First Aid Remedies For Easing The Pain Of A Gallbladder Attack
A gallbladder attack can occur if a gallstone gets trapped in the neck of the gallbladder, or gets stuck in a bile duct. This can inhibit the normal flow of bile and lead to a build up of pressure within the biliary system. Spasms of the bile ducts can also lead to pain and discomfort.
It is also possible to have a gallbladder attack when no stones can be found in the gallbladder. These symptoms can be caused by inflammation to the walls of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), or gallbladder sludge or a stone trapped within a bile duct inside the liver.
Symptoms of a gallbladder attack may include the following:
- Intense pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen (just behind the lowest rib on the right). The area can be so tender that it takes your breath away if you apply pressure to it.
- Nausea that may lead to vomiting
- Sweating
- Flatulence (intestinal gas)
- Diarrhoea
- Belching (burping)
- A fever
- Pain may radiate to the right shoulder blade, or between the shoulder blades
- The pain may be so intense that it becomes impossible to walk unless hunched over
- The pain may come and go or it may be constant
Simple hot pack
The purpose of applying heat to your gallbladder is to expand the bile ducts and relieve pressure. This can be very effective for calming down painful spasms of the biliary ducts, and if a small stone is trapped in a bile duct, the application of heat may relieve the blockage. You will need a warm moist towel and either a hot water bottle or a heated wheat bag. Lie down and place a warm moist towel on the upper part of the right side of your abdomen. Apply a hot water bottle on top of the towel and leave it in place for ten to 15 minutes. After that time, get up, walk around for a couple of minutes and then lie down again and repeat the procedure. You can repeat this process several times until the gallbladder attack passes.Castor oil hot pack
A castor oil hot pack is more effective than using a hot water bottle or wheat bag. Castor oil comes from the seed of the castor bean plant called Ricinus communis. Castor oil is commonly used in a heat pack or compress to treat a variety of painful conditions, including menstrual pain and joint pain. When it comes to gallbladder attacks, castor oil can relieve pain and spasms of the gallbladder and bile ducts. The castor oil also gets absorbed through your skin and has healing properties. Therefore it is beneficial to apply a castor oil hot pack to your gallbladder and liver during an acute gallbladder attack, but we also suggest you use this remedy regularly, for 30 minutes, three times a week at least two hours after dinner if you have an inflamed gallbladder that regularly causes you discomfort. A word of warning; castor oil has quite a strong offensive odor and it can leave permanent stains on your clothing, bed sheets, towels, etcetera. So make sure you use old towels and sheets that you don’t mind ruining. Directions for making a castor oil pack You will need the following equipment:- castor oil (cold pressed is best)
- plastic cling wrap
- one old bath towel that is warm and moist
- a cotton tea towel
- two old blankets
- a hot water bottle, half filled with hot, not boiling water
Beverages that offer relief for gallbladder pain
Flaxseed (linseed) warm drink This is an old folk remedy used by many European cultures for relieving pain and inflammation. It is excellent for spasm and inflammation of the gallbladder and biliary ducts. Place 2 tablespoons of flaxseeds into a small pot containing 3 cups of water. Simmer the mixture on a very low heat for 20 minutes and then strain it into a mug, so you have approximately one cup of liquid. Discard the seeds. Allow the mixture to cool slightly and then sip it slowly while still warm. Warm apple cider vinegar drink This is excellent for relieving nausea. It is important to include apple cider vinegar in your diet regularly if you want to dissolve gallstones, but sipping on diluted apple cider vinegar during a gallbladder attack is a useful first aid remedy. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in one mug of warm water and sip slowly during a gallbladder attack. Drinking strong peppermint tea, or the juice of half a lemon in a mug of warm water are also effective remedies for a gallbladder attack, or gallbladder discomfort following a meal. You can alternate these three drinks during a gallbladder attack, or stick to the one that offers you most relief. Magnesium helps to reduce painful gallbladder spasms, therefore dissolving half a teaspoon of Magnesium Ultra Potent powder in a little warm water should also help reduce pain. You may need to take this every hour.Know someone who might benefit from this article? Share it!
