Gallstones Removal Report - 2^nd Edition
Copyright © 2004 Barton Publishing Inc.

Disclaimer: This guide is copyrighted with all rights reserved. The author does not assume any liability for the misuse of information contained herein. The information contained within this guide is offered to provide you with beneficial concepts regarding your health and well-being. The author is not a doctor, nor does he claim to be. Please consult your primary care physician before beginning any program of nutrition, exercise, or remedy. By consulting your primary care physician, you will have a better opportunity to understand and address your particular symptoms and situation in the most effective ways possible. While every attempt has been made to provide information that is both accurate and proven effective, the author and, by extension, the guide, makes no guarantees that the remedies presented herein will help everyone in every situation. As the symptoms and conditions for each person are unique to individual histories, physical conditioning and body type, and the specifics of the actual gallstone presentation, successes will vary.

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Overview of Gallstones
  • Gallstones: Anatomy
  • Gallstones: Defined
    • What Exactly Are Gallstones?
    • Size and Shape of Gallstones
  • Why Do Gallstones Form?
  • Gallstones: Demographics
  • Gallstones: Signs and Symptoms
    • Common Symptoms of Gallstones
  • Gallstones: Devastating Effects of Gallstones
  • How Gallstones Are Diagnosed
• Gallstone Treatments
  • Traditional Surgical Treatments for Gallstones
    • Cholecystectomy
    • Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
  • Alternative Treatments
    • Dissolution Therapy
    • Extracorporeal Shock-wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
    • Methyl Tertbutyl Ether Injection
    • Liver and Gallbladder Cleanse
    • Substitutions and Alternatives to the Liver and Gallbladder Cleanse
    • Colon Cleanse: Semi-Fasting, Clean Food, and Enemas
    • Hydrotherapy and Flushing Treatment Options
    • Homeopathic Gallstone Remedies
      • Berberis Vulgaris
      • Calcarea Carbonica
      • Chelidonium majus
      • Colocynthis
      • Dioscorea
      • Lycopodium
      • Nux Vomica
      • Podophyllum
    • Reflexology and Acupressure to Treat Gallstones
    • Food Elimination Diet
      • Foods to Avoid
      • Foods Recommended For Treatment and Prevention of Gallstones
    • Vitamin and Herbal Supplementation
      • Vitamin Supplements
      • Herbs and Herbal Supplements
    • Additional Herbal Remedies
      • Milk Thistle
      • Safflower Seed Oil
      • Lipotropic Combination
    • Essential Oils for Use with Gallbladder Symptoms
  • Natural Medicines
• Prevention
  • Dietary Recommendations
    • Grain Products
    • Fruits
    • Vegetables
    • Juice Therapy
    • Trigger Food Elimination
    • Lifestyle Changes
• Your Health, Your Choice
• Testimonials
• Resources
  • Related Resources
    • Gallstones and Gallstone Disease
    • Liver and Gallbladder Cleanses
    • Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
    • Good Health, Good Diet
    • Odds and Ends to Right Living

Introduction

If you are reading this guide, you are likely well acquainted with pain and discomfort. Gallstone disease sufferers experience acute, steady pain that manifests as abdominal aches, nausea, vomiting, and chills. Left untreated, gallstones can lead to fever, enduring pain, and gallbladder infection. If you or someone you know is experiencing gallstone disease, you are not alone. The American Gastroenterological Association states that gallstone disease affects between 10 to 15 percent of the United States population or more than 25 million people. In addition, nearly one million new cases of gallstone disease are diagnosed every year in the United States alone.

The startling fact is that many people are unaware that they have gallstone disease at all. Indeed, often gallstones will form and be present in the gallbladder without presenting any complications for the individual. These are called “silent stones.” However, when a gallstone either blocks the gallbladder duct or moves to the main bile duct, they are silent no more and severe complications can arise.

The purpose of this guide is to share with you a variety of proven alternative methods for preventing and eliminating gallstones. Many of the alternatives do not require surgery and have been recommended to the author by previous gallstone sufferers.

As you read, please do keep in mind that—because each person and his or her situation is unique and different—what may be successful for one person may not be as successful for another. To the best of our ability, we have included a variety of treatment options for you—that address the body and its health on a number of levels. It is our contention that a healthy body is best approached holistically and with self-responsibility. In other words, when you arm yourself with an understanding your body and how it works as a whole, as well as seek the consult of your primary care physician, you can best begin to determine what courses of action are best suited for your particular gallstone presentation.

We wish you the best of luck on your journey and hope for much health and wellness in your future.

Overview of Gallstones

Gallstones: Anatomy

In one way or another, each of us has heard about gallstones. But, to understand exactly what a gallstone is, we must first examine where a gallstone forms: the Gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located in the right half of the upper portion of the abdomen; just under the liver.

The gallbladder has two primary functions:

1. Store bile. Bile is a yellow-brown liquid produced by the liver which helps digest fats in the small intestine. Bile is made up of cholesterol, fats, salts, and a pigment that gives the bile its color. Interestingly, the liver can make as much as three cups of bile in a day.
2. Secrete bile into the small intestine to help with food digestion. The gallbladder is connected to the liver and the small intestine by a series of ducts. The gallbladder and these ducts are called the biliary system. The gallbladder sends bile to the stomach when food is there to help break down the fats in food.

