Gallstones: Gallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. The cause of gallstones varies. There are two main types of gallstones:
• Stones made of cholesterol which are by far the most common type.
(Cholesterol gallstones have nothing to do with cholesterol levels in the blood).
• Stones made of bilirubin which is a byproduct of old red blood cells They can occur when red blood cells are being destroyed leading to too much bilirubin in the bile. These stones are called pigment stones.
The gallbladder: The gallbladder is a small, pouch-like organ situated underneath the liver. The main purpose of the gallbladder is to store and concentrate bile. Bile is a liquid produced by the liver, which helps digest fats. It is passed from the liver through a series of channels, known as bile ducts, into the gallbladder. The bile is stored in the gallbladder and over time it becomes more concentrated, which makes it better at digesting fats. The gallbladder is able to release bile into the digestive system when it is needed.
Many people with gallstones have never had any symptoms. The gallstones are often found during a routine x-ray, abdominal surgery, or other medical procedure. Symptoms include fever, jaundice, nausea, vomiting and pain in the right upper or middle upper abdomen which may be constant, sharp or dull and can spread to the back or below the right shoulder blade.
An ultrasound is needed to diagnose gallstones. If a gallstone is found at an initial stage then it can be treated with these simple herbal remedies. Once stones are formed, they can block the bile duct. In which case surgery is necessary. But if surgery is not needed, herbal remedies can be a healthy and effective treatment.
If you have symptoms of gallstones, you should make an appointment with your doctor so they can try to identify the problem.
