In the USA, statistics suggest that one million individuals develop gallstones each year. Patricia Loh offers tips on coping with this problem.
The gallbladder is a pear shaped organ that acts as a reservoir for bile in the digestive system. Bile is manufactured by the liver and when fatty food reaches the intestine, bile is released from the gallbladder to break down fats and oils into smaller fatty globules before being absorbed into the blood stream. Gallstones develop when bile salts become so concentrated that they crystallize into stones.
Gallstone is another example of a disease induced by Western-like diet and lifestyle. A western diet is high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, and fat, but low in fiber. Many people may have gallstones without even knowing it. The stones can, however, cause an excruciating colic pain when they accumulate in the narrow neck of the gall bladder. When the muscles of the gallbladder contract in an effort to expel the stones, there is extreme pain. Other symptoms include indigestion, bloating, excessive gas, nausea and vomiting after a heavy meal of rich, fatty food. People are more likely to develop gallstone as they age and women are more prone to getting them compared to men. Constipation has been linked to an increased risk of gallstones and this should be taken into consideration for successful treatment. Rapid weight changes can also cause gallbladder problems.
Foods to Avoid
A number of dietary factors are important in both the prevention and treatment of gallstones. Once gallstones have formed, it is important to avoid foods that aggravate the condition. Studies confirm that people on a fiber-rich diet have significantly lower incidence of gallstones. In light of this, fresh fruits and vegetables should be eaten in abundance. Fried foods should always be avoided. Also, foods that are rich in saturated fats, cholesterol, sugar and animal protein should only be consumed in small quantities. Milk and other dairy products have often proven to be problematic and may be a good idea to eliminate from your diet. Drink at least 2 litres of water daily. This is extremely important to maintain water content and fluidity of bile.
Food Allergies?
Dr. J C Breneman, author of Basics of Food Allergy, used a very successful regime to prevent gallbladder attacks - allergy elimination diets. There is sufficient support indicating food allergies as one of the causes of gallbladder pain. Some of the most common foods found to induce gallbladder pain (in decreasing order of occurrence) are eggs, pork, onion, milk, coffee, citrus fruits, corn, beans and nuts. Up to 93% of the patients had gallbladder attacks after consuming eggs. It is definitely useful to check if any foods trigger your attack and eliminate those from your diet.
Herbs For Gallstones
Many herbs have favourable effect in the prevention and treatment of gallstones.
Globe Artichoke
This plant has a long traditional use in the treatment of many liver and gallbladder conditions and recent evidence supports these usages. The medicinal part of the plant is the leaf, which contains an active ingredient known as cynarin. In one study conducted in Germany, the results showed that Globe Artichoke can be invaluable treatment for a range of gallbladder, liver and digestive disorders. After six weeks of treatment with 7 grams of Globe Artichoke leaf per day, the following improvements were noted:
Nausea and vomiting (improvement in 95% of cases)
Abdominal pain (75%)
Flatulence, belching and fat intolerance (50%)
Pain/cramp on right side (25%)
For effective results, Globe Artichoke should be used together with herbs like Peppermint (to soften stones, reduce flatulence and to improve gallbladder motility), Cramp Bark (to reduce pain and cramps) and Gentian (to improve overall digestive and gallbladder function).
Patricia Loh is an educator and writer on natural therapies. She is a qualified clinical herbalist and operates a herbal centre in Subang Jaya. Comments and inquiries: herbz@tm.net.my or 03-5631 7751.
THE SUN, INSERTION DATE: 8TH JULY 2003
