Gallstones and Cholelithiasis

Gallstones are hard, pebble-like deposits that obstruct the bile pathway and can lead to a condition called cholelithiasis. They are one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases and have a huge economic burden.

Fortunately, gallstones can be prevented by following a few simple tips and lifestyle changes. But if they do develop, you may need to get a doctor’s help right away.

Prevention

The best way to prevent gallstones is to eat a healthy, balanced diet with adequate dietary fiber, fatty acids, and vitamin E. In addition, avoiding a Western-style diet is another way to reduce the risk of gallstone formation (Pak 2016).

Gallstones can form when bile becomes saturated with cholesterol. This can occur for a number of reasons, including excess intake of cholesterol, reduced gallbladder motility, high bilirubin levels in bile, or obstruction in the bile pathway. A sedentary lifestyle may also contribute to the development of gallstones. Physical activity can help to improve gallbladder and bile gland function, decrease cholesterol metabolism, and increase bile production.

Traditional Chinese medicine has long used ox gallstones, or bezoars, to treat a variety of conditions. The first recorded references to these stones come from the writings of Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic, which dates back to the Qin and Western Han dynasties (206 BCE-221 CE).

According to these ancient texts, bezoars clear the heart, rejuvenate one’s spirit, remove phlegm, delirium or coma, clear the liver, put an end to tremors and convulsions and stop fever. They were also thought to be effective in treating infantile convulsions, which were characterized by sudden onset, upward gazing of the eyes, lockjaw, rigidity of the neck, limb convulsions, frothy salivation, and “rattling” of pharyngeal phlegm.

In modern times, bezoars are still used to treat a variety of conditions in China. They are often prescribed with other herbs to help treat conditions that cause a patient to feel cold and have difficulty breathing.

Moreover, bezoars have been known to help patients with a wide range of ailments including hepatitis C, lung cancer, hepatitis B, and other liver disorders. They can also help to alleviate pain in the gallbladder, abdomen, and back and reduce fatigue.

Ox gallstones have also been used to treat deficiencies in vitamins A, D, E and K. Deficiencies of these vitamins can lead to night blindness, infertility, childhood rickets, hemorraghic diathesis, and osteopenia.

The best way to keep ox gallstones from developing is to eat a balanced diet that includes ample amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables, healthy fats, and protein. In addition, consuming a small amount of whole grains can also help to lower the risk of gallstone formation.

Symptoms

Gallstones are small stones that form in the gallbladder and bile ducts of the biliary tract, an organ system that helps move food and waste through your digestive tract. They are made primarily of cholesterol but may also contain other materials, such as bilirubin, which is the yellow pigment that causes jaundice in people with liver disease.

Cholesterol gallstones are the most common type of gallstones and occur in 80% of individuals. They are light to dark green in color and are composed mainly of undissolved cholesterol (Shaffer 2018; Zakko 2018). Pigment stones are darker in color, consist of bilirubin, and are found in less than 5% of individuals.

Patients typically experience abdominal pain that lasts for minutes to hours and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or fever. This type of pain is called biliary colic and can be a sign of gallstone disease or a complication related to it.

A combination of diet, lifestyle, and natural medicine interventions can help reduce the risk of gallstones by reducing cholesterol secretion, decreasing bile salt saturation, and dissolving cholesterol gallstones. Eating a diet rich in fiber, fruits and vegetables, plant proteins, and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, as well as avoiding high-fat foods, can help prevent cholesterol gallstone formation.

Symptoms of a symptomatic gallstone infection include severe biliary pain that is accompanied by fever or jaundice, and inflammation of the bile ducts (cholecystitis). Inflammation of the bile ducts can cause a dangerous complication called ileus, wherein ingested material becomes trapped in the ducts and cannot pass through them properly.

Silent gallstones are usually left untreated in most cases, but surgery is considered for individuals with a high risk of gallbladder cancer or other conditions that increase the risk of gallstone complications, such as sickle cell disease, a weakened immune system, or an upcoming weight loss surgery. In many cases, surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the primary treatment option.

