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GALL BLADDER DISEASEWhat is the gall bladder?The gall bladder is a small pear-shaped organ situated directly under the liver in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. What is the function of the gall bladder?Its main function is to collect and concentrate the bile that the body uses to digest fats. Problems with the gall bladder and biliary system are very common and consist of -
Surgeons are often very keen to remove the gall bladder as it is believed that it 'serves no purpose'. This is very untrue. The process of bile production is an 'expensive' biochemical process. The body has developed the gall bladder to store bile that has been recovered from the bowel to be recycled - thus saving the liver from having to produce new batches. Therefore, the gall bladder is vitally important as it takes a lot of workload off the liver. If the gall bladder is diseased and dysfunctional - it is often due to the fact that the liver is under stress and is also dysfunctional. A dysfunctional liver will tend to produce toxic unhealthy bile. What is bile?Bile is a substance made in the liver cells (hepatocytes) consisting of water, electrolytes, bile acids, cholesterol, phospholipids and bilirubin. It is a fat emulsifying agent helping to keep cholesterol levels in check. It also assists with absorption of certain nutrients, namely the fat soluble vitamins A, D E and K. What causes gall bladder problems ?
You may be suffering with chronic infections because your immune system is weakened and over loaded. To reduce the workload of the immune system it is vital to improve the liver function. What are the symptoms of gall bladder disease?
What can I do to help prevent/treat gall bladder problems?To improve gall bladder problems, we must improve the quality of the bile, by improving the liver function. See suggestions below. What causes gall stones?Sometimes crystals precipitate out of the bile to form gallstones. Generally speaking the gall bladder becomes diseased or dysfunctional because the liver is producing unhealthy bile. The bile is either toxic or contains excess amounts of fat and bacteria. What are the symptoms of gall stones?The majority of gall stones stay in the gall bladder and cause no symptoms. However, if a stone moves it may obstruct the neck of the gall bladder or common bile duct giving rise to severe pain in the upper right side of the abdomen. A stone in the common bile duct will frequently cause jaundice. Jaundice is a condition in which the skin and the eyes become yellow due to accumulated bile pigment. Some people with large stones in the gall bladder will never have any problems, and should not rush into surgery. In such cases you may want to try and dissolve the stones gradually over several years by following the recommendations given below. Of course you will also be doing your liver a good service, as you will be removing the unhealthy fats from the liver. Acute cholecystitis is when the gall bladder becomes distended and inflamed, often with resulting localized peritonitis. It usually follows obstruction to the neck of the gall bladder or cystic duct by an impacted stone. Acute cholecystitis classically affects females in the 20 to 40 year age group but may occur at any age. The pain in the central and right upper abdomen is continuous and severe and increases in intensity over 24 hours. It frequently radiates around to the back and may be associated with nausea and vomiting. A high fever is common. The presence of gallstones and acute cholecystitis can usually be confirmed by an ultrasound scan. Repeated attacks of cholecystitis may occur if the condition remains untreated. Recommended books
Recommended treatmentGenerally speaking the gall bladder becomes diseased or dysfunctional because the liver is producing unhealthy bile. The bile is either toxic or contains excess amounts of fat and bacteria. To improve gall bladder problems, we must improve the quality of the bile, by improving the liver function. Even after the gall bladder is removed there may still be problems in the bile ducts inside & outside the liver. This is because the underlying problem of toxic bile has not been corrected. Indeed after gall bladder removal the following things may still happen –
Thus it is important to take extra care of your liver if you have gall bladder problems, or if you have had your gall bladder removed. Diet
Recommended supplementsMSM with Vitamin C PowderMSM (Methyl-Sulphonyl-Methane) is an organic form of sulphur, which may assist in softening and preventing further scar tissue. Sulphur is also a vital component of healthy bile. Sulphur is needed to produce the powerful antioxidant called glutathione. Vitamin C will neutralize free radicals generated during the phase 1 detoxification pathway in the liver and reduce toxic damage and chemical overload. Toxic chemicals are far less dangerous if there is plenty of vitamin C in the liver. It also helps the liver to regulate cholesterol levels and improves immunity. Organic Flaxseed OilGood quality essential fats are very important to keep the gall bladder in good working order. Low fat diets are not the way to go. It must be the 'right' fat diet. Flaxseed is an excellent, vegetarian source of essential fatty acids beneficial for damaged liver cell membranes and