Home Remedies For Gallbladder

The gallbladder is a 3 to 4-inch-long pear-shaped organ located on the right side of the body, directly under the liver. One of the functions of the liver is to remove poisonous substances from blood so that they can be excreted from the body. The liver excretes all these gathered toxins in a digestive agent called bile. Bile also contains cholesterol, bile salts, lecithin, and other substances. The bile (about one pint of it every day) goes first to the gallbladder, which holds it until the food arrives in the small intestine. The gallbladder then releases the bile, which passes through cystic and bile ducts into the small intestine. Ultimately, the toxins are passed out of the body through the feces.

Abnormal concentrations of bile acids, cholesterol, and phospholipids in the bile can cause the formation of gallstones. The presence of gallstones is known to doctors as cholelithiasis. It has been estimated that 20 million Americans have gallstones, so she is not alone. In fact, one in ten people has gallstones without knowing it. However, if a stone is pushed out of the gallbladder and lodges in the bile duct, this can cause nausea, vomiting, and pain in the upper right abdominal region. These symptoms often arise after the individual has eaten fried or fatty foods.

Gallstones can range from the size of a tiny grain of sand to larger than a pea-sized mass. Seventy-five percent of gallstones are cholesterol stones, with the remaining 25 percent being pigment stones. Pigment stones are composed of calcium salts. Although the cause of pigment stones is unknown, factors such as intestinal surgery, cirrhosis of the liver, and blood disorders can increase the rate of risk. The symptoms of gallbladder disease can be quite distressing, with the most dreaded being gallstone attacks. The gallbladder is an important organ that plays a valuable role in the digestive system. The gallbladder is situated towards the upper right side of the abdomen just beneath the liver. Bile, which is produced by the liver, is essential for digestion, particularly of fats. The gallbladder works as a storage facility for bile and it releases it whenever food is consumed to facilitate digestion. Gallbladder surgery or gallbladder removal is therefore not always the best treatment for gallbladder disease and should only be used as a last resort. In some cases in fact it has been found that gallbladder symptoms persist even after the removal of the gallbladder. An appropriate gall bladder diet can often help counter the symptoms and even facilitate healing. The gallbladder is susceptible to some common disorders, the most prevalent being gallstones, cholecystitis, and gallbladder cancer. They are often collectively referred to as gallbladder disease. Natural treatments and self-care are essential aspects of treatment which is why gall bladder home remedies and gall bladder disease diets are so sought after.

The presence of gallstones creates a possibility that cystitis, inflammation of the gallbladder, may develop. This can cause severe pain in the upper right abdomen and/or across the chest, possibly accompanied by fever, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms of gallbladder disease include constant pain below the breastbone that shoots into the right or left shoulder and radiates into the back. The pain can last from 30 minutes to several hours. The urine may be tea- or coffee-colored, and there may be shaking, chills, and yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes. Gallbladder attacks occur often in the evening and can take place sporadically. Abdominal pain that occurs on a daily basis may be a problem unrelated to the gallbladder. A gallbladder attack may mimic a heart attack, with severe pain in the chest area.

Inflammation of the gallbladder requires immediate treatment. If left untreated, it can be life-threatening. Although the causes of the symptoms of gallbladder disease or gallbladder attacks may be easy to identify, the actual causes for gallbladder disease and the conditions that increase the risk of developing gallbladder disease are a lot more varied and at times vague. Women who have had multiple pregnancies and consequentially high levels of estrogen have been found to be a lot more susceptible to gallbladder disease as are women on birth control pills. As pointed out, one of the most common risk factors would be obesity or being overweight. Your diet is one of the biggest influencing factors in terms of the risk of gallbladder disease as a high-fat diet that is low in fiber is found to increase the risk of gallstones and other diseases. The influence of heredity of course cannot be ruled out, but this is a risk factor that cannot be eliminated, but it can be guarded against. Studies conducted have also revealed that there is a higher risk of gallbladder disease developing among Native American or Hispanic populations. Patients with sickle cell anemia are also at risk of developing gallbladder disease. While obesity is dangerous and poses many health risks, crash dieting and rapid weight loss are just as dangerous and increase susceptibility to gallbladder disease.

Home Remedies For Gallbladder

Alfalfa cleanses the liver and supplies necessary vitamins and minerals. Twice a day for two days, take 1,000 milligrams in tablet or capsule form with a glass of warm water.

1. Peppermint capsules are used in Europe to cleanse the gallbladder.
2. 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. Olive oil has been highly regarded for its health benefits since ancient times, particularly in the Mediterranean area where it has traditionally grown. Olive oil can be included in a variety of recipes and is a great substitute for other unhealthy oils. You could use it as a salad dressing or in cooking. Another one of the popular gallbladder home remedies with olive oil includes a mixture of the oil with honey and lemon juice. Have a spoonful or two of this mixture around twenty minutes or so before your meals. You can also use castor oil soaked in a soft cloth and place it against the abdomen as a compress, preferably with a heating pad or hot water bottle. This should help to reduce the swelling associated with a diseased gall bladder. The gallbladder and spleen are connected and so gallstones can place a strain on the spleen. It is therefore important to avoid foods like chocolate, caffeinated beverages, processed flour, and white sugar as these foods are not easy to digest.
3. If you have gallstones or are prone to developing them, turmeric can reduce your risk of further problems.
4. Other beneficial herbs include barberry root bark, catnip, cramp bark, dandelion, fennel, ginger root, horsetail, parsley, and wild yam.
5. If you have an attack, drink 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of apple juice. This should relieve the pain quickly. If the pain does not subside, go to the emergency room to rule out other disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or heart problems. Dandelion has a beneficial effect on the gall bladder. About 125 ml of 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.
6. A warm-water enema at body temperature will help eliminate fecal accumulations 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 a long.
7. Gall Bladder Removal, also known as Cholecystectomy, is a procedure performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision in your stomach and lifts the gallbladder through the incision. The gall bladder removal surgery may take about an hour or more.
8. The most common gallbladder pain is Biliary Gallbladder Pain or Colic. The symptoms include acute pain in the upper or upper-right abdomen, accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
9. Dandelion tea is in fact quite popular as an herbal remedy for a diseased gall bladder. You may also prepare an herbal concoction with a mixture of dandelion and milk thistle. Dandelion is believed to help stimulate and encourage bile production, which can be helpful for gallstones as it causes a contraction of the gall bladder causing any stones to be expelled. It also causes an increase in chenodeoxycholic acid, which can be highly beneficial because of its effect on dissolving gallstones.

Author: Dr Izharul Hasan

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