (Pyrrosia lingua) and rhubarb (Rheum palmatum). Very small gallstones may be dissolved through the ingestion of Chinese herbs such as
pyrrosia leaf (Pyrrosia lingua) and rhubarb (Rheum palmatum).
Homoeopathy -
A number of Homoeopathic remedies can be used to treat gallstone-related symptoms -
Dioscorea, Colocynthis, or Belladonna, Berberis vulgaris, Hydrastis, or Chelidonium majus.
You should consult a professional Homoeopath for exact medicine and dosages. (Go to Homoeopath page)
A number of Homoeopathic remedies can be used to treat gallstone-related symptoms -
Dioscorea, Colocynthis, or Belladonna, Berberis vulgaris, Hydrastis, or Chelidonium majus.
You should consult a professional Homoeopath for exact medicine and dosages. (Go to Homoeopath page)
Bach Flower
Remedies - The flower essence most recommended for this complaint is willow.
The flower essence most recommended for this complaint is willow.
Dietary Considerations
Depending on the severity
of your condition, an improved diet may help relieve gallstone symptoms.
Eat high fibre, low-fat
foods and lots of raw fruits and vegetables, whole grain cereals and bran. Add fresh lemon
or lemon juice to your meals. Obese people are more prone to getting this condition than
people closer to their normal weight.
Prevention
A high-fibre, low-fat diet
helps keep bile cholesterol from hardening. However, don't cut out fats abruptly or
eliminate them altogether, as too little fat can also result in gallstone formation.
Moderate consumption of
olive oil (about 2 tbsp a day) may actually lower your chances of developing gallstones.
When to seek further
professional advice
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