Kidney

Gallstones...

What are gallstones? Gallstones are small, hardstones that develop in the gallbladder in a similar way to how pearls grow inside oyster shells.They…

Dr. Shweta Bairagi · 03 May 2011

What are gallstones?Gallstones are small, hardstones that develop in the gallbladder in a similar way to how pearls grow inside oyster shells.They usually vary in size from that of a grape seed to the size of a marble. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped sac located below your liver in the right upper abdomen. Gallstones form when liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. The liquid - called bile - helps the body digest fats. Bile is made in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder until the body needs it. The gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a tube - called the common bile duct - that carries it to the small intestine, where it helps with digestion.Gallstones can vary in size. They can be as small as agrain of sand or as big as an egg. Many are the size of peas orsmall marbles. The gallbladder may develop a single, large,stone or many smaller ones, even several thousand. Smallstones can move into the bile ducts and become lodged there,blocking the flow of bile and causing pain and jaundice.The two types of gallstones are cholesterol stones and pigment stones . Cholesterol stones are usually yellow-green and are made primarily of hardened cholesterol. They account for about 80 percent of gallstones. Pigment stones are small, dark stones made of bilirubin.Gallstones can block the normal flow of bile if they move from the gallbladder and lodge in any of the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine. The ducts include thehepatic ducts, which carry bile out of the liver.cystic duct, which takes bile to and from the gallbladder.common bile duct, which takes bile from the cystic and hepatic ducts to the small intestine.Bile trapped in these ducts can cause inflammation in the gallbladder, the ducts, or in rare cases, the liver. Other ducts open into the common bile duct, including the pancreatic duct, which carries digestive enzymes out of the pancreas. Sometimes gallstones passing through the common bile duct provoke inflammation in the pancreas - called gallstone pancreatitis - an extremely painful and potentially dangerous condition.What causes gallstones?Sex. Women are twice as likely as men to develop gallstones. Excess estrogen from pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, and birth control pills appears to increase cholesterol levels in bile and decrease gallbladder movement, which can lead to gallstones.Family history. Gallstones often run in families, pointing to a possible genetic link.Weight. A large clinical study showed that being even moderately overweight increases the risk for developing gallstones. The most likely reason is that the amount of bile salts in bile is reduced, resulting in more cholesterol. Increased cholesterol reduces gallbladder emptying. Obesity is a major risk factor for gallstones, especially in women.Diet. Diets high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber increase the risk of gallstones due to increased cholesterol in the bile and reduced gallbladder emptying.Rapid weight loss. As the body metabolizes fat during prolonged fasting and rapid weight loss - such as “crash diets” - the liver secretes extra cholesterol into bile, which can cause gallstones. In addition, the gallbladder does not empty properly.Age. People older than age 60 are more likely to develop gallstones than younger people. As people age, the body tends to secrete more cholesterol into bile.Ethnicity. American Indians have a genetic predisposition to secrete high levels of cholesterol in bile. In fact, they have the highest rate of gallstones in the United States.Symptoms of gallstones?As gallstones move into the bile ducts and create blockage, pressure increases in the gallbladder and one or more symptoms may occur. Symptoms of blocked bile ducts are often called a gallbladder “attack” because they occur suddenly.A typical attack can causesteady pain in the right upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hourspain in the back between the shoulder bladespain under the right shoulderPeople with any of the following symptoms should see a doctor immediately:prolonged pain - more than 5 hoursnausea and vomitingfever - even low-grade - or chillsyellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyesclay-colored stoolsHow are gallstones diagnosed?Gallstones can be detected by an ultrasound examination,which is simple, safe and painless.If stones are thought to becausing problems in the bileduct a special procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography may be required. This involves passing a flexible scope into the bile duct via the stomach.Computerized tomography (CT) scan.Cholescintigraphy (HIDA scan).Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).Blood tests.Homoeopathic Approach:In homoeopathy we are having permanent cure for Gall stones and tendency to formation of gall stone & restoring his diseased condition to health. Homoeopathic treatment involves detail history taking by concentrating on general physical make up of person, diet, life style, sedentary habits, physical build up, food eating habits, appetite, stool, perspiration, body weight, present signs & symptoms, any treatment history or drug history, bowel habits, disordered from particular foods, sleep and temperament. Also his miasmatic background taken into consideration. In Homoeopathy disease diagnosis should be made with the help of modern investigation like USG, Liver Function Test and common disease symptoms should be separated from uncommon symptoms. In treating the case we should bear one thing mind after diagnosing through USG size of gall stone & thickness of wall of gall bladder should be concentrated as we are having limitation in gross pathological changes. To avoid recurrence of gall stone Constitutional line of treatment must be given.Homoeopathic Materia Medica:Chelidonium : It relieves Gall-stones colic in a few minutes when there are shooting, stabbing pains extending to the back and marked jaundice. It is indicated medicine for bilious complications during gestation. It is useful medicine for Jaundice due to hepatic and gall bladder obstruction. Abdomen is distended, fermentation and sluggish bowel. There is constriction across abdomen Sensation as by a string. It is useful for Gall stones, enlarged liver. There is constant pain under inferior angle