Gallstones
Causes
Inadequate Bile
Bile is essential for the utilization of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.
Bile produced by your liver contains conjugated “already used” hormones, toxins, foreign chemicals and heavy metals.
An insufficient amount of bile salts can prevent proper dietary fat utilization, cause acid indigestion as well as a backup of toxicity.
Bile insufficiency can also cause poor hormone synthesis because all hormones are made from lipids.
Bile salts alkalinize the food in the small intestine
Liver congestion (live makes bile) can result in gall bladder stones and stagnation.
Liver needs protiens: The amino acid L-Taurine is critical for bile formation, while the sulphur-bearing amino acid L-Methionine is the primary methylating agent in the liver. Cysteine, another sulphur-bearing amino acid is a precursor to the antioxidant Glutathione, the body’s most ubiquitous antioxidant. Glutathione scavenges free radicals and toxins, which end up excreted through bile.
Proper cellular hydration is also essential for liver detoxification. Approximately 85% of bile is made from water.
The nutrient Betaine, also known as trimethylglycine is one of the most powerful liver detoxificants. Betain is found in the highest concentrations in beets and beet greens.
Individuals with bile acid insufficiency can also benefit from taking bile salts derived from either ox bile or bovine bile salts.
On a blood test, if blood cholesterol levels are lower than 170, it is possible there is a bile acid insufficiency. Increases or decreases in the liver enzymes ALT (>30, <10) or AST (>30, <10), GGTP (>30) can indicate dysfunction and/or congestion in the liver.
Liver Congestion
The function of the liver is to filter the blood and detoxify chemicals in the blood.When the liver gets congested it will spread to the lymphatic system. When the lymphatic system gets congested then you feel it in your sinuses. The bottom line is that for people who are “allergic to everything” I have found that getting the liver to be more efficient can have some dramatic effects. Primary Signs and Symptoms of a Sluggish Liver
Bile is essential for the utilization of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.
Bile produced by your liver contains conjugated “already used” hormones, toxins, foreign chemicals and heavy metals.
An insufficient amount of bile salts can prevent proper dietary fat utilization, cause acid indigestion as well as a backup of toxicity.
Bile insufficiency can also cause poor hormone synthesis because all hormones are made from lipids.
Bile salts alkalinize the food in the small intestine
Liver congestion (live makes bile) can result in gall bladder stones and stagnation.
Liver needs protiens: The amino acid L-Taurine is critical for bile formation, while the sulphur-bearing amino acid L-Methionine is the primary methylating agent in the liver. Cysteine, another sulphur-bearing amino acid is a precursor to the antioxidant Glutathione, the body’s most ubiquitous antioxidant. Glutathione scavenges free radicals and toxins, which end up excreted through bile.
Proper cellular hydration is also essential for liver detoxification. Approximately 85% of bile is made from water.
The nutrient Betaine, also known as trimethylglycine is one of the most powerful liver detoxificants. Betain is found in the highest concentrations in beets and beet greens.
Individuals with bile acid insufficiency can also benefit from taking bile salts derived from either ox bile or bovine bile salts.
On a blood test, if blood cholesterol levels are lower than 170, it is possible there is a bile acid insufficiency. Increases or decreases in the liver enzymes ALT (>30, <10) or AST (>30, <10), GGTP (>30) can indicate dysfunction and/or congestion in the liver.
Liver Congestion
The function of the liver is to filter the blood and detoxify chemicals in the blood.When the liver gets congested it will spread to the lymphatic system. When the lymphatic system gets congested then you feel it in your sinuses. The bottom line is that for people who are “allergic to everything” I have found that getting the liver to be more efficient can have some dramatic effects. Primary Signs and Symptoms of a Sluggish Liver
- Bitter, metallic taste in mornings
- Bowel movements painful or difficult
- Feeling Queasy, heaches over eyes
- Stools light colored
- Skin peels on soles of foot
- Pain between shoulder blades
How to Dissolve Gallstones
the magic is in the acetic acid (vinegar), not in anything else like malic acid. [article compares olive oil cleanse; apple juice malic acid theories]
from article: " I drank about 6 teaspoons of vinegar a day for the first month. Now, I drink about 1 tablespoon about twice a week. However, I sometimes drink more if I get bad heartburn because for some reason a teaspoon of vinegar also stops the heartburn."