In other words, the gallbladder acts as a sort of ‘helper’ organ—passing bile from the liver to the intestine to ensure that fats are digested properly. Normally, bile is absorbed through the intestine and returns to the liver via the bloodstream where the process repeats itself as part of the ongoing digestive process.

However, when the liver secretes bile that is heavily saturated in fat and cholesterol, gallstones often form.

Gallstones: Defined

What Exactly Are Gallstones?

Now that we have a better understanding of where they form, we should be able to understand exactly what a gallstone is.

When the liver secretes bile that is heavily saturated in fat and cholesterol, gallstones are often the result. The extra cholesterol forms stones or crystals which become stuck in the gallbladder duct or within the bile ducts themselves as bile is being sent to the intestine.

80% of gallstones are of this white or yellow cholesterol type. The remaining types of gallstones are called “pigment stones,” as they are created from excess salts and bilirubin—the pigment that colors the bile—and are usually darkly colored.

It is important to note that the risk factors for cholesterol stones are different than those for pigment stones. The risks associated with cholesterol stones include abdominal aches, nausea, vomiting, and chills, fever, and gallbladder infection. The risks associated with pigment stones include cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood cell disorders, such as sickle cell anemia.

Note: It is important to note that the remedies offered in this guide are meant generally to treat cholesterol-based gallstones. A consultation with primary care physician will help you determine your type of gallstone.

Size and Shape of Gallstones

As we have seen, when bile is created in the body with excesses of salt, cholesterol, and bilirubin, cholesterol and/or pigment gallstones can form. When discussing their size and shape, gallstones have been compared to sand granules—although these pieces of sand can vary from the size of a microscopic grain to marble-sized, and in extreme cases, gallstones can be as large as or larger than a golf ball. In most cases, the gallbladder either develops a single, often large, stone or many smaller ones—up to a few thousand stones in severe cases.

There are numerous ways to describe the physical make-up of gallstones. But, one reality remains constant: No matter its size or shape, if a gallstone blocks the gallbladder or bile ducts, the result can not only be painful, but intensely dangerous.

Why Do Gallstones Form?

What is not definitively known is why gallstones form. To date, doctors have not successfully been able to determine why one person develops gallstones and another doesn’t. That is not to say, however, that doctors have not determined a number of things that predispose individuals to gallstones. These will be discussed in more detail in the demographics and prevention sections of this guide.

Gallstones: Demographics

Believe it or not, gallstone disease is one of the more common diseases to affect people. More than one million cases are diagnosed each year with over half that many cases requiring treatment. Currently in the United States alone, more than 20 million people have already been diagnosed with gallstones.

Again, whereas there is no definitive research that proves why one person is likely to develop gallstones over another, there are indicators and groups that are more disposed to their formation. These higher risk groups include:

• Women between the ages of 20-60 are more than twice as likely as men to develop gallstones.
• Women who have previously used, or are currently using, birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapies (ERT).
• Men and women over the age of 60.
• Some 30 percent of all men will develop gallstones by the ages of 50-60. Factors which influence susceptibility include age, heredity, and diet.
• Obesity has proven to be a major risk factor for gallstones. The hypothesis is that obesity generally leads to excess cholesterol in bile, low bile salts, and diminished emptying of the gallbladder—all of which tend to factor into gallstone production. A diet high in fat and sugar combined with a sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of gallstones. In addition, low-calorie, rapid-weight-loss diets tend to disrupt your bile chemistry and may cause your gallbladder to contract less often. This makes it more likely you'll develop gallstones. In fact, losing more than 3 pounds a week may increase your risk of developing gallstones when compared with losing weight more gradually. People who undergo gastrointestinal surgery to lose weight rapidly, also called bariatric surgery, are at increased risk of gallstones. As many as one-third of people who have bariatric surgery may develop symptomatic gallstones a few months after surgery.
• Individuals involved in rapid weight-loss diets or who undertake long-term fasting.
• Native Americans have the highest rates of gallstones in the United States.
• Mexican-American men and women of all ages.

If you are in a higher risk group and have not experienced symptoms of complications associated with gallstones, a course of preventative diet and exercise is highly recommended. Consult your primary care physician before you begin any new diet or exercise regimen for more specific details to your risk group.

Gallstones: Signs and Symptoms

The ironic aspect to gallstones—a potentially extremely painful and dangerous disease—is that many individuals with gallstones don’t even know they have them. As we’ve seen, “silent stones” can go undetected within an individual for years. In many cases, silent stones are found when a patient is undergoing examination for an unrelated physical issue. However, once a stone blocks a duct, that silence ends and the symptoms show themselves. When no longer silent, the signs and symptoms of gallstones are numerous and can be readily identified. If you experience any of the symptoms below, you should consult your primary care physician immediately to establish a confirmed diagnosis.