assists in reducing inflammation. Some people find the flaxseed oil capsules much easier to consume than the cold pressed flaxseed oil liquid. Livatone® Plus Capsules/PowderA good, all-purpose comprehensive herbal liver tonic which consists of herbs such as dandelion, Milk Thistle, amino acids and lecithin, which will improve elimination and the reduction of waste via a cleansing effect on the bowel. Dandelion will also help to prevent gall stones and may actually help to dissolve them. Dandelion increases bile production and causes the gall bladder to contract to expel any small stones and gravel. It also increases the amount of cheneoxycholic acid, which over time dissolves the stones. Lecithin also aids in fat digestion and increases the phospholipid concentration in the gall bladder. Patients with gall stones have an abnormally low phospholipid : cholesterol ratio in their bile. Increasing the phospholipid concentration may therefore inhibit the development of gall stones and possibly decrease the size of pre-existent stones. Fibertone PowderIncreased consumption of fiber will assist the action of pumping fats and cholesterol out through the bowel actions. You can ensure you are getting enough fiber by taking a soluble fiber supplement. A good fiber product will contain soy fiber, rice bran, vegetable powders, slippery elm and peppermint and will gently alleviate any constipation symptoms, while improving bowel tone and function. It can be added to soy, rice or oat milk, and fruit smoothies, or added in with your favorite breakfast cereal. Start on a small dose and gradually increase the amount. It is also important to drink at least 8 glasses of purified water every day and some people will need to drink up to 12 glasses daily. Water should be drunk gradually throughout the day, in-between meals. To assist in fighting infections in the gall bladderOlive Leaf capsulesOlive Leaf is a traditional remedy used as a natural and effective antibiotic. Selenium CompleteSelenium will assist in reducing gall bladder inflammation and is a powerful antioxidant mineral that works synergistically with other antioxidants to assist in protection against further damage to liver cells. You would need to consume 200mcg daily. Absorption of vital nutrients & active ingredients is superior from powders, as compared to compressed tablets, which often pass through the gut without being dissolved or absorbed. Raw Juices
Recommended juice recipes from Dr Cabot's "Raw Juices Can Save Your Life" book are: • "Gall Stones and Biliary Problems" juice on page 93 • "Liver Dysfunction" juices on page 116 Juices made freshly from raw fruits and vegetables have unique healing & rejuvenating properties. Dr Cabot has seen them work many miracles in people with the following problems –
For those who feel they need an extra boost there is nothing better than having a raw juice every day. It will brighten up the day by providing extra energy & endurance. Juices are unique because they allow the gut to receive very concentrated amounts of phyto-nutrients that could not be obtained by eating a normal amount of raw vegetables & fruits. Juices are high in --- Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, carotenoids, living plant enzymes to aid digestion & vitamin K, which is in green leafy vegetables. THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FDA AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT OR CURE ANY DISEASES. Common questions about the gall bladderCan I still do the Liver Cleansing Diet or follow Liver Cleansing principles even though my gall bladder has been removed?Yes – infact it is highly recommended as even after the gall bladder is removed there may still be problems in the bile ducts inside & outside the liver. This is because the underlying problem of toxic bile has not been corrected. Indeed after gall bladder removal the following things may still happen – Stones & gravel may form in the bile ducts inside & outside the liver. The liver may develop fatty changes, thus it is important to take extra care of your liver if you have gall bladder problems, or if you have had your gall bladder removed. I have been diagnosed or believe I have gall stones – should I do a gall bladder/liver flush?No – this is not recommended as a first step. These flushes using olive oil, lemon juice or apple juice, etc. work by shrinking the stones and causing the gallbladder to contract forcefully to hopefully expel the stones to be passed in the feces. Alternatively, a teaspoon of good quality apple cider vinegar mixed with a teaspoon of honey in a small glass of warm water and sipped slowly during every meal can be taken to help dissolve the stones. These flushes are best done after at least 6 months of following the "Liver Cleansing Diet" principles and taking the recommended supplements to shrink and soften the stones before flushing. Once this has been done – the shrunken softened stones and remaining sludge may then be safely flushed out. It is recommended to have an ultrasound of the gall bladder before undertaking the flush to determine the size of the stones. The reason being that if the gall bladder is full of silent gall stones and a flush is undertaken – these stones may become impacted in the narrow bile ducts as they are flushed out. This may cause a tear in the duct and requires immediate