"Basically, the vinegar and/or citric acid inhibit the liver from making cholesterol. However, the liver still recycles the bile acids so these circulate through the gall bladder and slowly disolve the cholesterol crystals which are what the gallstones are. The problem is that if you limit your diet to little fat as I did because I was afraid of having another attack this also reduces the circulation of the bile acids. Yes, this is a viscious cycle. The cholesterol crystals won't dissolve unless you inhibit colesterol production and maintain bile acid circulation but the bile acids normally only circulate when you eat fat. And, you have to limit fat to avoid attacks. During the more than one year when I first had attacks I knew that 20 grams of fat was enough to cause an attack.
So, taking vinegar and/or citric acid does the first requirement of inhibiting colesterol production but you still need some way to maintain circulation. I drink coffee in the morning and I know that the caffeine in coffee stimulates the gall bladder. So, I was pretty certain that I was maintaining circulation of the bile acids. "
essentially:
vinegar/citric acid to inhibit cholesterol
bile from liver dissolves cholesterol in gallbladder (stones)
So - must not overlimit fats or need to find a way to stimulate gallbladder (such as coffee, peppermint, tumeric)
DOSE: she used 2 Tb vinegar per day for one month and attacks stopped,
reduced to 1 Tb 2x week, maintenance
had stopped, another attack - started with two Tbs of vinegar and took it four times that first day. I cut back to one Tbs three times a day for the next few days. I also took some peppermint to help make certain that the bile acids would circulate. I assume that drinking the vinegar with twice as much orange juice would give me some citric acid as well and I'm assuming that that would have worked more quickly.
from article: " I drank about 6 teaspoons of vinegar a day for the first month. Now, I drink about 1 tablespoon about twice a week. However, I sometimes drink more if I get bad heartburn because for some reason a teaspoon of vinegar also stops the heartburn."
"Basically, the vinegar and/or citric acid inhibit the liver from making cholesterol. However, the liver still recycles the bile acids so these circulate through the gall bladder and slowly disolve the cholesterol crystals which are what the gallstones are. The problem is that if you limit your diet to little fat as I did because I was afraid of having another attack this also reduces the circulation of the bile acids. Yes, this is a viscious cycle. The cholesterol crystals won't dissolve unless you inhibit colesterol production and maintain bile acid circulation but the bile acids normally only circulate when you eat fat. And, you have to limit fat to avoid attacks. During the more than one year when I first had attacks I knew that 20 grams of fat was enough to cause an attack.
So, taking vinegar and/or citric acid does the first requirement of inhibiting colesterol production but you still need some way to maintain circulation. I drink coffee in the morning and I know that the caffeine in coffee stimulates the gall bladder. So, I was pretty certain that I was maintaining circulation of the bile acids. "
essentially:
vinegar/citric acid to inhibit cholesterol
bile from liver dissolves cholesterol in gallbladder (stones)
So - must not overlimit fats or need to find a way to stimulate gallbladder (such as coffee, peppermint, tumeric)
DOSE: she used 2 Tb vinegar per day for one month and attacks stopped,
reduced to 1 Tb 2x week, maintenance
had stopped, another attack - started with two Tbs of vinegar and took it four times that first day. I cut back to one Tbs three times a day for the next few days. I also took some peppermint to help make certain that the bile acids would circulate. I assume that drinking the vinegar with twice as much orange juice would give me some citric acid as well and I'm assuming that that would have worked more quickly.
Other Methods:
Get this:
• Apple Juice- 1 glass
• Apple Cider Vinegar- 1 tbsp (juice of 1/2 a lemon does the same)
Do this:
• Mix apple cider vinegar in the glass of apple juice.
• Drink this once everyday.
Malic acid in the apples soften gallstones
Vinegar stops the liver from making cholesterol and forming stones in gallbladder
very good remedy for quick relief from the pain during the gall stone attack
fresh uncooked applesauce mixed with shredded raw beets and 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a little fresh lemon juice to prevent future gallstones
Juice made from beetroot, cucumber and carrots is highly effective for gallbladder.
Beets strengthen and cleanse gallbladder and liver and cleanse colon and blood.
Cucumber and carrot for detoxifying liver and gallbladder
Get this:
• Beet root- 1/3 cup juice
• Cucumber- 1/3 cup juice
• Carrots 1/3 cup juice
Mix together; drink twice a day
Milk thistle detoxifyies liver and shrinks gallstones
Use supplement or make a tea
Peppermint oil stimulates the flow of bile and other digestive juices. It also contains terpene, the natural compound that is said to dissolve gallstones. Use enteric-coated capsules- as they release the oil in the small and large intestine and not in the stomach. relaxes spasms from acute pain.