Common Symptoms of Gallstones

• Gas
• Inflammation
• Colic Pain
• Jaundice
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Intolerance for Fatty Foods
• Abdominal/Shoulder Pain

When a gallstone decides to be heard, an individual experiences what is known as a “gallstone attack.” Usually lasting 20-30 minutes, these episodes manifest as intense pain in the upper abdomen and can last up to several hours. In addition, the pain from a gallstone attack might be felt in the back between the shoulder blades or in the right shoulder. Common side effects are nausea and vomiting. Identifying the likely frequency of attacks is less easy. Attacks can be continuous or separated by weeks, months, and/or years. However, once you have experienced a gallstone attack, odds are you will experience additional attacks in the future.

Gallstones: Devastating Effects of Gallstones

In addition to the outward side effects (symptoms) of complications due to gallstone disease, there are potentially much more dangerous impacts. For this reason, it is important to treat gallstones as soon as possible to avoid any potentially devastating side effects.

Gallstones that escape the gallbladder often move into the cystic duct, the tube that connects the gallbladder with the small intestine. Stones that get stuck here tend to block the flow of bile and can cause cholecystitis, or gallbladder inflammation. This blockage is commonly seen with gallstone disease.

Other blockages, including a blockage of the bile ducts between the liver and the intestine, can cause intense pain and even jaundice. Gallstones that block digestive fluids made in the pancreas can cause pancreatitis, or pancreatic inflammation.

The fact is that durational blockage of any of the ducts leading to or from the gallbladder can cause harm to your organs, including the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas—all of which can be fatal.

The good news is that gallstones can be effectively treated, removed, and even prevented when attended to shortly after diagnosis. Left untreated, the gallstones intensify and symptoms become more severe. The associated pain and discomfort of such stones is tremendous. If, based on these symptoms, you suspect that you or someone you know has gallstones, do not hesitate to seek the consult of your primary care physician to attain a definitive diagnosis and to explore the treatment options appropriate to your situation.

Fortunately for those afflicted with gallstones, there are numerous treatment options—both surgical and non-surgical—that have high rates of success. We present a selection of these options for your review below.

How Gallstones Are Diagnosed

When you first experience the symptoms related to gallstone disease, it is important for you to record your experiences. Be sure to take note of such things as:

• Location of the pain
• Duration of the “attack”
• Associated sensations during the attack
• Anything particular to the time of the attack that might be relevant (e.g., strenuous exercise, current diet, etc.)

In addition, be prepared to answer questions about your dietary and exercise routines and find out whether or not there is a history of gallstones in your family.

Doing a little preliminary research might assist you when you meet with your doctor. At the appointment, the physician will be more readily able to give a diagnosis if he or she has your best presentation of symptoms and medical history.

Once gallstones are suspected, they can be definitively identified in three main ways:

1. An abdominal x-ray
2. A computerized axial tomography (CT) scan
3. An abdominal ultrasound, also known as ultrasonography. Ultrasound uses pulses of sound waves to project an image of the gallbladder on a screen. If you have gallstones, the sound waves will bounce off them and show their presence in the gallbladder. This is the most commonly used diagnostic tool.

For those individuals who are sensitive to the conscious health of their bodies, ultrasound has the advantage of being a noninvasive diagnostic procedure—there is nothing injected or ingested into the body. In addition, ultrasound is painless, has no known side effects, and does not involve radiation.

Gallstone Treatments

Traditional Surgical Treatments for Gallstones

Traditionally, gallbladder surgery has been the most common method for relieving the pain and discomfort associated with gallstones. Surgical procedures have the benefit of removing the gallbladder and thus removing the cause of the gallstones altogether. However, there are potential side effects associated with the complete removal of the gallbladder. In addition, for personal reasons, many individuals prefer non-surgical remedies when at all possible.

The following two surgical procedures are the standard in the surgical treatment of gallstones.

Cholecystectomy

With cholecystectomy, or open cholecystectomy, a surgeon performs major abdominal surgery to remove the gallbladder and gallstones. Through a large, 5- to 8-inch incision in the stomach, the surgeon removes the gallbladder. With this procedure, recovery often lasts at least several weeks, with a minimum of one week spent in the hospital. This is primarily due to the fact that the surgery calls for the major abdominal muscles to be incised and their healing is essential to regaining full mobility and health after surgery.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

A newer procedure, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, has largely replaced open cholecystectomy as the preferred treatment for gallstones. In this surgery, several small incisions are made in the abdomen and a surgical instrument with video camera is inserted into the affected area. The gallbladder is located and the cystic duct is cut and the gallbladder is removed through a small incision.

Because laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not require the abdominal muscles to be cut, recovery and complications are seriously reduced. Recovery is usually quicker, though a common complication includes injury to the bile duct connecting the gallbladder to the liver. Injury to this organ causes bile to leak and can lead to a potentially serious infection.

Alternative Treatments

When you have been diagnosed with gallstones by your physician there are many options presented to you for treatment. The advantage to modern medicine is the availability of numerous alternatives from which you can work with your physician to choose the best approach for you and your situation.