surgery. A standard and alternative method of gall bladder flushing is outlined in Dr Cabot's "Healthy Liver and Bowel Book" Orthodox Medical TreatmentGall stones which are not causing any symptoms require no treatment. Acute cholecystitis is commonly managed conservatively with bed rest, nil by mouth and intravenous fluids, plus an antibiotic. Strong analgesia (pain relief) is also usually needed. As repeat attacks are likely, surgical removal of the gall bladder (cholecystectomy) is recommended at some future date. This is also the preferred option for any gall stones which are causing symptoms. These days, the operation is frequently done via a laparoscope (operating telescope) requiring only a very small incision ("keyhole surgery"). This means a much shorter hospital stay and much faster recovery. Other possible treatments for gall stones include the administration of bile acid preparations which can be used to dissolve certain types of stones. This takes anything from six months to two years and after the treatment is stopped 50 percent of the gallstones recur, especially if you don't follow our dietary recommendations. For these reasons it is rarely advocated. Shock-wave treatment (lithotripsy) can be used in some cases to break up the stones, followed up by bile acid therapy. The role of this approach is still being evaluated. In our experience, by using these dietary and natural therapy measures, surgery can often be avoided. (References - Bergman F et al. Gallstone formation in guinea pigs under different dietary conditions. Effect of vitamin C on bile acid pattern. Med Biol 599(2):92-8,1981; Ginter E, MIlus L. Reduction of gallstone formation by ascorbic acid in hamsters. Experientia 33(6):716-7,1977; Saito T. The preventive effect of vitamin E on gallstone formation. Arch Jpn Chir 56(3):247-88,1987; Tuzhilin SA et al. The treatment of patients with gallstones by lecithin. Am J Gastrenterol 65(3):231-5,1976; Tompkins RK et al. Relationship of biliary phospholipid and cholesterol concentrations to the occurrence and dissolution of human gallstones. Ann Surg 172(6):936-45,1970; Faber K. The dandelion - taraxum officinale. Pharmazie 13:423-35,1958.) November 7, 2002). Articles Dealing with Gall Bladder Disorders The message that your gall bladder is sending could very well be this: Beware the effects of bad nutrition. In recent years surgeons have been increasingly removing gall bladders, presumably in an attempt to treat gall stones and related disorders. But the gall bladder is fundamental to your well-being. Among other functions, it stores bile, a powerful fat-emulsifying substance that the liver makes from cholesterol. A healthy gall bladder works with flawless precision, releasing bile just when it's needed to help digest food. It also absorbs nutrients and keeps your cholesterol levels in check. Even as many doctors subscribe to the myth that eating fat and cholesterol leads to gall stones, research indicates that eating too little fat and too much carbohydrate in the form of grains, sugars and starches actually leads to gall bladder ailments.1 The organ has one fundamental purpose: to help you digest food, specifically fats. Meddle with the performance of its job—as you do when you don't eat enough fat to keep it in working order—and you endanger its health. Instead, the bile just sits in the organ, losing water and thickening. Upsetting the Bile Balance When you eat a meal that contains fat, the gall bladder releases bile into the small intestine. The bile breaks down the fat so the body's tissues can absorb it, also enabling absorption of fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E and K. But the wrong food choices can toss a variety of diet-related wrenches into this machinery. For example: • Without adequate protein, the liver won't produce enough bile for the body to digest fats and allow nutrient absorption. After a while, stores of fat-soluble vitamins, especially vitamin K, decline. With time, outright deficiencies can occur—along with the illnesses they trigger. • A diet high in sugary foods or refined carbohydrates has the same consequences. • Frequent fasting—even just skipping breakfast—also sets the stage for a drop in bile production and usage. • A low-cholesterol diet disrupts the system in two ways: First, the liver makes bile acids from cholesterol, so a scarcity of the raw ingredients causes a drop in production. Second, the main way the body gets rid of cholesterol is through bile metabolism, which transforms a third to a half of our total cholesterol into bile acids. The Growth of Stones Besides nutrient deficiencies and impaired digestion, the biggest repercussion of gall bladder dysfunction is the formation of gall stones, which can block bile ducts and cause nausea, abdominal pain, indigestion and inflammation. If gall stones are not treated, they can become steadily worse and ultimately prove fatal. Approximately 80 percent of gall stones are composed mostly of cholesterol. As bile stagnates or thickens, cholesterol concentration increases. Cholesterol crystals eventually form, becoming like grains of sand in a gall stone "pearl." So, if excess cholesterol is the basis of gall stones, why doesn't a low-cholesterol diet solve the problem? It doesn't work that way. People with high cholesterol levels in their blood are not more