Medizines

The gallbladder is a small sack that collects and holds the bile that is produced by the liver. The gallbladder concentrates the bile and releases appropriate amounts when required. The bile is dispensed via a narrow tube (the common bile duct) into the digestive tract after eating meals containing fats and oils. This bile is necessary for the efficient digestion of fatty foods.

Have you ever seen one of those television commercials marketing "concentrated dishwashing detergent"? They usually show how effective just a very small amount of the concentrate is, in just a little water, at dissolving greasy fats and oils on frying pans or dishes. Typically they show greasy 'before' followed by sparkling clean 'after' images. They may also show some close-up action shots of the concentrate at work, where you will see the fats lifting as they break down into smaller and smaller globules and are easily rinsed away.

Well, bile works just like those detergents. It emulsifies, that just means breaks down into tiny globules or fatty droplets, all the fatty substances you eat. It basically breaks the fats up into extremely fine particles so other digestive enzymes can efficiently access the increased surface area of the fats. This is important since some fats are essential for good nutrition, such as the fat soluble vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids for example.

Bile in the digestive tract also has a stimulating effect on peristalsis, the action of movement in the bowel. This helps ensure waste is actually passed through and eliminated from the colon.

Gallstones A common condition of the gallbladder is gallstones (cholelithiasis). In Western countries gallstones are found at autopsy in 20% of women and 10% of men over forty years of age.

There are not necessarily any symptoms associated with these gallstones. However, remember that tube mentioned above, the one bile is sent through between the gallbladder and the small intestine? If the stones obstruct the common bile duct severe pain may occur just under the ribs on the right hand side and sometimes into the upper central part of the abdomen radiating under the right shoulder blade.

Nausea, vomiting, bloating or belching may accompany this gallstone colic. Sometimes the pain subsides and this can mean that the stones have fallen back into the gallbladder or have passed into the intestines. Sometimes an infection can occur as a result of the obstruction resulting in fever, chills or jaundice (yellowing of the skin).

The composition of gallstones varies and can be divided into three main types.

70% are cholesterol plus an admixture of calcium salts and bile ingredients

20% are pigment stones

10% consist mainly of calcium bilirubinate

The gallbladder has the role of concentrating the bile from the liver to about four times its initial strength. The liver, which produces the bile, is the seat of all metabolic processes and a sluggish liver is found to be related to many disorders involving poor digestive function. It is considered that the sluggish flow of bile is, at least in part, the reason for the development of gallstones. It is also thought that when the bile becomes oversaturated with cholesterol or calcium the extra compounds may crystallize forming gallstones.

The stones that form can vary in size from smaller than a pea to larger than and egg. The gallbladder itself can become irritated and diseased by the gallstones. Using natural cures it is possible to dissolve the stones themselves - although this is a lengthy process (but the stones themselves were not made quickly so it is only reasonable that the process of 'unmaking' them will also take some time).

What can you do to treat gallstones? The place to start, not surprisingly, is to change the diet. This needs to be the same diet as outlined above for an inflamed gall bladder.

In addition:

Herbal Medicine for Gallstones Herbs can assist the body to eliminate the stones - with a minimum of pain. A mixture that can do this is:

Combine all the ingredients. Take 1 teaspoon of the herb blend and place into a suitable sized saucepan and pour on a cup of boiling water. Allow this to stand for 10-15 minutes. Strain out the herbs. Drink this tea three times per day. The golden seal in this mixture may be substituted with barberry or mountain grape as they all contain similar alkaloids that work on the gallbladder. If the nervous system is under stress herbs to aid this should also be included.

There are other naturopathic procedures that can be used to remove gallstones. However these must be professionally supervised. While large stones have been passed this way we think a thorough prior assessment of the size and number of the stones is essential.

In addition to treating the gallbladder it is also appropriate to look after the liver which will also be under a toxic burden. The liver filters toxins from your blood and is the first port of call for the blood enriched by everything absorbed from your food through your intestines. One of the means by which the liver removes toxic residues from your body is in the bile via the bowel elimination route. It is therefore important to ensure complete internal detoxification by following the methods in Safe Colon Cleansing. And remember, if your doctor suggests that you have your gallbladder removed, you should seek a second opinion from a naturopathic doctor.