We present the following alternative treatment options for individuals who want to have access to the full breadth of information available today. The key to good health is taking responsibility to educate yourself with the wealth of resources available on gallstones and gallstone disease. In concert with your physician, you can work to develop a plan of action that will not only address your gallstones, but hopefully will address other chronic aspects of your life, such as improved overall health, diet, exercise, and digestion. Other benefits of cleansing with alternative treatments that patients have noticed include alleviation of allergies and pain and increased energy.

The treatment options recommended in this book are intended for patients with a confirmed history of cholesterol-based gallstones.

Dissolution Therapy

The first alternative form of treatment is actually gaining increased usage in medical establishments. Oral dissolution therapy—a procedure that uses medicines ingested orally to dissolve gallstones—eliminates the need for invasive surgical procedures. Working best for small, cholesterol-based gallstones, the medicines are actually made from the acid naturally found in bile. The acids work to break down the gallstones in the same way your body would if it was functioning properly. This oral remedy is most often used with individuals who are not good candidates for surgical procedures. A downside of the treatment is that—because it may take months to years before the gallstones dissolve—side effects and damage to other organs can be possible.

The most commonly used medicines for oral dissolution therapy are ursodiol (Actigall®) and monoctanoin (Moctanin®) and chenodiol (Chenix®).

Side effects include mild diarrhea as well as a temporary elevation in the liver enzyme transaminase and mildly elevated blood cholesterol levels.

Extracorporeal Shock-wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

Another treatment that is finding popularity within the medical establishment is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). A non-invasive procedure for breaking up gallstones, ESWL focuses high-intensity shock waves (500-1500 shocks over 30-120 minutes) sonographically on the affected region. With repeated treatment, the gallstones literally vibrate apart and are passed harmlessly back into the system. For best results, ESWL is often used in tandem with the oral dissolution therapies described above. An additional benefit of ESWL is that it typically requires no anesthesia.

Methyl Tertbutyl Ether Injection

Although the treatment does include an injection, there is no additional surgical component to treatment using methyl tertbutyl ether. The chemical is injected into the gallbladder and is used repeatedly until the stones dissolve. The procedure, however, has not gained popular medical approval as a number of complications have been reported.

Liver and Gallbladder Cleanse

One of the more popular gallstone treatments consists of a liver “cleanse.” With a liver cleanse, you are rewarding your liver for its daily work and in the process you are helping to alleviate the possibility of additional strain being placed on the gallbladder with the excess cholesterol and bile salts that can accumulate with an under-functioning liver.

The liver works hard to remove the incredible number of toxins that build up in your body. These toxins include a wide array of pollutants, including excess fats, alcohol, and, in fact, anything we ingest that needs to be filtered through the body. A liver cleanse helps eliminate buildup of excess toxins and allows the liver to keep performing at its maximum capacity.

An effective liver cleanse requires a day commitment from you to adhere to the prescribed regimen. Please read through the entire cleanse before beginning. Select the best time for you to conduct your cleanse. Many people find that the weekend presents the most ideal time for a cleanse.

The key elements of this remedy require that you mix:

• 1/2 cup olive oil, extra virgin
• 1 grapefruit (Large) or 3 lemons
• 4 tablespoons of Epsom salts
• 3 cups of water
• 4 ornithine capsules (500mg per capsule)
• black walnut tincture (20 drops)

Substitutions and Alternatives to the Liver and Gallbladder Cleanse

As with any good remedy, cleanses can be modified to best suit your specific needs and sensitivities. We have included a few variations on the above cleanse to demonstrate how it can be customized.

• Instead of using water, mix Epsom salts with 3 cups of fresh grapefruit or apple juice. This mixture better helps mask the strong taste of the salts.
• If the Epsom salts approach seems too harsh, skip them altogether. For a great mini-cleanse, mix drinking water with lemon juice. This is an excellent way to help begin flushing your system. After you have taken the lemon juice mixture, use the olive oil mixture to give your system an additional powerful cleansing flush.
• As we have detailed, there is no one-size-fits-all remedy. That said, if you are more comfortable, you can eliminate the ornithine and black walnut capsules. Though they are excellent aids in facilitating the cleansing process for many individuals, they are not a requirement for success in every situation.

To recognize even greater benefits from a liver and gallbladder cleanse, we recommend that you prepare the body using a “pre-cleanse” technique. The best way to do this is via a colon cleanse.

Colon Cleanse: Semi-Fasting, Clean Food, and Enemas

Colon cleanses help eliminate toxins from the gastrointestinal system, particularly the colon. The easiest way to perform this cleanse is to use an enema. You can purchase an enema kit from any drug store. Some of the best kits available utilize distilled water and lemon juice. Because it is unusually hard on your system, a saline enema is not recommended.

For one to two days prior to using an enema, you should perform a “semi-fast.” Structure your diet so that you only eat “clean foods.”

Clean foods are foods that are eaten in their natural state. In other words, when eating clean foods, you should avoid all processed foods, including many breads, pancakes, and many pre-packaged foods.

Most processed foods are more difficult for your body to digest and thus cause additional stress to be placed on your digestive system. By eating clean foods, you are essentially giving your digestive system a break from the hard work it does while digesting processed foods. For optimum results, you will also eliminate meat from your diet during your semi-fast. Consider eating salads and soup broths for at least a day prior to your flush to help prepare your body for the rigors of the remedy.

