The Digestive System / The Gallbladder

The gall bladder is a hollow organ that lies directly under and abutting the liver. It is connected to the liver and upper portion part of the small intestine via a duct system. The gall bladder's purpose is to collect and store bile from the activities of the liver then release it at the appropriate time into the small intestine. It is a muscular organ, contracting during the first part of digestion. Ingesting especially fatty meals can increase the intensity of the contraction.

Bile, also called gall, is a greenish yellow secretion that is produced in the liver and passed to the gallbladder for concentration, storage, or transport into the first region of the small intestine, the duodenum. Its function is to aid in the digestion of fats in the duodenum. Bile is composed of bile acids and salts, cholesterol, pigments, water, and electrolyte chemicals that keep the total solution slightly acidic (with a pH of about 5 to 6). Bile is continually secreted from the cells of the liver into the common bile duct and gallbladder; once in the gallbladder it is usually concentrated to about 5 times—and sometimes as high as 18 times—the strength of the original secretion. The amount of bile secreted into the duodenum is controlled by the hormones secretin, gastrin, and cholecystokinin and also by the vagus nerve. About 250 to 1,000 millilitres of bile (before concentration) are produced daily by the liver.

Bile salts are composed of the salts of four different kinds of free bile acids (cholic, deoxycholic, chenodeoxycholic, and lithocholic acids); each of these acids may in turn combine (conjugate) with glycine or taurine to form more complex acids and salts. Bile salts and acids can be synthesized from cholesterol or extracted from the bloodstream by the liver. They pass from the liver into the intestine, where they act as detergents to emulsify fat and reduce the surface tension on fat droplets to prepare them for the action of pancreatic and intestinal fat-splitting enzymes. The salts are large, negatively charged ions that are not readily absorbed by the upper region of the small intestine; consequently, they remain in the intestine until most of the fat is digested. In the lower intestine, the salts and acids are absorbed and passed back into the bloodstream until they are once again extracted by the liver; this cycle, from the liver to the intestine and blood and then back to the liver, is called enterohepatic circulation. Some salts and acids are lost during this process; these are replaced in the liver by continual synthesis from cholesterol. The rate of synthesis is directly related to the amount of acids and salts lost. Bile salts do not normally reach the colon; when they do, however, they inhibit the absorption of water and sodium, causing a watery diarrhea.

Bile salts and acids are transported in a fluid that contains water, sodium, chloride, and bicarbonates. This fluid is produced in the liver, and it serves to neutralize hydrochloric acid passed from the stomach into the small intestine. Water-insoluble wastes that the liver removes from blood, such as cholesterol, steroids, drugs, and hemoglobin pigments, are carried in the fluid to the excretory system. Hemoglobin pigments are broken down, producing several bile fluid compounds, including bilirubin which has no known function other than that of a colouring agent. Traces of other substances can also be found in bile, but their significance there is not fully understood; a few of these substances are mucus, serum proteins, lecithin, neutral fats, fatty acids, and urea.

The bile that is stored in the gall bladder contains various products and byproducts of the liver's metabolism. In addition to the enzymes that will help to breakdown fat, there are chemicals, hormones, cholesterol, and heavy metals. These products and byproducts are usually co-joined with various amino acids, minerals and vitamins. This makes the products and byproducts easier to eliminate into the intestines and out of the body.

The gall bladder can sometimes form stones from the constitute parts of bile. These stones can range from pea size to golf ball size or larger. In addition to stones reducing size and scope of the gall bladder's function the bile itself can become thickened. This in turn may cause a sludge buildup on the stones themselves. Both of these problems will restrict the storage and flow of bile and reduce the body's ability to digest foods.

There are a number of nutritional types that can be utilized to improve gall bladder function. Diets predominating in fruits, veggies, and fiber will help by binding bile, bacteria, molds and yeast and increase their elimination. These foods will reduce the amount of bile that is re-sorbed into the blood streams that feed directly back to the liver. This prevents the liver from becoming toxic. The elimination of trans-fats from the diet and the inclusion of good oils will certain help the liver handle fat more efficiently. Read why you should not eat trans-fats by clicking here.

The vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6 and F will help the bile become less thick. A herbal combination of Collinsonia Root, Spanish Black Radish, red beet root, and Cholacol ® will also help to water down the bile. This combination of herbs is available in the Standard Process product line.
 

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.

In some cases a liver and gallbladder flush can help a failing gallbladder and/or liver. This flush will help restore the normal functional capacity of these organs. It showed be noted that it is most important that you perform this flush under the direct supervision of a certified clinical nutritionist. Once you are under the direction of a doctor or certified clinical nutritionist you can perform this flush. Listed below are the steps that should be taken for this procedure.

Gallbladder Flush

Monday thru Saturday noon: Each day drink as much apple juice or apple cider as your appetite will allow (1 quart is preferred). People with sugar-handling problems should consider cutting the apple juice 1:1 with water. Juicing your own apples is best, purchasing apple juice at your local health food store to assure there is no additives is an alternative. Do this in addition to your regular meals or supplements.

Saturday noon: eat a normal meal.

Saturday 3:00 pm (3 hours after #1):  Take two tablespoons of disodium phosphate(SP) in 2 ounces of pure hot water. You may substitute disodium phosphate(SP) with the same amount of Fleet's laxative (phospho-soda buffered oral saline laxative). If desired follow with a little freshly squeezed citrus juice.

Saturday 5:00 pm (2 hours later): Repeat step #3.

Saturday evening meal: Only grapefruit or other citrus fruit or juice as approved.

Saturday Bedtime:

Drink 1/2 cup of lemon juice blended with 1/2 warm unrefined virgin olive oil. It is important to do this step before 9pm. It is best to plan on an early evening. There should be no problems, although some people find swallowing the olive oil difficult. On the odd chance that the olive oil induces vomiting please call me for further instructions. Go immediately to bed. Lie on your right side with your right knee pulled into your chest for 30 minutes. This step is very important.

Sunday morning: One hour before breakfast take 2 teaspoons of disodium phosphate dissolved in 2 ounces of hot water or more of the Fleet's laxative.

Expect a loose bowel movement. Patients who have chronic problems with gallstones, biliousness, backaches, nausea, etc, often find small gallstone-type objects in the stool. They are light green to dark green in color, very irregular in shape and size. If a large number are found you may need to repeat this flush in 4 weeks.

Please understand that the purpose of this procedure is to not to replace normal diagnostic procedures. These procedures are necessary to allow a proper determination of your condition. A gallbladder flush can produce strong side effects is some individuals and should not be done without proper supervision. Once you have had a proper diagnosis you can then make a decision on what you will do about your condition.

Take this preliminaryto see if your condition could respond to treatment.
Not sure on your treatment options? For a limited time you can schedule a to talk with a licensed doctor or clinician regarding your condition.

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