Gallbladder stones are a common complaint, and it usually affects over 60 to 70 percent of Indian adults. Even though surgery and medications are often used to treat gallbladder stones, a lot of people turn to natural and herbal remedies to resolve their gallstone infirmity.
Read on to learn more about gallbladder stones, how they are formed, different treatment options for gallbladder stones, as well as some herbal remedies to stop gallstones from forming in the first place.
What are Gallbladder Stones?
Gallbladder stones or gallstones are actually lumps that are made from calcium salts, bile pigment, and cholesterol, and they usually form in the gallbladder or bile duct.
As a matter of fact, gallstones are a common disorder of the digestive system, and it often affects people who are aged 50 years and over.
Although gallbladder stones are not a serious problem, they usually require proper treatment if the duct gets blocked.
In addition to this, gallstones do not usually cause symptoms, but in some cases, they may cause discomfort, pain, vomiting, and nausea.
How are Gallstones Formed?
Gallbladder stones are usually formed when there is an imbalance or a disproportion in the contents of bile juice, such as excessive bill-Rubin, insufficient bile salts, or excessive cholesterol.
Gallstones also form when the gallbladder does not empty regularly. If you are not aware, then I would like to bring this to your knowledge that a gallstone could be as tiny as a sand grain or as big as a golf ball.
Even though gallstones usually develop inside the gallbladder, some gallbladder stones may form inside the bile duct and cause obstruction.
Different Types of Gallbladder Stones
There are mainly 3 types of gallbladder stones:
- Mixed Stones – They are the most common type of gallstones and are made up of salts and cholesterol.
- Cholesterol Stones – These gallstones are mainly made up of cholesterol, and they can grow large enough to obstruct bile ducts.
- Pigment Stones – These gallbladder stones are made from bile pigments and are usually greenish-brown in color.
Symptoms of Gallbladder Stones
In most cases, gallbladder stones cause no symptoms. However, the symptoms of gallstones may include:
- Severe pain in the abdomen and back.
- Jaundice
- Fever and pain
- Infection in gallbladder
- Increase in abdominal pain after the meal
A Guide To The Treatment Options Available
It is a well-known fact that gallbladder stones that cause no symptoms usually don’t require any medical treatment. However, in certain cases, such as high risks of complications from gallstones, the doctors may remove your gallbladder.
It is important for you to know that the treatment options for gallbladder stones may depend on the size and location of the gallbladder stones. Some of the major gallbladder stone treatment options may include:
- Lithotripsy – In this treatment option, a special machine generates sound waves to smash the gallbladder stones. This particular gallbladder stone treatment is only used for people with soft and small stones.
- Medications – Apt medications are given for dissolving gallstones.
- Surgery
- Dietary Medications
Herbal Remedies & Lifestyle Changes to Get Rid of Gallstones
There are certain herbal remedies through which you can get rid of gallbladder stones. The following treatments and remedies are a popular natural substitute to medical interventions or surgery to remove gallstones.
- Gallbladder Cleanse – It is one of the most common treatments for gallstones. Proponents of this treatment method claim to break down gallstones and flush them out of the body.
- Apple Juice with Apple Cider Vinegar – It has been proven that apple juice softens gallbladder stones along with allowing them to easily excrete from the body.
- Dandelion – Dandelion is another proven natural remedy for treating gallbladder, bile duct, and liver problems.
- Lysimachia Herba – Lysimachia herba is a popular traditional Chinese therapy, and it is commonly used for treating gallbladder stones.
- Psyllium Husk – Psyllium is a soluble fiber, and according to the medical reports, psyllium husk is known to benefit the heart, gallbladder, pancreas, and other vital organs of the body.
Medications
If natural or herbal remedies do not treat your gallbladder stones effectively, then you can consider medications or surgery to get rid of it. When it comes to medications, you may consider treating your smaller gallstones with bile acids, such as chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid.
Surgery
You may also opt for a surgery in which the doctors treat your gallstones by removing your gallbladder. Undergoing surgery ensures that the gallbladder stones cannot re-form. Gallbladder stones removal surgery is one of the most common operations, and it has very minimal side-effects.
So, if you have gallbladder stones and you want to get rid of it safely without facing any serious side-effects, then you must first consult your doctor. You can easily undergo surgery, but treating it naturally is also a great way to reduce the risk of future complications.
