Gallbladder

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Anatomy and Physiology

The gallbladder is a small organ, located next to the liver that stores and concentrates bile. It has a storage capacity of 40-70ml., and by absorption of water, salts, and electrolytes through the gallbladder mucosa, the bile becomes between 4-12 times more concentrated than it was in the liver.

Bile is composed of water, salts, fatty acids, cholesterol, lecithin, bilirubin, and mucus. The liver makes about one quart daily and whatever isn’t sent directly to the duodenum to emulsify fat is diverted to the gallbladder and stored until needed.

When fat from a meal reaches the duodenum; cholecystokinin and secretin are secreted into the circulation. Upon reaching the gallbladder, it causes it to contract. This contraction plus peristalsis in the small intestine causes the sphincter of Odd to relax and the bile then enters the duodenum. With a fairly fatty meal, the gallbladder can completely empty within one hour.

Symptoms of Gallbladder Dysfunction

Approximately 500,000 people in the U.S. each year are hospitalized due to gallbladder problems and it is estimated that 20% of the population over 40 years old have gallstones.

Symptoms that may indicate gallbladder disturbance and/or stones include pain (very severe at times) under the right lower ribs possibly extending to the right shoulder, vomiting, bloating and gas (especially after a fatty meal), cold sweats, belching, food intolerance, jaundice.

Causes of Gallbladder Dysfunction

1) Not drinking enough water and not exercising enough can cause gallbladder disturbances.

2) Nerve pressure in the mid thoracic spine. This can be due to poor posture, too many one handed sports (tennis, golf, etc.) (See Appendix A).

3) Some authorities feel that holding in your anger can cause gallbladder problems.

4) Gallstones form when the bile becomes saturated with cholesterol and some precipitates out and hardens (90% of all gallstones are cholesterol). The following substances can lead to increased cholesterol buildup and have been implicated as possible gallstone causes: birth control pills, refined starches (white flour, white rice), sugar, meat, greasy or highly seasoned foods, corn oil, dairy products, high protein foods in excess.

5) People with diabetes, gallbladder cancers, and liver diseases, suffer from an increased incidence of gallstones.

6) A weak immune system (thymus, spleen, etc.) can increase the likelihood of infection in the gallbladder epithelium. An infection here will cause the mucosa to absorb more water and electrolytes. As a result cholesterol will over saturate the bile, drop out, and form stones.

Other Indications of Gallbladder Dysfunction

1) A weak popliteus or anterior part of the deltoid on manual muscle testing may indicate possible gallbladder disturbances (see Appendix C and figures 11.1, 11.2).

Prevention and Treatment of Gallbladder Dysfunction

1) Exercise will increase gallbladder emptying and drinking water will dilute the bile. Lots of both are good preventative measures.

2) Treatments listed under #1, 10, and 11 in the liver chapter will also help the gallbladder.

3) Pears, parsley, comfrey tea, and cascara sagrada tea, are all reported to help poorly functioning gallbladders.

4) Keep your immune system strong to prevent infection from causing stones (see Thymus and Spleen chapters).

5) Make sure your liver is functioning correctly as well as your small intestine (see respective chapters).

6) "Primitive" societies whose diets are almost totally composed of whole unrefined foods have extremely low incidences of gallstones. Follow the diet listed in #3 of the liver chapter.

7) Put a hot fomentation over the gallbladder for 15 minutes followed by rubbing the area for 2 minutes with ice. Repeat three times. This can help dislodge stones. Do it once daily for 1 week.

8) Take grapefruit and/or orange rind (from unsprayed fruit only), boil it for 20 minutes and drink 3 glasses of the tea daily. This is reported to help gallbladder problems.

9) The same reflex areas as listed in liver treatment #7 is beneficial for the gallbladder.