Gallstones Home Remedies - Get Rid of Gallstones

Gallstones form when liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. Cholesterol stones are usually green, but are sometimes white or yellow in color and account for about 80 percent of gallstones. It looks like a small "bag." It stores digestive juices that are made by the liver. Sometimes these juices become solid and form stones, called gallstones. It is estimated that about 20 million Americans have gallstones. The bile then flows within the intrahepatic bile ducts out of the liver and into the extrahepatic bile ducts-first into the hepatic bile ducts, then into the common hepatic duct, and finally into the common bile duct. The incidence of gallstone formation increases with age, especially among women. The first direction is on down the common bile duct and into the intestine where the bile mixes with food and promotes digestion of food. The second direction is into the cystic duct, and from there into the gallbladder. Gallstones usually form in the gallbladder; however, they also may form anywhere there is bile--in the intrahepatic, hepatic, common bile, and cystic ducts. Gallstones vary in size and may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. The gallbladder may develop a single, often large, stone or many smaller ones, even several thousand. Complications from gallstones can be serious, and even fatal, if left untreated. Fortunately, treatment is usually straightforward, and newer techniques often allow faster recovery time.

To understand the nature of gallstones, it is helpful to first look at the anatomy of the gallbladder and bile ducts. But some people with gallstones will have a gallbladder attack that can cause symptoms such as nausea and an intense, steady ache in their upper middle or upper right abdomen. They account for the other 20 percent of gallstones. Risk factors for pigment stones include cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood cell disorders, such as sickle cell anemia. Stones of mixed origin also occur. Bile is a watery liquid made by the cells of the liver that is important for digesting food in the intestine, particularly fat. Liver cells secrete the bile they make into small canals within the liver. Blockage of a duct can cause bile or digestive enzymes to be trapped in the duct. The elderly and men are more likely to experience more serious complications from gallstones. If a gallstone blocks the opening to that duct, digestive enzymes can become trapped in the pancreas and cause an extremely painful inflammation called gallstone pancreatitis. Gallstones are, oddly, a valuable by-product of meat processing, fetching up to $900 US an ounce in their use as a purported aphrodisiac in the herbal medicine of some cultures. The finest gallstones tend to be sourced from old dairy cows.

Herbal Medicines and Natural Home Remedies for Gallstones

The fresh juice of beets. carrot and cucumber in quantities of 100 ml each are one of the finest cleansers of the gall-bladder. These juices should be taken twice daily.

Pear is another excellent remedy for gall bladder disorders. This fruit or its juice should be taken liberally by the patient with beneficial results.

The flowers, seeds and roots of chicory are considered valuable in gall bladder disorders. A decoction about 30-60 ml of the flowers, seeds or roots can be used thrice daily with beneficial results.

Dandelion - About 125 ml each of the juiceS of dandelion and water cress should be taken twice daily. Combined with a vegetarian diet without much sugar and starch, these juices help to make the gall bladder nonnal.

An oil cure is also recommended in this problem. Take 30 in1 of vegetable oil, preferably olive oil, first thing in the morning and follow it immediately with 120 in1 of grape fruit juice or lemon juice. ,This treatment may be continued for several days or weeks.

Carrots, beets, grapefruit. pears. lemons or grapes may be taken in the fonn of juice. Emphasis may also be given on raw and cooked vegetables. Yoghurt, cottage cheese and a tablespoon of olive oil twice a day should be included in the diet.

The pain of gallstone colic can be relieved by the application of hot packs or fomentation on the upper abdominal area. Physical exercise is also essential.

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