Hydrotherapy and Flushing Treatment Options

An extremely effective way to rid the body of gallstones is through a water flush. Much like the liver and gallbladder cleanse, a water flush helps cleanse the liver of toxins and also serves to dilute the bile secretions that can build up and cause gallstones.

Just as the name suggests, a water flush consists of drinking water and lots of it. Even without gallstone disease, water is essential to the proper functioning of your body.

For the treatment, drink a minimum of 10-12 eight ounce glasses of water. Do not substitute soda or other caffeinated beverages for water. Even diet soda contains many artificial contaminants that may build up and cause toxicity in the system.

If you are not keen on the taste of water, there are a couple of simple techniques you can employ to improve its savor.

• Try slicing some lemon or lime wedges and adding to your water. As we have seen, lemon also helps flush the system naturally of toxins.
• For an original twist, try adding orange or cucumber slices to your water to add flavor and enhance your sense of energy.

If you are already plagued with gallstones, follow this remedy daily to continue to flush your liver. Maintaining a well-hydrated system is essential to recovering and preserving your good health. Raise a glass of water—or make it 10—to your health today!

Homeopathic Gallstone Remedies

Used for centuries by naturopaths around the world, the techniques of homeopathy employ the use of minute doses of natural medicines to treat illness and alleviate pain and discomfort associated with many common health conditions.

Licensed physicians and natural doctors have been using homeopathic remedies to treat conditions such as gallstones for many years. In many regions of the world, including Europe, homeopathic usage is more common than traditional prescription medication for the treatment of many common illnesses.

Working on the principle that “like can treat like,” homeopathic remedies contain a miniscule amount of a substance that might actually cause the symptoms an individual is looking to address if given in a large enough dose. However, when prepared correctly as a homeopathic remedy these substances are diluted to thousands of times less than their normal potency and thus do not have any deleterious effects.

Upon ingestion, the body recognizes these substances as toxins and rallies the immune system to fight off disease and infection. Because the doses are so small, the resultant immunity is often very effective because the body did not have to expend excessive resources to fight the introduced toxin. The result is a body with stronger immunity to the introduced toxin and a predisposition of the body to “fighting” off further instances of such toxins in the future.

Because it is safe and non-toxic to use, homeopathy can be an exceptional remedy option for patients with gallstones. There are many different homeopathic remedies that may be helpful for preventing gallstones; therefore, it is important that you pick the remedy that best fits your profile and medical description. Consulting with a practitioner licensed to prescribe homeopaths, including doctors who offer natural health care treatment options, is always a good place to start.

Homeopathic remedies can be found at any natural grocery store. They are also available in most vitamin stores and natural health stores. If you do not have a natural grocer near you, you can also purchase homeopathic remedies online. Just type in the name of the homeopathic remedy you are looking for in your search window and before you know it, you will have a list of dozens of suppliers. In addition, naturopathic doctors often have homeopaths available in their office.

To use a homeopathic remedy you should select a low potency. Consider starting with a 6c or 30c remedy if you are sure you have selected the right remedy. Usually you will need to take a homeopathic remedy between 2-4 times per day depending on the instructions on the bottle and the severity of your symptoms.

Here are the most common homeopathic remedies suggested by naturopaths to help eliminate gallstones:

Berberis Vulgaris:

Recommended for individuals whose symptoms include:

• stitching pains that extend from the stomach area to the shoulder
• twinges of sharp pain in the groin and pelvic area
• increased pain when standing up or changing positions
• constipation

If you have multiple and varied symptoms associated with your gallbladder, this might be the right remedy for you to try.

Calcarea Carbonica:

Recommended for individuals whose symptoms include:

• bloated or swollen stomach area, particularly on the right side
• cutting pains and tenderness
• pain worsens when standing or when tired, and pain improves when lying on one side
• often fatigued and sluggish
• excessive craving for sweets

Chelidonium majus:

Recommended for individuals who symptoms include:

• pain that is located in the back, right shoulder, and shoulder-blade
• a distended abdomen
• worse pain when moving
• lying on the left with the legs drawn up helps alleviate pain
• nausea, especially after eating fat or drinking cold beverages
• exhaustion

Colocynthis:

Recommended for individuals whose symptoms include:

• sharp cramping pains causing a person to double over in pain
• pain in the upper right abdomen that radiates into the shoulder
• increased intensity of symptoms in the evening

Dioscorea:

Recommended for individuals whose symptoms include:

• pain from gallstones is lessened by bending backward
• pain from gallstones is worse when bending forward or lying flat
• pain spreads to the back, chest, and arms
• pain is worse in the evening and at night

Lycopodium:

Lycopodium is good, general remedy for many people, particularly recommended for individuals whose symptoms include:

• bloating and flatulence
• general abdominal discomfort

Nux Vomica:

This traditional gastrointestinal tonic is recommended for individuals whose symptoms include:

• stitching pains in the right upper abdomen
• digestive cramps
• nausea
• excessive fat cravings and stimulants such as caffeine
• irritability

Podophyllum:

Recommended for individuals whose symptoms include:

• constipation
• clay-colored stools that alternates with diarrhea

When selecting a homeopathic remedy for the first time, try to match your symptoms with the remedy as closely as possible. Take one or two doses of the remedy and wait to see if your condition improves. If it does not, cease taking any remedies for an entire day and, if desired, begin with another course of homeopathic remedies as soon as the following day.

