The Kerala Ayurveda

Gall bladder Disorder

In Ayurveda it is known as PRATISHYAYA mainly due to vitiation of DOSHAS (Vata, Pitta & Kapha).

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that averages three to six inches in length. It lies underneath the liver in the upper right side of the abdomen. It is connected to the liver and small intestine by small tubes called bile ducts. Bile, a greenish-brown fluid, is utilized by the body to digest fatty foods and assists in the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. The gallbladder serves as a reservoir for bile. Between meals, bile accumulates and is concentrated within this organ. During meals, the gallbladder contracts and empties bile into the intestine to assist in digestion.

There are two major types of gallstones:

Cholesterol gallstones are composed mainly of cholesterol which is made in the liver. These account for nearly 80% of all cases of gallstones in the United States.
Pigment gallstones are composed of calcium salts, bilirubin and other material. They account for the remaining 20% of gallstones in this country.

Causes for Gall stone :

Approximately 80% of all gallstones are completely asymptomatic and "silent." The chance that a "silent" gallstone will become symptomatic is 2% for each year.

People who are overweight
Older persons
Pregnant women
Women who use hormone contraceptives and post-menopausal hormones
Persons with a family history of gallstones
Persons of American Indian ancestry
Persons with diseases of the small intestine
Persons who have recently lost weight.

Symptoms

Symptoms of gallbladder disease occur when gallstones irritate the gallbladder. The most common symptoms associated with gallstone disease include:

Severe and intermittent pain in the right upper abdomen. This pain can also spread to the chest, shoulders or back. Sometimes this pain may be mistaken for a heart attack.
Chronic indigestion and nausea.

How are gallstones identified?

Nearly all gallstones can be easily identified by an ultrasound examination. This is a simple and painless procedure in which sound waves are utilized to create pictures of the gall-bladder, bile ducts and its contents. This test is highly sensitive for identifying either gallstones or sludge within the gallbladder.

What can be done at home?

Recurrent painful attacks, if mild, can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers. Placing something warm on your stomach may be helpful, taking care not to scald the skin. The frequency of attacks may be reduced by a low-fat diet

Can gallstones be prevented?.

Recent studies have suggested that persons at highest risk for gallstone formation, obese persons undergoing weight reduction, can virtually eliminate their risk for developing gallstones by taking KANCHANAR GUGGULU.

Healing Options

Herbs	Gokshura Punarnavadi Chicory Dandelion Olive Sunflower Oil
Ayurvedic Supplements	Gokshuradi Guggulu Liverole Arogyavardhini Bati
Diet	Small gallstones can usually be cleared through dietetic cure. In case of acute gall bladder inflammation, the patient should fast for two or three days until the acute condition is cleared Nothing but water should be taken during this period after the fast the patient should take fruit and vegetables juices for a few days. Carrots, beets, grapefruit, pears, lemons or grape may be taken in the form of juice. Thereafter the patient should adopt a well balanced diet with emphasis on raw and cooked vegetables, fruit and vegetable juice. Yogurt, cottage cheese and a table spoon of olive oil twice a day should also be included in the diet.
Lifestyle	The pain of gallstone colic can be relieved by application of hot packs or fomentation to the upper abdominal area. A warm water enema at body temperature will help eliminate faucal accumulations if the patient is constipated. Physical exercise is also essential. Surgery becomes necessary if the gallstones are very large or in cases where they have been present for long.
Yoga	Vajrasana The Knee to Chest (Pawanmuktasan) The Lotus (Padma Asana)

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