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Is common but shouldn't be causing me pain, ever since the ultra sound I've been in more pain in stomach that seems to radiate into groin.. Dr has referred for a camera into my stomach..
Is there anything you advise to take the pain away? It's not chronic pain, I'm not bent over in agony but it's constant and now making me feel a little sickly..
Many thanks
Please check out Dr Cabot's recent videos on the gallbladder here.
Please download Dr Cabot's free e-book on pain relief here.
Until you have an official diagnosis it might be a good idea to avoid inflammatory foods and focus on an anti-inflammatory diet. You may find these articles helpful:https://www.liverdoctor.com/inflammation-be-responsible-for-your-health-problems/
https://www.liverdoctor.com/best-and-worst-foods-for-inflammation/
Serrapeptase may be beneficial to help reduce cysts. This is discussed in article above.
Kind regards,
Jessah Shaw
Nutritionist
I have many small gall bladder stones and I am 53 y with type 2 diabetes and hypertension . Sometimes I got severe attack of abdominal pain and my doctor suggest to remove gall bladder
However I would like to save it . Could I use oxy bile for that ?
It is very possible to keep your gallbladder with an improved diet that will reverse your diabetes and lower your blood pressure.
Follow the recipes in Dr Cabot’s Diabetes book and begin taking Ox Bile – 1 to 2 capsules with each meal, Livatone Plus – 2 capsules twice daily, and NAC - 2 capsules twice daily, well away from food with a large glass of water to avoid temporary stomach irritation.
To reduce your blood sugar and cholesterol effectively begin taking Berberine – 1 capsule two to three times daily.
For your blood pressure begin taking Magnesium powder or tablets200mg in/with water twice daily.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
Thank you!
Dr Cabot’s Magnesium powder or tablets have a number of different forms of magnesium for best absorption.
There is little point in taking Ox Bile when fasting because it will not be absorbed from the digestive tract to then begin dissolving your gallstones without the presence of fat in the intestines at the same time.
If you are doing a full fat Bone Broth fast you can take 1 capsule of Ox Bile with each cup of bone broth.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
If you have big stones there is probably lots of inflammation and the wall of your Gallbladder may be thickened which is likely to have reduced its ability to contract to eject concentrated bile into your digestive tract.
Your doctors are both right and wrong.
If you choose to do nothing then the problem will get worse, but it is a reversible situation and if you are prepared to put in the necessary consistent effort the stones can be shrunk and removed.
Any thickening of the Gallbladder wall can be normalized and your Gallbladder may be able to be retrained for improved function.
Follow the protocol in Dr Cabot’s Gallbladder Book and begin taking Livatone Plus – 2 capsules twice daily, NAC – 2 capsules in a large glass of water twice daily, Ox Bile – 2 capsules 2 to 3 times daily during meals. If there is any calcium in your stones please also include Vitamin D – 1 capsule daily before lunch, and Super Vitamin K – 1 capsule daily. These fat soluble vitamins are best taken with good fats and a capsule of Ox Bile.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
Dr Cabot’s Ox Bile contains no gluten so is safe for Coeliacs.
Dr Cabot’s supplements are available internationally from liverdoctor.com.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
This is usually considered an emergency, so if you still have the Gallstone in your common bile duct, we strongly recommend you begin taking Livatone Plus 2 capsules twice daily, and 2 capsules of Ox Bile during each meal.
Dietary changes are also necessary so remove all grains, sugars, processed foods and alcohol from your daily meals.
If you have had your Gallbladder removed our advice remains the same to improve the health of your liver.
Ox Bile is necessary to ensure you have a source of concentrated bile for the rest of your life.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
Although you do not have stones it certainly sounds as though you have considerable Gallbladder inflammation and to relax your Gallbladder we recommend 200mg of Magnesium powder or tablets morning and evening every day.
While the attack is present dissolve 400mg Magnesium powder in a liter of water and have ½ cup every two hours.