Reflexology and Acupressure to Treat Gallstones

The techniques of reflexology and acupressure employ the use of trigger point therapy to alleviate the build up of bile and pain associated with gallstones. For example, acupressure—a form of acupuncture in which fingers and thumbs rather than needles are used to press points on the surface of the body—not only relieves muscular tension, which enables more blood—and therefore more oxygen and nutrients—to be carried to tissue throughout the body, but also aids in healing by removing waste products from the body. In addition, many researchers now believe that, like acupuncture, acupressure triggers the release of endorphins, the neurochemicals that serve to reduce and relieve pain.

As amazing as it sounds, there are several reflexes or pressure points located in the feet that—when massaged correctly—can help alleviate gallbladder problems and help the body expel gallstones.

A certified reflexologist, acupuncturist, and/or acupressurist can help you locate these trigger points on your feet. As instructed by a trained professional, you should massage each of these points a minimum of two times a day to help stimulate proper bile functioning and liver cleansing.

Food Elimination Diet

As we have seen there are no definite reasons why one person develops gallstones and another person doesn’t. But, there are indicators, including diet and body type that predispose an individual to gallstone formation. In fact, researchers have established that certain foods lead to higher rates of gallstones and/or complications associated with gallstones.

Foods to Avoid

To treat gallstones and/or prevent new occurrences, you should consider adopting a food elimination or sensitivity diet to eliminate the offending foods from your diet. Food elimination diets are based on a simple premise: remove the foods to which you might be allergic, allow your body to heal, reintroduce foods back into your diet, one at a time, and see how you body responds. A responsible food elimination diet can teach you more about your body than you ever imagined possible. By understanding how your body reacts to particularly allergenic foods, you can create a custom diet that will best be suited to your overall health needs as well as help you in your crusade against gallstone disease.

Particularly offensive foods that are high in cholesterol can lead to toxic build-up in the liver—a step in the wrong direction toward cholesterol-based gallstones. Other high risk foods include highly allergenic foods, particularly high fat and fried foods. It is thought that the gallbladder reacts to allergenic foods by swelling up, thus constricting the flow of bile and leading to potential blockage. Most food elimination diets suggest removing these foods from your diet for one month. Reintroduction of new foods should be undertaken slowly and on a food-by-food basis (e.g., so if you have a particular reaction to the food, you know which food is causing the allergic reaction).

A partial list of high risks foods to avoid include:

Foods Recommended For Treatment and Prevention of Gallstones

One of the most effective ways to limit gallstones or prevent them in the first place is by increasing the fiber in your diet. Water-soluble fiber, such as that found in many vegetables and fruits and—when you are not allergic to it—oat bran are great sources of fiber. Additionally, the following list of foods is an excellent way to increase health through appropriate diet.

Vitamin and Herbal Supplementation

In addition to a health-conscious diet sensitive to your particular needs as a gallstone disease sufferer, vitamins and minerals are suggested for additional corrective and preventative measures. As a rule of thumb, for maximum benefits be sure to drink plenty of water when taking vitamins and supplements.

Vitamin Supplements

In the fight against gallstones, vitamin C is gradually being understood as particularly effective. Vitamin C is used by the body to convert cholesterol to bile acids. With less cholesterol and more acids, the gallstone risk should be decreased. Research evidence to this regard is preliminary, but promising.

One theory of why gallstones form attributes the stone formation to insufficient stomach acid in gallstone sufferers. In this case, betaine HCl is prescribed as a supplement.

Phosphatidylcholine (PC)—a purified extract from lecithin—is one of the naturally-occurring components of bile that helps protect against gallstone formation. Studies suggest that 300–2,000 mg per day of PC actually may aid in the dissolution of gallstones. As with vitamin C, the research is still preliminary, but encouraging.

Because they each help reduce toxins within the body, the following food supplements are recommended for people with gallstones:

• 1000 mg of vitamin C three times per day
• 1200 mg of lecithin twice a day
• 2 tsp flaxseed oil per day
• 1 gram Taurine twice per day

Herbs and Herbal Supplements

Many herbs have been identified as potentially beneficial for dissolving and passing gallstones. There are two main types of recommended herbs:

1. Cholagogues stimulate the gall bladder to contract.
2. Choleretics stimulate the liver to secrete more bile.

Both of these actions—contraction and increased bile production—can help reduce the risk of developing gallstones. The following list contains a selection of herbs, the majority of which are either or both cholagogues and choleretics.

Additional Herbal Remedies

Some of the more common herbal remedies used and recommended by naturopathic physicians include the following items:

Milk Thistle:

When used in tincture or capsule form, Milk Thistle is a liver tonic that not only cleanses the liver but also works to stimulate bile production. In one study, silymarin (the active component of milk thistle) was shown to significantly reduce cholesterol levels in bile, which is an important way to avoid gallstones formation. The recommended amount to use is 600 mg of milk thistle extract per day.