Psyllium source of soluble fibers that bind to the cholesterol in bile and help prevent gallstone formation. Psyllium also prevents constipation which also leads to gallstone formation. Mix powder with water, drink
Coffee increases the flow of bile and thus prevents gallstones Limit 1 cup a day.
Stimulate liver as well as gallbladder with turmeric, dried ginger, black pepper, long pepper, asafoetida, etc.
Hulda Clark's gallstone cleanse - how to video (Epsom salt, olive oil, apple juice version) -- There is supposition that the olive oil forms clumps due to cleansing protocol and this is what people are passing, not gallstones.
400 mg of magnesium everyday can also help in the prevention of gallstone formation
Dissolving sludge and stones
Protocol
Increasing Bile Production (Choleretic) - flush out gallbladder sludge and stones
Food: artichokes, Young beet greens and possibly beets
Herbal bile flow stimulants include chamomile, chicory, blessed thistle and many of the bitter herbs.
Products: digestive bitters before each meal; Standard Process A-F Betafood; Panplex 2-Phase from ITI
Liquify and Move the Bile – (Cholagogue) - discharge of bile from the system downward out of your liver and gallbladder and into your small intestines.
bitter foods: raw bitter greens like arugula and some of the bitter lettuces or dandelion greens
supplements: the digestive bitters are a great idea here too, or liver support products; Milk Thistle from Gaia Herbs, Lipotrophic complex from ITI or Livaplex from Standard Process.
Shrink The Gallstones - This is a slow process, must be acidic enough to leech calcium out of stones
Food: Apple cider vinegar before meals is a great strategy
Standard Process Phosfood liquid – it’s super sour but works great to start shrinking stones.
Dump The Bile - prevent the bile that your body is dumping into your small intestines from being reabsorbed by binding it to fiber
Food: Consume fiber a couple of times per day between meals (with lots of water to also help you flush things through
Products: Fiber Plus powder from Orthomolecular
Get this:
• Apple Juice- 1 glass
• Apple Cider Vinegar- 1 tbsp (juice of 1/2 a lemon does the same)
Do this:
• Mix apple cider vinegar in the glass of apple juice.
• Drink this once everyday.
Malic acid in the apples soften gallstones
Vinegar stops the liver from making cholesterol and forming stones in gallbladder
very good remedy for quick relief from the pain during the gall stone attack
fresh uncooked applesauce mixed with shredded raw beets and 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a little fresh lemon juice to prevent future gallstones
Juice made from beetroot, cucumber and carrots is highly effective for gallbladder.
Beets strengthen and cleanse gallbladder and liver and cleanse colon and blood.
Cucumber and carrot for detoxifying liver and gallbladder
Get this:
• Beet root- 1/3 cup juice
• Cucumber- 1/3 cup juice
• Carrots 1/3 cup juice
Mix together; drink twice a day
Milk thistle detoxifyies liver and shrinks gallstones
Use supplement or make a tea
Peppermint oil stimulates the flow of bile and other digestive juices. It also contains terpene, the natural compound that is said to dissolve gallstones. Use enteric-coated capsules- as they release the oil in the small and large intestine and not in the stomach. relaxes spasms from acute pain.
Psyllium source of soluble fibers that bind to the cholesterol in bile and help prevent gallstone formation. Psyllium also prevents constipation which also leads to gallstone formation. Mix powder with water, drink
Coffee increases the flow of bile and thus prevents gallstones Limit 1 cup a day.
Stimulate liver as well as gallbladder with turmeric, dried ginger, black pepper, long pepper, asafoetida, etc.
Hulda Clark's gallstone cleanse - how to video (Epsom salt, olive oil, apple juice version) -- There is supposition that the olive oil forms clumps due to cleansing protocol and this is what people are passing, not gallstones.
400 mg of magnesium everyday can also help in the prevention of gallstone formation
Dissolving sludge and stones
Protocol
Increasing Bile Production (Choleretic) - flush out gallbladder sludge and stones
Food: artichokes, Young beet greens and possibly beets
Herbal bile flow stimulants include chamomile, chicory, blessed thistle and many of the bitter herbs.