of right scapula. The soft stools can be bright yellow or there can be constipation. Even the skin may develop a grey or yellowish tint.Carduus Marianus is used as a homeopathic remedy and an herbal remedy to heal the liver. The person needing homeopathic Carduus has liver enlargement and jaundice along with the gallstones. They may vomit up green acid-tasting bile. Carduus is also used to treat jaundice and gall bladder enlargemen t acts better in tincture should be given 10 drops of tincture three times a day.China It is useful medicine for Gall Bladder affection. It is useful for Gall Stone in which bloated abdomen, flatulent colic in which abdomen feels packed, full worse after eating little not better by eructation. Patient feels better by bending double. There is pain in right hypochondrium. There is internal coldness of stomach and abdomen. It is indicated for Jaundice, Gastro-duodenal catarrh. There is vomiting of undigested foods. Diarrhoea in china is generally painless, debilitating, and watery with much flatus passes undigested food.Dioscoria .. It is useful medicine for Gall Stone & Gall stone Colic. There are wandering type of pain which suddenly shifts to different parts as back, chest, arms, fingers and toes. There is constant distress in umbilical and hypogastric region with severe cutting pain every few minutes in stomach and small intestines. There is rumbling in bowels and passing large quantity of flatulence. All symptoms are worse by doubling up (Opposite of Colosynth).Podophyllum It is useful medicine for Gall stones with jaundice. There is pain from stomach towards gall bladder. Also useful in Chronic hepatitis with constipation and jaundice. Patient constantly rubs the liver region with hands.Watery, profuse stools are a keynote of this remedy, and the color can be changeable: from yellow to green. The tongue of a person needing this remedy can be yellow as well. This remedy picture also included nausea, vomiting, burping, and gas, along with alternating diarrhea and constipation. This person is better during cold weather and worse when the temperatures turn warmVeratrum Album : It is useful medicine for Gall bladder affection. There is pain in abdomen preceding stool, cramps, knotting abdomen and legs. There is sinking and empty feeling in abdomen. Abdomen is swollen, terrible colic, sensitive to pressure. It is useful for copious vomiting and nausea worse by drinking and least motion. There is Great weakness after vomiting. Constipation from inactivity of rectum, with heat and headache. Stools are large, with much straining until exhausted, with cold sweat. Diarrhoea in Veratrum is very painful, watery, copious, and forcibly evacuated, followed by great prostration.Berberis Vulgaris : It is important medicine for Gall Bladder Stone. There are stitches in region of gall-bladder worse by pressure, extending to stomach. It is useful for catarrh of the gall-bladder with constipation and yellow complexion. There are rapid change of symptoms - pains change in regard to place and character - thirst alternates with thirstlessness, hunger and loss of appetite, etcLycopodium It is useful medicine for Gall stone, Gall bladder, Liver affection. Lycopodium is right sided remedy symptoms go from right to left side. There is pain in right hypchondrium extending to back (Chelidonium) worse by eating to satiety. Abdomen is full, bloated, distended in epigastrium after meal. Flatulence, fermentation, rumbling, rattling relieved by discharge of flatus and worse after eating. Colicky pains in abdomen. Patient cannot bear weight or pressure of clothes around waist it must be loosen. Constipation when traveling, away from home. Lycopodium desires sweets and hot drinks. Symptoms are worse from 4-8 pm.Mag Mur It is useful for Gall Bladder and liver affection. There is pressing pain in region of liver, Gall stone colic worse by lying on right side, slightest touch better by pressure .It is useful for enlarged Liver with bloating of abdomen; yellow tongue. It is useful for INDIGESTION worse from MILK. Indicated medicine for Hepatitis, Gall Bladder stone & Liver affection.Belladonna It is a great remedy during an attack of Gall-stones colic, relieving the pain instantaneously. There is bursting, pressing, throbbing pain in abdomen. There is pain in abdomen as if clutched by a hand. Abdomen is distended, hot, tender, swollen. There is cutting pain across abdomen, stitches in left side of abdomen when coughing, sneezing, touching it. Abdomen is very sensitive to touch.ChionanthusIt is a prominent Liver remedy & useful for dissolving Gallstones . It is indicated for hepatic derangement, enlarged spleen, Jaundice & Diabetes Mellitus. There is aching in umbilical region, griping. Patient feels as if a string were tied in a "slip-knot" around intestines which was suddenly drawn tight and then gradually loosened.. Stools are clay-colored, soft, yellow and pasty. Tongue heavily coated. Urine is of high specific gravity, bile and sugar in urine. Skin is yellow, marked moisture of skin.Terebinthinum Terebinthinum is useful medicine for Gall stone Colic. There is enormous distention of abdomen. There is pain in abdomen before flatus with and relief after stool. It is useful for Diarrhoea with watery, greenish, fetid, bloody stool.Calcarea Carb : It is useful medicine for Gall stones colic with great chilliness. There is profuse sweat, abdominal spasms, bend double, clench hands, write with agony. Dr. Farrington says “It has often stopped pain as by magic and has also cured permanently”.This person can experience shooting pains over the liver and an inability to wear tight clothes. The abdomen may feel cold as well. They can have stomach cramps at night and in general, they crave eggs. They will experience constipation or smelly, stools with diarrhea.Natrum Sulph It is useful medicine for Liver and Gall Bladder problems like Gall stones. There is sharp, stitching pain in region of liver worse by touch, jar, lying on left side, tight clothes and better by lying right side with legs curdled up.Ipecac Indicated medicine for Gallstone colic with clean tongue. There is cutting, clutching type of pain worse around navel. There is constant nausea and vomiting with pale, twitching of face.…. homoeopathic medicines often have very profound action on human economy, so they should not be taken without consultation ….· "Homeopathy is the safest and more reliable approach to ailments and has withstood the assaults of established medical practice for over 100 years."----Yehudi Menuhin, World famous violinist