Safflower Seed Oil:

Safflower seed oil is thought to stimulate the gallbladder. When combined with essential fatty acids (found in flaxseed oil and fish such as salmon and tuna), safflower seed oil is very efficient at eliminating toxic build up in the gallbladder. Supplementing using 2 tsp twice a day is recommended.

Lipotropic Combination

This combination of herbal supplements is a safe and effective remedy that can prevent and help minimize gallstones in patients who already have them. This remedy requires that you supplement daily using the following combination:

• 200 mg capsule milk thistle
• 400mg capsule dandelion root
• 1 1200 mg lecithin caplet
• 1 capsule peppermint oil
• 2 tsp psyllium husks powder

If, after taking the lipotropic combination you are experiencing milder gallbladder attacks that lessen in intensity, the combination may very well be effective for your symptoms. If your symptoms are not improving, try increasing your dose to twice a day and assess improvement accordingly.

Essential Oils for Use with Gallbladder Symptoms

Essential oils, concentrated pure plant extracts obtained through distillation, are valued for their therapeutic as well as fragrant qualities. In terms of their therapeutic qualities, a number of essential oils have been shown to significantly aid in gallstone dissolution.

The key to this remedy, as with most natural remedies, is persistence. To allow this remedy the best opportunity to be effective, it is important that you take the essential oils over a period of several months. As with all remedies, your body and gallstones may not respond to the particular treatment.

The primary product used by natural doctors in the treatment of gallstones is peppermint oil. When combined with other liver cleansing herbs and teas, peppermint oil is seen to increase the body’s efficiency. As with any course of diet, supplementation, or exercise, the use of peppermint or any other essential oil to dissolve gallstones should only be undertaken after consulting with your primary care physician.

Natural Medicines

Liver Dr.

Recognizing the need for a healthier and more effective approach, without the side effects of the prescription drugs, Native Remedies has developed Liver Dr. - a 100% herbal remedy containing well researched ingredients and manufactured in therapeutic dosage according to the highest pharmaceutical standards.

Liver Dr. contains herbs known for their ability to maintain healthy liver performance, improve gall bladder functioning, reduce inflammation, and help dissipate gallstones.

Liver Dr. also helps the liver resist damage from toxins and disease, thereby improving overall systemic health.

Liver Dr. contains the following therapeutic herbs in convenient and fast-acting drop format:

• Silybum marianus: (also known as Milk Thistle) This herb has been used since ancient times for treating a wide variety of ailments but particularly liver problems. Milk Thistle is widely prescribed for preventing and treating liver disorders including viral hepatitis and liver disease associated with long-term alcohol usage. Studies suggest that this herb protects the liver from damage by viruses and toxins including alcohol and drugs and is widely used for treating Hepatitis C. Milk Thistle is also a potent antioxidant and laboratory studies indicate it may have useful anti-cancer properties.
• Taraxacum officinale: More commonly known as Dandelion, this herbal ingredient contains bitter principles which have a beneficial effect on the liver and digestive system. It is considered a very effective general tonic and is known to improve bile flow and reduce inflammation associated with hepatitis and cirrhosis. Dandelion also improves gall bladder functioning and helps to dissipate gallstones. Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, D, C, various B Vitamins, iron, lecithin, silicon, potassium, magnesium, zinc and manganese.
• Verbena officinalis: Also known as Vervain or Wild Hyssop, this herb is native to the Mediterranean region. Used as a hepatic (liver) remedy, it will treat inflammation of the gallbladder and is also used for jaundice. It is well-known for its ability to relieve tension and stress and relieve mild depression.

Prevention

Dietary Recommendations

It may seem obvious, but the number one way to treat gallstones is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Research suggests that one of the best ways to prevent gallstones is to eat a diet high in water-soluble fiber.

Fiber helps the bowels and digestive system function most efficiently. Some exceptional choices of food that contain high fiber include:

Grain Products:

Including whole grain breads, buns, bagels, muffins, bran flakes, corn bran cereals, whole wheat cereals, brown rice, and whole-grain pastas

Fruits:

Including dried fruits (apricots, dates, prunes, raisins), blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and oranges

Vegetables:

Including broccoli, dried peas and beans (e.g. kidney, lima, beans, chick peas, lentils and soy beans), and corn

As recommended by the Food Guide Pyramid, you should eat 3-5 servings of vegetables a day and 2-4 servings of fruit. As a side note, because fruit juices are often processed, heavily laden with artificial flavors and sugars, and have much of their dietary fiber removed, they don’t do the trick.

As much as it’s an uncomfortable subject to broach, when introducing fiber rich foods into your diet, you should always do so slowly to prevent excessive discomfort from flatulence build up. Introduce just one or two high fiber foods every day. If flatulence is a problem, a natural product, called “Beano,” contains an enzyme that helps break up the molecules responsible for flatulence. Charcoal is another substance that is effective at removing excessive flatulence in the body. However, do not take it at the same time you take your vitamins, because your body will not absorb the minerals as well.