Products: digestive bitters before each meal; Standard Process A-F Betafood; Panplex 2-Phase from ITI
Liquify and Move the Bile – (Cholagogue) - discharge of bile from the system downward out of your liver and gallbladder and into your small intestines.
bitter foods: raw bitter greens like arugula and some of the bitter lettuces or dandelion greens
supplements: the digestive bitters are a great idea here too, or liver support products; Milk Thistle from Gaia Herbs, Lipotrophic complex from ITI or Livaplex from Standard Process.
Shrink The Gallstones - This is a slow process, must be acidic enough to leech calcium out of stones
Food: Apple cider vinegar before meals is a great strategy
Standard Process Phosfood liquid – it’s super sour but works great to start shrinking stones.
Dump The Bile - prevent the bile that your body is dumping into your small intestines from being reabsorbed by binding it to fiber
Food: Consume fiber a couple of times per day between meals (with lots of water to also help you flush things through
Products: Fiber Plus powder from Orthomolecular
Cure overall digestion
organs require proper digestion How to heal gut She also has info on gallbladder which includes ACV in juice, plus additional remedies. Does not recommend cleanses/flushes - too drastic.
Diet with gallstones
Lots of info on helpful diets
All about lipase - splitting fats in the body
Foods to include and avoid
Foods that are recommended for people with gallstones:
Foods that should be avoided:
All about lipase - splitting fats in the body
Foods to include and avoid
Foods that are recommended for people with gallstones:
- Beets (very good for supporting the liver and gallbladder)
- Cucumber
- Green beans
- Sweet potatoes
- Avocado
- Artichoke
- Tomatoes and tomato sauce
- Okra
- Cold water fish (salmon, trout, herring, mackerel) and fish oils
- Grapes and organic grape juice
- Apples and organic apple juice
- Apricots
- Blue and blackberries
- Currants
- Figs
- Guava
- Lemons
- Pears
- Papaya
- Prunes
- Coconut
- Flax seed oil
- Vinegar
- Vegetable juices
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Onions (may aggravate sensitive individuals)
- WATER – incredibly important. Drink 2 liters per day.
- Peppermint tea
- Herbal teas
Foods that should be avoided:
- Deep fried foods
- Eggs (cause symptoms in up to 95% of patients)
- Pork
- Turkey
- Chicken
- Beef
- Nuts
- Legumes
- Dairy (milk, butter, cheese, cream, ice cream)
- Gluten grains (wheat, barley, spelt, rye, kamut)
- Corn
- Coffee (can decrease the risk of developing gallstones, but can aggravate existing gallstones)
- Black tea
- Oranges, grapefruit
- Margarine
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
Gallbladder Removal and Life After
After the gallbladder is removed, bile is still produced by the liver, but is released in a continuous, slow trickle into the intestine. There may not be an adequate amount of bile in the intestine to properly handle the normal absorption process of a high fat meal.
Result: diarrhea or bloating, excess fat draws more water into the intestine, and bacteria then digest the fat, producing gas.
Once a gallbladder is removed it is important to be on bile acid supplements. They need to be taken with every meal in which fat is consumed otherwise your fats will not be properly emulsified and absorbed. Cholacol (by Standard Process) contains concentrated bile sales and collinsomia root to aid in dietary fat metabolism and absorption.
Unabsorbed bile salts go directly into the colon and acts as a laxative causing diarrhea - try adjusting the dosage.
Constant diarrhea after you have had your gallbladder removed, you may have the opposite effect – bile salt diarrhea, where your liver is producing too much bile salt. No cure but you can take cholestyramine, a prescription cholesterol drug that also soaks up excess bile salts.
Result: diarrhea or bloating, excess fat draws more water into the intestine, and bacteria then digest the fat, producing gas.
Once a gallbladder is removed it is important to be on bile acid supplements. They need to be taken with every meal in which fat is consumed otherwise your fats will not be properly emulsified and absorbed. Cholacol (by Standard Process) contains concentrated bile sales and collinsomia root to aid in dietary fat metabolism and absorption.
Unabsorbed bile salts go directly into the colon and acts as a laxative causing diarrhea - try adjusting the dosage.
Constant diarrhea after you have had your gallbladder removed, you may have the opposite effect – bile salt diarrhea, where your liver is producing too much bile salt. No cure but you can take cholestyramine, a prescription cholesterol drug that also soaks up excess bile salts.
Surgery options
Draining bile directly into the GI tract, aids digestion. endoscopic procedure
also Percutaneous cholecystostomy - catheter placed through abdominal wall directly into gallbaldder to help drain bile out of body
also Percutaneous cholecystostomy - catheter placed through abdominal wall directly into gallbaldder to help drain bile out of body