Gallbladder Stones: Homeopathic Approach
A pear-shaped or hollow organ beneath the liver is the gallbladder, where the storage and concentration of bile juice occurs and aids in the digestion of fatty foods. Whenever changes or disturbances occur in bile juice, it may result in the formation of pebble-like stones known as gallbladder stones or cholelithiasis. Gallbladder stones occur due to undissolved cholesterol or bilirubin products. The size of the gallstones can vary.
Symptoms:
When there is inflammation and obstruction of the duct by gallstones, it is known as cholecystitis. Initially, it is asymptomatic, but when the size of the stone increases and obstruction becomes severe, it results in colicky pain in the right upper part of the abdomen with tenderness, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and pain radiating to the right shoulder or back. Jaundice may occur if the biliary system gets obstructed, and if the stone blocks the pancreatic duct, then pancreatitis may occur.
Risk Factors:
Gallstones may be more common in women, individuals who are obese, leading a sedentary lifestyle, consuming a high cholesterol diet, fatty foods, during pregnancy, taking oral contraceptive pills, age above 40 years, individuals diagnosed with diabetes and liver diseases, and those with a family history of gallstones.
Complications:
If untreated, possible complications can occur such as gangrene, rupture of the gallbladder, jaundice, pancreatitis, and septicemia due to infection.
Homeopathy for Gallbladder Stone:
When the stones are smaller in size, homeopathy may help to reduce their size. Homeopathic medicines not only help in reducing the pain associated with gallstones but also reduce inflammation of the gallbladder. It helps as a preventive medicine in stone formation. Severe abdominal pain may need immediate treatment. Consult a doctor if you begin to have severe, unexplained abdominal pain.
Few Homeopathic remedies indicated in gallbladder stones are Berberis Vulgaris, China, Belladonna, Cardus Marianus, Carbo Veg, Colocynth, Cholesterinum, Chionanthus, Lycopodium, Nux Vomica, and Pulsatilla.