Juice Therapy

In addition to a healthy, well-rounded diet high in water-soluble dietary fiber, low in saturated fats, and supplemented with a regime of exercise and vitamins and herbs, juice therapies, particularly ingestion of “green” juices, have been shown to help prevent recurring gallstones in patients who have been previously diagnosed with gallstones.

Green juices recommended for gallstone prevention include:

• spinach
• parsley
• wheatgrass

Each of these juices contains high levels of chlorophyll—a substance which has a natural cleansing effect on the body, particularly the liver and kidneys.

Wheatgrass is also rich in many trace minerals and vitamins, including vitamin A. Wheatgrass can be readily purchased in many market locations. You can make your own juice or buy wheatgrass tablets at almost any health food store.

Generally, to prevent gallstone formation, drinking at least one to two eight-ounce glasses of green juice per day is recommended.

For a tasty, nutritious, and gallstone-fighting juice combination, try the following recipe.

Mix equal parts:

Trigger Food Elimination

Certain foods are thought to trigger attacks in patients susceptible to gallstones. You should eliminate or reduce these foods in your diet to improve symptoms and prevent recurrences of gallstone attacks. The following foods have shown to be problematic:

Lifestyle Changes

In addition to modifying your diet, there are other lifestyle changes that can help prevent and eliminate gallstones. Key among these is the maintenance of a consistent, healthy weight for your body type and age. As we have seen, obesity ranks high on the list of predisposing risk factors contributing to gallstone disease. Losing weight is a key strategy for patients suffering from gallstones. A commitment to weight loss not only benefits you in terms of gallstones, but opens up a world that is limited by excessive weight.

That said, you should always work to remove excess weight at a reasonable pace. Ironically, rapid weight loss has been associated with gallstone formation. A weight loss program that allows you to lose approximately 1-2 pounds per week over time will decrease your chances of recurring gallstones and also eliminate the likelihood of the formation of gallstones.

Your Health, Your Choice

In the end, your health is of the utmost importance. Taking responsibility to learn all that you can about gallstone disease and the ways to prevent and eliminate the occurrence of gallstones is your choice. If you are ready to accept your responsibility, take the steps necessary to

• learn about gallstones and the treatments, both surgical and non-surgical that are available
• consult your physician for advice on designing a treatment program that is appropriate for your specific situation
• improve your diet to include a high fiber, low saturated fat plan
• drink 10-12 glasses of water a day
• draw from all the major food groups as suggested by the Food Pyramid Guide
• supplement your diet with appropriate vitamins and herbs
• implement a consistent exercise regimen appropriate for your body size and conditioning
• undertake any of the various remedies and therapies suggested within this guide that are appropriate for your condition (after consulting your physician)

Again, we wish you well on your journey toward good health!

Testimonials

Resources

Related Resources

For more information on gallstones, please see the following Web sites.

Gallstones and Gallstone Disease

For an easy-to-understand, yet highly explanatory overview of the function of the gallbladder and the occurrence and surgical treatment of gallstones, see The American Gastroenterological AssociationWeb site.

For a detailed explanation of gallstones, visit the Gallstones: A National Health Problem Web site from the American Liver Foundation.

For an extensive list of resource links all dealing with gallstones and gallstone treatment, see the MediLinks: Gallbladder and Gallstones Web site.

Liver and Gallbladder Cleanses

In addition to the liver and gallbladder cleanse and variations contained within this guide, you can find additional information on gallbladder cleansing, including a shopping list for the products you will need to conduct a cleanse at the Gallbladder Cleanse section of CureZone.com

To join in a discussion of common questions regarding liver cleanses, visit Liver Cleansing and Gallstones Frequently Asked Question Forum

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

For an extensive compilation of health and fitness articles geared to help you establish a healthy exercise routine, visit the Physical Activity Website.

For an interesting study that identifies the risks and preventative measures for obese individuals as relates to gallstones, visit the Dieting and Gallstones Web site.

Good Health, Good Diet

For comprehensive information on healthy dietary practices, visit the Food Guide Pyramid Web site.

To learn more about the benefits and facts associated with a high fiber diet, visit the HealthTouch Online Web site.

Find all of your healthy food products and natural supplements and herbs at Natural Health Direct, an online resource shop.

For information from Dr. Chet on natural living, including many free recipes, health tips, as well as free newsletter, visit Dr. Chet’s Natural Health and Recipes Web site.

To learn more about food elimination diets, visit the Elimination Diets to Treat Food Intolerance Web site.

To learn more about how excess weight is harmful to your overall health, visit the Overweight and Obesity Web site provided by the C.D.C.

Odds and Ends to Right Living

For a comprehensive understanding of homeopathy and the naturopathic approach to medicine and healing, visit ABC Homeopathy or the National Center for Homeopathy.

For general information about a natural approach to medicine and health, visit the Sharing Health from the Heart Web site.

To learn more about Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and acupressure, and how it can help you, visit Acupuncture.com

For information and resources for purchasing natural and chemical free products, visit Dr. Bronner’s Web site

To find out how you can improve your energy with an energy machine that you create, visit the TeslaTech Web site.