Introduction
• The gallbladder is an organ that stores digestive (bile) juices.
• It is located in the upper right side of the abdomen and below the liver.
• Gallbladder stones is also known as ‘Cholelithiasis’.
• Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid.
• Gallstones can range from the size of a grain of sand to a golf ball.
Causes
• Gallbladder stones develop due to the composition of cholesterol or pigments.
• Cholesterol gallstones are the most common in many cases.
• This may happen due to the consumption of excessive fatty foods.
• There are 3 possibilities for gall stones.
• When there is too much cholesterol in bile, body needs bile for digestion. It usually dissolves cholesterol. But when it can’t do that, the extra cholesterol might form stones.
• When there is too much bilirubin in bile, Conditions like cirrhosis, infections, and blood disorders can cause liver to make too much bilirubin.
• Gallbladder doesn’t empty all the way. This can make bile very concentrated.
Types
• There are two types of gallstones: 1. Cholesterol stones and 2. Pigment stones
• Cholesterol stones are usually in yellow-green colour. These are most common in 80% cases of gallstones.
• Pigment stones are smaller and darker. They are made up of bilirubin.
Sign And Symptoms
• Pain in upper belly, often on the right, just under the ribs.
• Pain in right shoulder or back
• An upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Other digestive problems, including indigestion, heartburn, and gas.
• Belly pain that lasts several hours
• Fever and chills
• Yellow skin or eyes
• Dark urine and light-colored poop
Risk Factors
• The most common risk factors for gallstones are, have a family history of them, specially in women, above the age of 40, very obessed persons, having a diet high in fat and cholesterol but low in fiber, using birth control pills or hormonal therapy, in pregnant women, diabetic persons, having hemolytic anemia or cirrhosis of liver, loss of weight in short time.
Diagnosis
• Blood tests- These check for signs of infection or blockage, and rule out other conditions.
• Ultrasound sonography- This makes images of the inside of body, for any pathological changes.
• CT scan- Specialized X-rays to see inside the body, including gallbladder.
Treatment
• Nearly 80% of the people suffering from gallstones need surgery for gallstones removal. Gallstones do not go away on their own.
• There are different types of gallstones removal surgeries: 1. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 2. Traditional or open cholecystectomy.
Homoeopathic Medicines
1. Calcarea Carbonica
• Gallbladder stones may sometimes result due to family history that comes with genes. In such cases, calcarea carbonica is the medicine for treatment.
• This is also beneficial if the patient has signs of anxiety or is overweight with a high content of triglycerides and cholesterol.
• This remedy is very beneficial for obese patients with a fatty and flabby constitution.
• The abdomen contains excess of fat with its hardness and distension.
• The other constitutional symptoms include profuse sweating on head and sensitivity to cold air.
• There is also an unusual craving for boiled eggs or strange things like chalk, pencils and lime.
• The patient dislikes hot food and likes cold drinks.
• Calcarea Carb can also be used to relieve sour belching and sour vomiting due to gall stones.
2. Carduus Marianus
• Carduus Marianus is the best remedy when the gall bladder is inflamed.
• There is pain in the right upper abdomen in gall bladder region, which is accompanied by nausea and vomiting of burning fluid.
• Carduus Marianus can also be used to treat jaundice in gall stones.
• Poor appetite.
• Aversion to salted meat.
3. Chelidonium
• Chelidonium is the top natural medicine for gallbladder stones pain.
• This medicine offers the best treatment for pain due to gall stones and jaundice when there is obstruction of the bile ducts.
• The most important symptom in chelidonium is pain under the right shoulder blade.
• In jaundice, this medicine can be used when the skin is yellow, urine is dark in colour and stool is clay-coloured. During jaundice, the tongue becomes yellow and flabby.
• Nausea and vomiting also occur.
• The patient requiring chelidonium may show a desire for very hot drinks along with the above symptoms.
• It is also a very beneficial remedy for gall bladder complaints that occur during pregnancy.
4. Lycopodium
• Lycopodium is the another best medicine for gallstones pain when they are accompanied by gastric symptoms like acidity, gas in abdomen or bloated abdomen.
• The other complains of distension of abdomen from eating even a very small quantity of food.
• The gas rolls in abdomen and passes out with difficulty. The patient mainly complains of acidity that gets worse from taking starchy and flatulent food. The patient may also complain of a reduced appetite and fullness feeling in abdomen on eating even a little.
• There is also an unusual craving for sweets and hot drinks along with the gastric symptoms.
5. Natrum Sulphuricum
• Patients suffering from disorders such as chronic diarrhoea, abdominal pain, asthma, depression, obesity or joint pains, this medicine gives best result.
• Chronic diarrhoea in which the stools were watery and looked very much like yeast.
• The patient also becomes sensitive to environmental changes.
• Bilious vomiting, acid dyspepsia, with heartburn and flatulence.
6. Nux Vomica
• Nausea, colic pains, spasmodic pains, heartburn, gastric problems or bloating and is too fond of fried foods, nux vomica gives best result.
• It is useful to those persons who lead a sedentary life, doing much mental work, or to those who remain under stress and strain of prolonged office work, business cares and worries.
• Colic from suppressed haemorrhoidal flow.
• Colic in nursing infants from stimulating food taken by the mother.
7. Phosphorus
• Phosphorus is a best remedy for gall stones in patients who complain of sour belching and vomiting after eating.
• The patient likes cold drinks, ice creams, chicken and fish in diet.
• This medicine is used for the treatment of jaundice when the stool is very offensive with great weakness.
• Patient rubs abdomen for relief.
• Contractive pain in abdomen.
• Spasmodic colic, pinchings, cuttings, and tearings in abdomen, especially in morning, in bed at night, and in evening, and often with urgent want to evacuate and diarrhoea.
• Shooting pain in abdomen, sometimes with pallid face, shiverings, and headache.