Remain on an anti-inflammatory, low carbohydrate diet and begin taking Ox Bile capsules to ensure the bile in your Gallbladder is renewed regularly and to disinfect your digestive tract.
Your stool is indicative of having a dysbiotic microbiome which will be helped by the Ox Bile.
Suppositories are fine to use to relieve constipation, but laxatives are not encouraged and once you are getting sufficient magnesium and Ox Bile, your bowels may normalize.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
Malic acid is an established addition to the arsenal to soften gallstones to make it easier for concentrated bile to be able to dissolve the stones.
Others recommend Apple Cider Vinegar for its residual malic acid.
When considering apples most malic acid is found in under ripe green apples. The more sour the apple, the higher the concentration of malic acid.
Please remember it is only one of the recommendations made to remove gallstones.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
We are pleased you have had success with the diluted apple cider for your Gall Bladder attack.
We look forward to hearing of successes from others with other recommended remedies.
Please keep in mind the value of Magnesium powder or tablets when any gall attack occurs to help dilate and soften the biliary vessels.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
We have helped many people not only stop Gallbladder pain but also saved their Gallbladder from being removed.
To help the Gallbladder it is necessary to fix the liver which is usually congested or fatty.
Dr Cabot’s wonderful book ‘Save Your Gallbladder Naturally’ has the answers to help you and relieve the pain as fast as possible.
As well as getting the book the first supplement you need is Ox Bile to flush your Gallbladder with lots of bile to begin dissolving the stones.
The stones are very likely to be creating the inflammation that is causing the pain.
Eat as directed in the book and until the inflammation has lowered it may be best to keep fats to a low level but some are necessary to encourage refresh the bile in the Gallbladder.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
When the Gallbladder is removed there is no longer a place to concentrate the bile your mother's liver makes, although this can be supplied with Ox Bile supplementation for the rest of her life.
Before even considering removal of her Gallbladder, let’s consider her liver, because most people with Gallstones have a congested liver and many have a Fatty Liver.
This leads to toxic bile being stored in the Gallbladder and often to the production of Gallstones.
Your mother may be able to save her Gallbladder if she makes some very significant changes to diet and lifestyle.
Post Gallbladder Removal Syndrome often has the symptoms of nausea, gas. bloating, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhea.
Most of these are also often seen signs of Fatty or congested liver.
If your mother wants to help her Gallbladder Dr Cabot prescribes a very low carbohydrate diet, Livatone Plus, NAC, Vitamin C and Ox Bile to clear the stones in the Gallbladder.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
I’m not sure what is causing all these symptoms?
To quieten gallbladder attacks we encourage you to adopt a liver/gallbladder friendly diet.
Acid reflux indicates gluten, dairy, processed food, oxidised fat intolerance or low stomach acid production.
Esophageal inflammation and irritation from reflux can be responsible for an intransigent cough.
To begin dissolving your gallstones, to avoid surgery, Dr Cabot prescribes Livatone Plus, NAC, Vitamin C, OX Bile.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
gallbladder attacks for the last year and now my ALT is 322 and I have NA fatty liver. I’m slim and eat healthy so I’m confused as to why I am having this issue. I did abuse alcohol for 15 years but have been sober for 5. Any thoughts?
ALT is a strong indication of liver inflammation and it is best to have testing to determine what may be responsible.
Your primary care physician can order tests to check for liver diseases including viral hepatitis, or autoimmunity as well as Fatty Liver.
An abdominal ultrasound is necessary to exclude Gallstones or other liver gallbladder concerns, which can occur in slim persons and to determine the stage of Fatty liver you have.
Kind regards
Victoria
Apples contain Malic Acid, which is a very beneficial supplement to help soften and resolve gallstones. Eating apples comes with a downside in that they also supply a significant amount of sugar, which can contribute to gallstone formation, so Apple Cider Vinegar or Malic Acid supplementation may be preferable. Magnesium is always indicated when gallbladder pain is are present, to relax the muscles of the gallbladder neck and common bile duct.
Kind regards
Victoria
That is so great to hear.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutritionist for Liverdoctor.com