Gallbladder Disease
(Cholecystitis)

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods)
• Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates
• Eat high fiber and high complex carbohydrate diet (promotes decrease in bowel transit time)
• Reduce fats in general and especially animal fats
• Drink lots of vegetable juices

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• Vitamin A: 10,000 I.U.
• Vitamin C: 1 - 2 gm.
• Vitamin E: 400 - 800 I.U.
• Choline: 1 gm.

Supplements: (references)

• L-Methionine: 1 gm.
• L-Taurine: 2 - 4 gm.
• Hydrochloric Acid: 10 - 70 grains per meal (if lab work confirms)
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 2 - 5 gm. TID
• Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 1 gm. TID
• Digestive Enzymes: 2 tablets with each meal
• Fiber: 5 - 45 gm. in divided doses with 12 oz. of water per dose
• Lipase: 10,000 units with lunch and dinner

Botanicals: (references)

• Tincture - *Chelidonium majus (2), *Chionanthus virginicus (1), *Dioscorea villosa (1), *Lobelia disectum (.5), *Taraxacum officinale (1.5), *Piscidia piscipula (1), *Gentiana lutea (1): 1/4 tsp. TID

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Agrimonia eupatorium (Agrimony)
  Arctostaphylos uva ursi (Bearberry)
  Berberis vulgaris (Barberry, Oregon grape)
  Calendula officinalis (Marigold)
  Chelidonium majus (Greater celandine)
  Chionanthus virginicus (Fringe tree)
  Cynara scolymus (Artichoke)
  Dioscorea villosa (Wild yam)
  Eschscholzia californica (California poppy)
  Gentiana Lutea (Gentian)
  Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil's claw, Grapple plant)
  Linum usitatissimum (Flax, Linseed)
  Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco, Puke weed)
  Mentha piperita (Peppermint)
  Piper methysticum (Kava kava)
  Piscidia piscipula (Jamaican dogwood)
  Rheum officinalis (Rhubarb)
  Silybum marianum (Milk thistle)
  Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion, Lion's tooth)
  Verbena officinalis (Vervain)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• General cholecystitis:
  Card-M., Chel., Chion., Chol., Lach., Lept., MargG., Myrc., Phos., Podo., Pyrog.

  (For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)   

Other Therapies: (references)

• Castor oil pack over gall bladder for 30 minutes
• Epsom salt compress over the gall bladder for 30 minutes
• Catnip tea enemas
• Drink 6-8 glasses of water (good, reverse-osmosis filtered water) per day to maintain the water content of bile
• At bedtime, drink 1 oz. olive oil, then drink 1 oz. grapefruit juice or lemon juice (this causes the gall bladder to contract)
• Before breakfast on an empty stomach, take one tsp. of table salt in a glass of hot water (stir thoroughly). After drinking, return to bed and lie 45 minutes on the right side. Do this once or twice a week.
• Quit smoking
• Daily exercise

Recommended Labs:

• Check for gall bladder disease (cholecystitis): Ultrasound, Palpation, Nuclear Medicine Scanning
• Rule out allergies: IgG Food Allergy Antibody
• Rule out gallstones (cholelithiasis): Ultrasound, Cholecystography
• Rule out hepatitis B and C: Hepatitis Panel
• Rule out hiatal hernia: Barium X-Ray, Endoscopy
• Rule out occult malignancies: Antimalignant Antibody
• Rule out pancreatitis: Amylase, Lipase, Trypsin, CBC, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Glucose, CRP, Abdominal Ultrasound
• Rule out peptic ulcer: Endoscopy, Upper GI Series
• Rule out recurrent pyogenic cholangitis: CBC, Liver Function, Prothrombin Time, Blood Cultures, Ova and Parasites, MRCP

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).