According to the theory of internal organs in traditional Chinese medicine, the gallbladder has the function of making judgments and decisions in mental processes and activities, and it also determines one’s degree of courage. A quote from E. Cobham in 1898 states that, “The ancients taught that grief and joy were subject to the gall, affection to the heart, knowledge to the kidneys, anger to the bile, and courage or timidity to the liver.” It is obvious that at different times and in other places, the gallbladder has a higher status than we might normally give it today and more often than not, we overlook it until there is a problem. So what can you do to keep it in shape over the years? It begins with an understanding of what this organ is and how it functions: The gallbladder is a small (3 inch by 1.5 inch) sack that sits just under the liver, which it is connected to. The liver and gallbladder are located in the right portion of the abdomen and are interconnected by the biliary tract, ducts that drain into the first segment of the small intestine (the duodenum). The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile produced in the liver and releases it when stimulated by eating to aid in digestion. Bile is a greenish-yellow fluid made of cholesterol, salts, pigments, water, and minerals and helps to break up and emulsify fat in the digestive system. The gallbladder can hold about a half cup of fluid until it is signaled that food has moved into the duodenum where it is then released to emulsify fat.

By far the most common issue to arise with the gallbladder is the formation of gallstones. These are hard masses ranging from the size of a grain of sand to a single lump that can fill the entire organ (around the size of a walnut). They are composed of either congealed cholesterol, or concentrated bile pigments, or a combination of both. There is no specific cause cited by modern medicine but factors such as a diet high in cholesterol and low in fiber, as well as genetic components are commonly accepted as risks. The presence of stones is not a guaranteed cause for concern as many people live their whole lives with multiple stones and do not know it. Stones become a problem when they either fill the gallbladder completely or if one is pushed down the duct that leads to the small intestines. Either of these scenarios may cause an obstruction, leading to inflammation, pain, and digestive dysfunction. Symptoms of a gallstone being present in your gallbladder include sharp, intensive pain on the right side, under the rib cage, or in the upper central area (solar plexus); pain that radiates to the back, the shoulder blade, or the scapula; nausea and vomiting; low-grade fever; pain that begins after every fatty meal; pain when touched on the right lower rib cage when you take a deep breath.

Gallbladder disease is one of the leading causes of problems with the digestive system that results in hospital admissions and the primary cause of the disease is gallstones though gallbladder cancer and cholecystitis are also causes. More women than men suffer from the disease with symptoms that range from discomfort to severe pain, jaundice, nausea, and fever. People with gastro-intestinal problems, those with high blood cholesterol levels, and people who are overweight are at a higher risk of gallbladder disease. Paying attention to uncomfortable gas, belching, heartburn, constipation, indigestion, or bloating is important as these may all be early signs of gallbladder disease. If your food does not properly digest or if you have persistent nausea, queasiness, constant fatigue, or vomiting, you may be displaying early signs of gallbladder disease. If you act quickly enough and are keeping track of your health, you can catch gallbladder disease early enough to reverse and remedy the potential need for surgery.

How can you keep your gallbladder healthy?

Beyond the common sense practices of eating well and exercising, there are herbal and nutritional assistance that may help keep your gallbladder healthy. Alfalfa has long been known to cleanse the liver, and in turn the gallbladder. Taking 1000mg twice a day was a recommendation of Hanna Kroeger, as well as dandelion root, yellow dock, and barberry. Because of their close association, the liver and the gallbladder affect one another significantly and so keeping them both healthy with lifestyle factors and cleansing is a good idea. Vibropathic remedies such as belladonna, carduus mar, the protozoa and cryptosporidium kits, and nux vomica may also be checked for. A diet high in pectin may also help keep stones at bay with apples or apple juice being the best sources for this.

Because Hanna understood that the small gallbladder played an important role in our digestive health she devised an herbal formula specifically for this organ. Red clover, pennyroyal, goldenseal root, and damiana make up the herbal combination from Kroeger Herb called  Gallbladder Care.  Gallbladder Care along with appropriate nutrition can help keep your gallbladder healthy and help decrease the risk of gallstones and thus gallbladder disease.

If you experience persistent pain or discomfort from the right side of your abdomen, or simply wish to keep your digestion running smoothly, gallbladder support could be the ticket!