If you have ever had a sudden pain in the middle or upper part of your abdomen, you may have experienced a gallbladder attack. The pain can last from a few minutes to a few hours and it may or may not recur. The pain can range from a mild discomfort to excruciating.
If you have never experienced this type of pain before, it is wise to consult a doctor to eliminate other causes such as appendicitis. However, if you are fairly certain it is a gallbladder attack, there are several home remedies you can try. A word of advice; even if you think the pain is associated with a gallbladder attack please do other checks so you do not mistakenly assume appendicitis is a gallbladder attack. Better safe than sorry. I suggest you keep a diary of your symptoms, feelings, experiences, remedies, by describing everything and using a scale of 1 to 10 for pain and one for discomfort so you have a history to juxtapose any new pains to, thus ruling out new conditions.
Understanding Gallstones
In order to understand how the home remedies work to alleviate gallbladder pain, you must first understand the gallbladder and what causes the stones. The gallbladder is a small muscular organ that produces bile, a greenish substance used by the body to help process cholesterol.
When there is an imbalance of cholesterol or other substances in the gallbladder, small crystals are formed. As the crystals multiply, a snowball effect occurs, causing the development of what is known as a gallstone. As these stones move about the gallbladder sometimes they get stuck in the bile ducts or the neck of the gallbladder.
When the gallbladder becomes active during and after a meal, its actions put pressure on the stones, causing pain and other symptoms such as back pain, nausea or vomiting, bloating, indigestion, chills, and clay-colored stools.
In his book, Gallstones Natural Solution, David Smith, a natural health researcher, shares everything he learned about how to keep your gallbladder healthy. This book is a comprehensive collection of Smith’s seven years of intensive research, personal experience, and interviews with some of the world’s top doctors, natural healers, nutritionists, and scientists.
Home Remedies
When treating gallstones and their symptoms you may be able to turn to home remedies for help. Here are four home remedies that you can add to your daily routine that will help to reduce symptoms and prevent gallbladder attacks.
- Acidic Beverages – Increasing the alkalinity of your body reduces the production of cholesterol in your liver. Because gallstones are made up of cholesterol, this helps to aid recovery. Try mixing a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a glass of juice and drink whenever you have an attack. Another alternative is drink four tablespoons of lemon juice mixed into a glass of warm water when you wake up in the morning. Not only is the lemon juice acidic, but it also contains pectin which can reduce pain and vitamin C which promotes faster elimination of waste products that can exacerbate the gallstones.
- Foods High in Fiber – Because a lack of fiber is a contributing factor in the development of gallstones, increasing your fiber intake can prevent the growth of new and existing stones. Fiber also helps to remove excess cholesterol that builds up in the body. You can increase the amount of fiber in your diet by eating 4 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each day. In addition, you can take a psyllium supplement. Psyllium is a type of soluble fiber that binds to the cholesterol in your bile and prevents gallstones. It also promotes regular bowel movements, which reduces the risk of the gallbladder system becoming congested.
- Coffee – Research suggests that drinking coffee can help prevent the stomach pain associated with gallstones. Decaffeinated coffee does not appear to have the same benefit. It is recommended that you drink between one to three cups of caffeinated coffee a day to benefit. Coffee and other caffeinated products can help to prevent the development of gallstones.
- Wine – Another study showed that wine can help to prevent gallstone attacks. People who drank two glasses of wine a day reduced their risk of developing gallstones by one-third compared to those who did not drink any alcohol. If you drink a glass of wine at the onset of gallstone pain, you should get some relief within twenty minutes.
A great resource for additional home remedies is Gallstones Natural Solution. This book provides step by step instructions on how to get rid of your gallstones safely and naturally.
Conclusion
Because most gallstones are caused by an imbalance of cholesterol in the body, home remedies that help to reduce cholesterol are often successful treatments for gallbladder concerns. The next time you feel a gallbladder attack start to take hold, try sipping some lemon water or drink a glass of wine for relatively quick and inexpensive relief.
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