Gall Stones

Gallstones are formed within the gallbladder. Gallstones are usually caused by disturbances in the composition of the bile. Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand, or they may become as large as an inch in diameter, depending on how long they have been forming.

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Symptoms of Gallstones

Most people with gallstones (60-80%) have no symptoms. In fact, they are usually unaware that they have gallstones unless symptoms occur. These "silent gallstones" usually require no treatment. Symptoms usually occur as complications develop. The most common symptom is pain the right upper part of the belly (abdomen). Because the pain comes in episodes, it is often referred to as an "attack." * Attacks may occur every few days, weeks, or months; they may even be separated by years. * The pain usually starts within 30 minutes after a fatty or greasy meal. * The pain is usually severe, dull, and constant, and can last 1-5 hours. * It may radiate to the right shoulder or back. * It occurs frequently at night and may awaken you from sleep. * The pain may make you want to move around to seek relief. Other common symptoms of gallstones include the following: * Nausea and vomiting * Fever * Indigestion, belching, bloating * Intolerance for fatty or greasy foods * Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes) Warning signs of a serious problem are fever, jaundice, and persistent pain.

Causes of Gallstones

Gallstones occur when bile forms solid particles (stones) in the gallbladder. * The stones form when the amount of cholesterol or bilirubin in the bile is high. * Other substances in the bile may promote the formation of stones. * Pigment stones form most often in people with liver disease or blood disease, who have high levels of bilirubin. * Poor muscle tone may keep the gallbladder from emptying completely. The presence of residual bile may promote the formation of gallstones. Risk factors for the formation of cholesterol gallstones include the following: * Female sex * Being overweight * Losing a lot of weight quickly on a "crash" or starvation diet * Taking certain medications such as birth control pills or cholesterol-lowering drugs * Native American or Mexican American ethnicity Gallstones are the most common cause of gallbladder disease. * As the stones mix with liquid bile, they can block the outflow of bile from the gallbladder. They can also block outflow of digestive enzymes from the pancreas. * If the blockage persists, these organs can become inflamed. Inflammation of the gallbladder is called cholecystitis. Inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis. * Contraction of the blocked gallbladder causes increased pressure, swelling, and, at times, infection of the gallbladder. The role of diet in the formation of gallstones is not clear. * We do know that anything that increases the level of cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of gallstones. * It is reasonable to assume that a diet with large amounts of cholesterol and other fats increases the risk of gallstones. When the gallbladder or gallbladder ducts become inflamed or infected as the result of stones, often the pancreas becomes inflamed too. * This inflammation can cause destruction of the pancreas and severe abdominal pain. * Untreated gallstone disease can become life threatening, particularly if the gallbladder becomes infected or if the pancreas becomes severely inflamed.

Home Treatment Of Gallstones

Gall Bladder treatment using Beet

Fresh juice of beets, and the juices of carrot and cucumber in quantities of 100 ml each, are one of the finest cleansers of the gall-bladder. This combined juice has proved beneficial in the treatment of all disorders related to this organ, and should be taken twice daily.
Gall Bladder Disorder treatment using Pear

The pear is another excellent remedy for gall-bladder disorders. The fruit or its juice should he taken liberally by the patient with beneficial results. It exercises a special healing effect on all gall-bladder disorders, including gallstones.

Gall Bladder treatment using Chicory

The flowers, seeds, and roots of chicory or the endive plant are considered valuable in gall-bladder disorders. A decoction of about 30-60 ml of the flowers, seeds, or roots can be used three times daily with beneficial results in the treatment of these disorders. Endive or chicory juice in almost any combination promotes the secretion of bile and is, therefore, very good for both liver and gall-bladder dysfunctions.

Gall Bladder treatment using Dandelion

Dandelion has a beneficial effect on the gall bladder. About 125 ml each of the juices of dandelion and watercress should be taken twice daily. Combined with a vegetarian diet, without much sugar and starch, these juices help to make the gall¬bladder normal.

Gall Bladder treatment using Olive and Sunflower Oil

An oil cure has been advocated by some nature cure practitioners for the removal of gallstones. Raw, natural, unrefined vegetable oils of olive or sunflower are used. The procedure is to take 30 ml of vegetable oil, preferably olive oil, first thing in the morning and follow it immediately with 120 ml of grapefruit juice or lemon juice. This treatment should be taken every morning for several days, even weeks, if necessary.

Gall Bladder Disorder Diet

Dietary treatment consists of a low-fat diet. The following foods need to be avoided:

Full cream milk and any products made from full cream milk, such as full cream yoghurt and/or cream cheese
Cheeses, except fat-free cottage cheese
Biscuits, high-fat rolls or bread, pancakes, doughnuts, waffles, fritters, buttered popcorn, muffins, cakes, pies (sweet and savoury)
Ice cream, fatty desserts
More than one egg a day, and not more than four eggs per week (boil or poach to reduce fat intake)
No more than 25 g of fat or oil a day (five teaspoons or 2,5 tablespoons a day of polyunsaturated or monounsaturated margarine or oil or mayonnaise/salad dressing)
Fried or fatty meat or fish, sausages, poultry with skin (remove skin), smoked pork and ham, visible fat on meat, duck, goose, meat drippings and gravies made with drippings, fish canned in oil (rather use tuna canned in water or pilchards canned in tomato sauce), cold meats (except thinly sliced cooked beef or pork or poultry with all visible fat and skin removed)
No more than five nuts a day, or one teaspoon of peanut butter
Fatty or creamed soups
Chocolate and all chocolate-containing foods and desserts
Deep-fried potato chips, crisps, baked potatoes with sour cream, butter added to vegetables and potatoes, rich sauces added to vegetables, more than five small olives a day, more than 1/4 avocado a day

However, prevention is better than cure. If you have one or more risk factors for gallstones as described above, it may be a good idea to reduce your fat intake as a preventive measure.

Individuals who are seriously obese need to lose weight to prevent gallstones and gallbladder disease as well as other conditions associated with obesity.

On the other hand, those of you who are starving yourself to lose weight, should keep in mind that this increases your risk of developing gallstones. Rather use a more balanced slimming diet with a low-fat content.

Other effective Remedies for Gallstone

application of hot packs or fomentation to the upper abdominal area.

The pain of gallstone colic can be relieved by the application of hot packs or fomentation to the upper abdominal area.
Warm-water enema, Physical exercise

A warm-water enema at body temperature will help eliminate faecal acculumations if the patient is constipated. Physical exercise is also essential. Surgery becomes necessary if the gallstones are very large or in cases where they have been present for long.

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