likely to develop gall stones or gall bladder problems. In other words, dietary cholesterol (as opposed to cholesterol made by your liver) is not an important risk factor for gall stones. What, then, are the risk factors for gall stones? Depending upon which study you read, women are anywhere from four to eight times more likely to get gall stones than men.2 Pregnancy and estrogen therapy raise the odds a woman faces, as do obesity, diabetes and aging. We can't do much about gender and age, but diet is a common denominator in obesity and diabetes. In too many instances they are provoked by an insulin disorder that's caused by eating high-sugar, high-carbohydrate foods. Eating a lot of refined carbohydrates has also been identified as a risk factor for gallstones.3 Rapid weight loss also has been implicated. In the last few years researchers have debated whether it's the speed with which pounds are dropped or the composition of the diet plan, but upon closer inspection, the culprit repeatedly proves to be a low-calorie, low-fat diet.4,6 Dietary fat and cholesterol promote normal gall bladder function.5 If you take cholesterol-lowering drugs, be aware that they can raise the risk of gall stone formation.6 Consuming sufficient healthy fat while shunning sugar and other carbohydrates empty of nutrients promotes gall bladder contractions and prevents gall stones better than anything else. So, long before surgery becomes a necessity, look at changing your diet. It's a lot safer. . References 1. Tseng, M., Everhart, J.E., Sandler, R.S., "Dietary Intake and Gallbladder Disease: A Review," Public Health Nutrition, 2(2), 1999, pages 161-172. 2. Everhart, J.E., Khare, M., Hill, M., et al., "Prevalence and Ethnic Differences in Gallbladder Disease in the United States," Gastroenterology, 117(3), 1999, pages 632-639. 3. Boland, L.L., Folsom, A.R., Rosamond, W.D., "Hyperinsulinemia, Dyslipidemia, and Obesity as Risk Factors for Hospitalized Gallbladder Disease. A Prospective Study," Annals of Epidemiology, 12(2), 2002, pages 131-140. 4. Festi, D., Colecchia, A., Orsini, M., et al., "Gallbladder Motility and Gallstone Formation in Obese Patients Following Very Low Calorie Diets. Use It (Fat) to Lose It (Well)," International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 22(6), 1998, pages 592-600. 5. Gebhard, R.L., Prigge, W.F., Ansel, H.J., et al., "The Role of Gallbladder Emptying in Gallstone Formation During Diet-Induced Rapid Weight Loss," Hepatology, 24(3), 1996, pages 544-548. 6. Michielsen P.P., Fierens, H., Van Maercke, Y.M., "Drug-Induced Gallbladder Disease. Incidence, Aetiology and Management," Drug Safety, 7(1), 1992, pages 32-45. Q. What can I do if I have Gall bladder Disease or Gall stones?Diseases of the gall bladder and biliary system are surprisingly common, and many cases could be avoided simply by following the principles of the Liver Cleansing Diet. The Liver and Gall Bladder FlushThe liver/gall bladder flush is a quick way of flushing toxins, fat, sludge and small gall stones out of the liver and gall bladder. It is becoming quite popular in Russia and the U.S.A. I will warn you that it is not for the faint hearted, and can cause some unpleasant reactions. Quite a few people have told me of excellent results from this procedure, so you may find it of interest and also of help. This is particularly so if you have gall stones or sludge in the gall bladder, which may or may not cause discomfort. The presence of gall stones can be diagnosed from various imaging techniques such as an ultrasound scan, CAT scan or cholecystogram. Many people have "silent gall stones" that do not trouble them and in such cases it is not necessary to panic and rush into surgery. Gall stones are often discovered accidentally when a patient is being investigated for some other problem. The natural history of these stones is that they will remain silent and cause no problems, and only around 18% of such stones will cause problems over a 15-year period. If you have stones that are not troubling you, I suggest that you follow the liver principles in the Liver Cleansing Diet book and take a liver tonic and watch the stones slowly dissolve and shrink away. If however the gall stones or sludge are causing upper abdominal pain, nausea, bouts of vomiting, pain in the right shoulder, or if there is a chance of infection or cancer in the gall bladder, then you must be guided by your own surgeon. Laparoscopic surgery (keyhole surgery) has made the recovery time after surgery to remove the gall bladder (cholecystectomy) much shorter. In some very acute biliary attacks, gall bladder removal can be life saving. However, remember this type of surgery can have risks and complications and nobody looks forward to an operation. Although complications from gall bladder surgery are not common, I have seen patients who have had more problems after cholecystectomy than they had before. These problems included leaking bile, damaged bile ducts, liver haemorrhage, recurrent pain and fatty liver. Indeed I have found that the incidence of fatty liver is higher after removal of the gall bladder. These are the reasons why some people opt to use the liver/gall bladder flush to try and avoid surgery. If you decide to do this please talk to your doctor first. One evening I was giving a seminar in Florida, when a middle-aged gentleman stood up in front of several hundred people and proudly told his account of how he had flushed out his liver and gall bladder with olive oil and lemon juice. This had resulted in him passing 1425 small gallstones over several hours, which he had obviously gone to great lengths to count! These small stones had been eliminated from his body via his bowel actions. For patients who believe that they need to stimulate the elimination of toxins and/or gall stones out of the bile ducts, a liver flush can be done to greatly increase the flow of bile through the liver and bile ducts. A Standard Method for the Liver and Gallbladder flush is:
2. Finely grate 1 to 2 cloves of fresh garlic and half a teaspoon of fresh ginger, and then press both in a garlic press to make juice. Add this juice to the water and citrus juice mixture. Garlic and ginger are liver cleansing and garlic contains sulphur compounds that the liver requires for its detoxification enzymes. 3. Pour 300 mL (11oz) of cold pressed good quality olive oil into a warm glass. 4. Every 15 minutes swallow 3 tablespoons of the citrus juice mixture and 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Try to relax in between these 15- minute intervals. Some people find it beneficial to lie down on their right side with a hot water bottle over the liver area, which helps to dilate the bile ducts to allow the passage of small stones and sludge from the gall bladder. Others prefer to sit in a warm bath, which also helps to dilate the bile ducts. 5. If you desire, collect all your bowel actions (they may be loose and messy) into a bucket and when the flush is over, place them in a large strainer or colander and run tap water over them. You will probably find many greenish stones/gritty sludge around the size of a lentil or slightly larger. There may also be some large soft stones full of fatty cholesterol. Some people may not want to collect their bowel actions and are content to hear the stones clanging as they land in the toilet bowl! I recommend that a qualified health practitioner always supervises the liver/gall bladder flush. Certain people such as pregnant women, young children, very elderly and frail people, insulin-dependent diabetics or those with severe liver disease or an acutely inflamed gallbladder, should not try the liver/ gallbladder flush and should discuss it with their own doctor. Some people who do this flush may find that they feel very nauseated (bilious), and/or vomit several times. Abdominal cramps and diarrhoea may accompany this, before the stones are passed. An Alternative Method for the Liver and Gall bladder flush is:
Preparation for the flush:To prepare for the flushing procedure, I recommend that during the two days prior to the commencement of the flush, you only consume raw fruits and vegetables and drink 2 liters (4 pints) of water daily. This preparation will lessen the chance of a bad reaction. Begin the liver flush in the morning after some brisk walking and deep breathing exercises. Make sure that you drink two liters of water gradually by sipping it slowly during the day, otherwise the flush may induce dehydration. Some protagonists of this procedure, recommend that you begin the flush at 7 p.m. because they believe that the gall bladder is "more active at night". This may be true, however you will not get much sleep that night, if you decide to do the flush while the moon is shining! If you are a person who forms recurrent gall stones you can do this flush 3 times every year to prevent gall stones from building up. Some people do it every month and find that it does not cause any problems or side effects. If you follow the principles of the Liver Cleansing Diet found in this book, you should not have to do this procedure very often, if at all. This is because a healthy liver manufactures and secretes healthy bile, which prevents gall bladder inflammation and gall stones. We do know that family history often plays a part in liver and gall bladder disease, so if you find yourself with gall stones, have a good look at your family history and take extra special care of your liver. Gall stones are more common during pregnancy. If gall stones are recurrent in younger persons, this may be a sign of an underlying blood disease. Other TreatmentsOther treatments available for gall stones consist of drugs used to dissolve the stones. This is not hugely successful because it takes 6 months - 2 years for the stones to dissolve and the recurrence rate is high. Only stones made from cholesterol can be dissolved with drugs such as the bile acids chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid. These drugs will not dissolve calcified stones, which makes only around 10% of patients with gall stones suitable candidates for these drugs. Therefore these drugs are not recommended for the majority of patients with gall stones. Gall bladder disease is very common, with around one million new cases of gall stones occurring every year in the U.S.A. This equates to 1 in every 250 persons who develop gall bladder problems annually, and the incidence is only slightly less in Australia. So do not feel alone if you have this problem! The good news is that most cases of gall bladder disease could be prevented if we consumed a diet that was good for the liver.
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