You have gallstones and you are scheduled for a gallbladder surgery. Though a little nervous you are ready to be done with gallstones. But wait; there is something you should know.
Gallbladder surgery increases your risk of bowel cancer! Why? After removing your gallbladder, acidic bile (over 3 cups of bile per day) will constantly drip into your digestive system. The continuous drip will even result in regular diarrhea. And finally, removing your gallbladder may even lead to high blood cholesterol which will result in the silent killer of heart disease.
So what should you do? Before signing any papers, you might consider a couple natural gallstones cures (5 simple cures below) and keeping your NEEDED gallbladder.
Why you NEED your gallbladder!
The gallbladder's primary function is to collect and secrete bile. What is bile? Bile is a fluid produced by the liver (located just above our gallbladder) that aids our body's digestion of fats. As we eat a meal, our gallbladder is put to work by contracting bile into the small intestine to aid in the digestive process.
Unfortunately, bile can sometime form into stones called gallstones. Gallstones are typically composed of cholesterol or bile pigment (bilirubin). The stones can be as small as a grain of salt or as big as a golf ball. The gallstones can also block the normal flow of bile if they lodge in any of the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine. If the ducts remain blocked, severe damage or infections can occur. Warning signs of a serious problem are fever, jaundice and continual pain.
What are your doctor's recommendations? Remove your gallbladder! Allow your bile to drip into your digestive tract! Hope that your body can adjust to its missing organ!
Now, tell me if I am wrong? If God put your gallbladder there; shouldn't we think twice before we take the organ out?
Natural Gallstone Cures: 5 Easy Tips to Prevent and Treat Gallstones
Gallstones can be prevented and cured! However, most people do not realize this if their doctor says surgery is the only option. But, surgery is NOT the best option. Dissolving and flushing your gallstones is a much better option. If you do not believe me; search "gallbladder complications" and see that over 1,000,000 links are found! And if you search 'gallbladder natural treatments' you will also find over 1,000,000 links found! Do you see where I am heading!
You can naturally treat your gallstones and keep your gallbladder! I recommend these 5 easy tips to prevent and treat gallstones.
1. Do a natural gallbladder flush immediately! Do not be fooled by an olive oil (multiple cups) cleanse. A natural gallbladder flush is an easy way to flush toxins and get your gallbladder back to its natural state. Discover a step-by-step cleanse by visiting our Natural Gallstone Cures website.
2. Prevention is key! Reduce your intake of saturated fats (red meats) while increasing water soluble fiber (fresh fruits and vegetables). You will notice a difference in less than a week.
3. Take a hike! Actually, getting regular exercise might just be all you need. Start with an easy 15 minute walk and try to work your way up to 20 minutes. To get the 'runner's high' (body releasing natural endorphins), you must exercise for at least 20 minutes. Exercise has over 100 benefits to the body!
4. Vitamin C supplements help your immune system and aids in changing cholesterol to bile. (Leaving NO stones!)
5. A Lecithin supplement (found naturally in nature) has been documented to aid in dissolving of gallstones. Stop by a local health store and ask for the capsules.
By Joe Barton

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that sits on the right side of our bodies just beneath the liver. Its primary function is to store and secrete bile. Bile is a yellow-brown fluid produced by the liver, which helps us digest fats. Our liver produces up to three cups of bile a day. Our gallbladder can store up to a cup of bile as it awaits a fatty meal.
When we eat, our gallbladder contracts and pushes bile into the small intestines where it helps with the digestion of fats. Bile is made up of water, cholesterol, fats, bile salts, proteins and bilirubin. Under certain conditions, substances in the bile, especially the cholesterol or bile pigment (bilirubin) can harden into stones - gallstones.
Gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. We can develop one large stone or a multitude of smaller ones. Many people with gallstones have no symptoms at all. Others go through life relatively symptom free, experiencing minor symptoms such as abdominal bloating, intolerance to fatty foods, belching, intestinal gas and indigestion. For others, however they may suffer what is called a gallstone "attack". Gallstone attacks often follow a fatty meal. Symptoms of an attack include steady, sever pain in the upper abdomen that can last from 30 minutes to several hours. Sufferers may also experience pain in the back between the shoulder blades or under the right shoulder. A gallstone attack is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting. If symptoms such as sweating, chills, a fever or a yellowish color to the skin or whites of the eyes occur, it is important to seek medical assistance.
There are a number of factors that increase your risk of having gallstones. Those at a higher risk include women, especially women who are pregnant, on hormone therapy or taking birth control pills, people over 60 years of age, Native and Mexican Americans, overweight individuals and individuals who fast or go on crash diets and lose a lot of weight quickly.
It is important to recognize that if the gallbladder is loaded with stones, there is very little room to store bile and fat digestion may become impaired. In turn, the unused bile can back up into the liver causing liver congestion. If this is the case, it is important to evaluate your liver's health prior to cleansing on your gallbladder.
Recommendations For Wellness
The traditional treatment for gallstones is to have your gallbladder removed. There are, however, a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of producing gallstones or experiencing a gallstone attack.

• Reduce your consumption of saturated fats typically found in red meat and pork, while increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables you consume.
• Start a diet and exercise program, but avoid crash dieting which can increase your risk of gallstones. Both diet and exercise can help you reduce your risk of producing gallstones.
• If you are taking birth control pills or are on hormone replacement therapy, speak with your doctor regarding your risk of forming stones or have them check your gallbladder for the presence of gallstones regularly.
• Studies indicate that coffee increase the flow of bile and may help to decrease the risk of gallstones. If you decide to add a little coffee to your health plan for this reason, make sure you only consume organically grown coffee beans.
• Supplement with vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed by the body to convert cholesterol to bile acids in the body.
• Lecithin has been shown to help break down and transport fat molecules and may help dissolve gallstones. Studies indicate that it is helpful in protecting us from gallstone formation.
• Safflowers can be used to thin body fluids as well as aid in the digestion of oils.
• Nature's Sunshine Gall Bladder Formula can be used to help stimulate circulation, improve liver function & aid in the production of digestive fluids.
• Do a gallbladder flush. During a gallbladder flush, 1-2 cups of olive oil are consumed to simulate the gallbladder into releasing bile. This increased demand on the gallbladder to release bile works to push the stones out.
• If you think your liver is congested, or if you have been having minor symptoms of gallstones for a long period of time, it is important to support and cleanse your liver for a period of time before doing a gallbladder flush. Try taking herbs such as milk thistle, dandelion or a liver cleanse formula.