Homeopathic treatment of gallstones

Bile, an essential fluid produced by the liver, plays a crucial role in the digestive process. Bile consists of water, bile salts, bilirubin and cholesterol. It helps with the breakdown and absorption of fats. Bile is continuously produced and collected in small ducts, which eventually join to form the bile ducts. The gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver, serves as a storage place for bile. The bile duct, together with the pancreatic duct, ends in the duodenum. When necessary, bile is released into the small intestine.

Types of gallstones

Cholesterol stones consist mainly of cholesterol. They are yellowish and most common. Increased levels of cholesterol in bile may contribute to their formation.

Pigment stones are usually dark brown or black in color. They consist mainly of bilirubin, a breakdown product of red blood cells. These stones are often associated with certain liver conditions.

Implications

The stones may remain in the gallbladder or may pass through the bile duct to the small intestine. They can cause basically two things, biliary colic or inflammation.

Biliary colic

A gallstone can become stuck in the bile ducts, leading to severe, cramp-like pain in the upper right abdomen, known as biliary colic. This pain often comes in attacks and can radiate to the back or shoulder blades. Biliary colic is caused by the obstruction of bile flow and the resulting increased pressure in the bile ducts.

Inflammation

If a gallstone completely blocks the gallbladder, it can lead to inflammation of the gallbladder. This typically causes pain in the upper right abdomen, often accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting.

When a gallstone blocks the bile ducts, it can lead to inflammation of the bile ducts. This is a serious condition that can cause symptoms such as high fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), severe abdominal pain and a general feeling of illness.

Symptoms

• Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen or in the center of the upper abdomen
• The pain can radiate to the back or between the shoulder blades.
• Nausea and vomiting, especially after a fatty meal
• Gallstones can disrupt digestion and lead to bloating, gas and flatulence.
• Indigestion
• Loss of appetite
• In rare cases, gallstones can block the bile ducts, causing jaundice. This results in a yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes.

How often does it happen?

Gallstones are quite common, especially in middle-aged and elderly people. It is one of the most common diseases of the gallbladder, affecting approximately 10-15% of the population in Western countries. Women have a higher risk of developing gallstones than men, possibly due to hormonal factors.

What makes the complaints worse?

Factors that may increase the risk of developing gallstones include:

• Overweight or obesity
• Pregnancy, female hormones (perhaps pill use)
• A diet with too many fats/cholesterol *Family history of gallstones
• Physical inactivity

Regular treatment

Treatment for gallstones depends on the severity of symptoms and the size and location of the stones. If the stones do not cause any symptoms, treatment is not necessary. However, if there are symptoms, treatment may be necessary. An important approach is lifestyle change. Adjusting the diet to promote low-fat meals and regular exercise can help reduce symptoms and prevent further gallstone formation. In addition, painkillers may be prescribed to relieve the pain. In some cases, medication may be prescribed to reduce the formation of gallstones. If symptoms are severe or complications arise, surgical intervention may be recommended. This includes removing the gallbladder.

It is important to seek medical advice if you think you may have gallstones, as serious infection or other complications can occur if left untreated.

Homeopathic treatment

Homeopathy can address the acute symptoms of gallstones, but also ensure that gallstones develop less quickly. It treats gallstones in a holistic manner, taking into consideration the individual symptoms and the overall health status of the person. Homeopathic treatments are aimed at stimulating the body’s self-healing capacity. During the first consultation, a thorough evaluation of the person’s symptoms, medical history and overall health status is performed to find the most suitable homeopathic remedy. Every person is unique and may respond differently to different homeopathic remedies.

An example of homoepathic treatment

A 52-year-old woman suffers from gallstones. The colic pain radiates to the back. She also suffers from bloating, gas and flatulence. She also suffers from a headache once every two days. The headache gets worse with light pressure, hard pressure actually reduces it. She sleeps poorly at night, mainly because she thinks about all kinds of plans.

China officinalis 200C is prescribed (This was prescribed in this specific case and is not a standard drug for treating gallstones). The headache is a lot worse in the first week, after which it decreases again. The colic pain and poor sleep are slowly decreasing. A month later, the patient indicates that her colic pain has gotten worse again in recent days. It was still better than before.

After this, the drug was repeated. In the next consultation (a month later) she indicated that the colic pain, headache and poor sleep gradually got better. There was no relapse this time. According to the patient, the colic pain is a lot less than before the treatment, and its frequency has also decreased.