Nonsurgical options for silent gallstones include a bile salt ursodeoxycholic acid, which can gradually dissolve small, cholesterol-rich, calcium-free gallstones that are not causing symptoms. However, this procedure can take years to completely dissolve gallstones, and the recurrence rate is high.

Diagnosis

Gallstones are hard, pebble-like structures that obstruct the bile fluid pathway and are usually caused by a buildup of cholesterol or other bile salts in the gallbladder. They are most common in people who have a family history of gallstones or whose gallbladder isn’t functioning properly. Symptoms may include pain or swelling in the gallbladder or upper abdomen. An ultrasound exam or a CT scan can detect stones or blockages in the bile duct.

In Pakistan, gallstones are more common in women than men and tend to develop in older people. However, men can also have them, especially if they are overweight or take certain medicines such as steroids. In addition, the amount of bile in the liver can affect gallstone development.

These factors can lead to a buildup of cholesterol, calcium, and bilirubin in the gallbladder. This can result in a sludge or a stone (Shaffer 2018; Tanaja 2018). The best initial test for the diagnosis of gallstones is an abdominal ultrasound, which can easily detect sludge as well as small bile stones and identify the presence of acute cholecystitis. Ultrasound is also useful for identifying the presence of other complications, such as an abscess or perforation (Shaffer 2018; Fogel 2016).

The chemical composition of the gallstones was determined using titrimetric and colourimetric methods. These tests are relatively simple and require little equipment.

There are several types of gallstones, including cholesterol stones and mixed stones. Cholesterol stones are the most common type of gallstone, and occur when the bile is saturated with cholesterol. They are largely responsible for a gallstone’s appearance on an ultrasound scan (Shaffer 2018; Tanaja 2018.

Other factors that can cause the buildup of gallstones include excess amounts of bile in the liver, loss of the gallbladder’s function, and a family history of gallstones or gallbladder cancer. Other symptoms that can indicate the presence of a gallstone are weight loss, nausea or vomiting, and fatigue.

Gallstones are a valuable commodity in Asian markets, where they sell for $15,000-$35,000 a kilo. They’re also a key ingredient in many Chinese herbal remedies, and are reportedly used to cure a variety of ailments, including phlegm, delirium, and coma. They’re also used to treat heart and liver problems.

Treatment

Gallstones are hard, pebble-like structures that obstruct the bile pathway. These stones can range in size from two mm to more than five inches, and are generally made up of cholesterol or mixed salts (including bile salts and calcium). Cholesterol-rich stones are the most common type of gallstones.

People who are overweight or obese, those who have a family history of gallstones, and those who have high levels of cholesterol in their blood (especially if they’re also deficient in iron) are at greater risk for developing cholesterol gallstones. Fasting and prolonged fasting, as well as weight cycling (eg, yo-yo dieting), also increase the risk of cholesterol gallstones.

A variety of natural methods may help prevent gallstones, including weight loss, exercise, and dietary interventions that support healthy cholesterol levels (eg, fish oil, vitamin E, melatonin, milk thistle). The earliest step in treatment is to identify and diagnose the condition.

The primary test used to diagnose gallstones is an abdominal ultrasound. This exam can detect sludge as well as small stones, and may also detect acute cholecystitis or a dilated common bile duct (Shaffer 2018).

Another test is an X-ray of the abdomen. This can detect gallstones that have a significant amount of calcium in them, and it may reveal the presence of an abscess or perforation of the bile duct.

Surgery is also a primary treatment for gallstones, and it’s usually performed as an outpatient procedure, though it can be more invasive. In some cases, surgeons will enlarge the common bile duct to make it easier to remove the gallstones.

However, the success of surgery is often limited by the amount of time it takes to remove the stones. This may result in a higher rate of recurrence than in non-surgical patients.

One of the most promising treatments for gallstones is the bile salt ursodeoxycholic acid. This medication lowers cholesterol saturation in bile, decreases the formation of cholesterol-rich stones, and promotes their dissolution.

Ursodeoxycholic acid is a safe, relatively inexpensive drug that can be administered by mouth. It typically relieves symptoms within two to three months, but it may take years for the gallstones to completely dissolve.

Gallstones and Cholelithiasis