Do you experience Gall Bladder Dysfunction? Do you have trouble digesting fatty foods? Have you had your gall bladder removed?

The gall bladder is just a bag that stores bile liquids produced by the liver. This is bile is squeezed into the digestive tract to help break down and absorb important fats. Gall Bladder Dysfunction can weaken digestion – a major pillar of health that needs to be cared for properly.

Possible signs and symptoms:

• Bloating
• Belching / gas
• Light colored stool
• Indigestion / especially with fatty or oily foods
• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Skin rashes (perhaps inability to absorb essential fatty acids)

 

The bile can thicken and stones can develop which can block the excretion of bile into the digestive tract – a condition that can produce strong abdominal pain and sometimes back pain.

Regarding gall bladder dysfunction, some people have their gall bladder removed but the root of the problem still remains – stagnated liver function and the sluggish production and flow of thick bile liquids.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the Liver and Gall Bladder are functionally paired systems. One thing to be said about liver / gall bladder function is that it must be uninhibited and freely flowing.

Emotions impact the liver organ and can cause stagnating liver function. TCM recognized the impact of different emotions on different organ systems. Frustration, irritability and anger affect the Liver and Gall Bladder.

Frustration is a state of stagnation. Being stuck in traffic makes you irritable and frustrated. Like a pressure cooker you begin to feel a fullness inside your body and chest – energy is not moving, your emotions and your mind are not flowing freely. When the traffic starts to move you feel better – your circulation is moving better inside you as well. If the traffic doesn’t move the pressure made build to a point of making you angry enough to shout out – not so pleasant but this is another way to move your energy.

This sort of stagnation on a mental -emotional level can lead to stagnation of physical organ function and impaired health.

It is more common for women to have gall bladder problems particularly when there is a history of hormone issues – adrenal, thyroid and ovary particularly.

Fats and oils are needed for hormone production. Improper digestion of fats and oils can lead to hormonal imbalances. Correcting and maintaining good liver and gall bladder function is important to restoring hormonal balance.

The liver helps to break down hormones in the body. Excess amounts of the hormone estrogen can cause the bile to thicken again leading to sluggish liver and gall bladder dysfunction.

Removing the gall bladder can solve an acute painful condition caused by gall bladder stones but going forward there is a permanent disability in digesting and absorbing important fats. Special dietary care is needed to make sure your fat intake doesn’t overwhelm your digestive system in any one meal. It’s important to eat fats in small amounts throughout the day.

Below are a list of foods and supplements that can be helpful in maintaining good bile flow through the liver and gall bladder, improve fat absorption and reduce constipation:

• Beats – root and leaf
• Carrots
• Sweet potato
• Oats
• Liver
• Calcium lactate
• Magnesium citrate

 

Trying to eat a lot of different foods to stay healthy can be challenging. Sometimes you just need targeted nutritional support to address your specific health needs.

Why not schedule an evaluation? Together we can put together an individualized diet plan and nutrient support targeting specific glands and tissue to optimize your body function naturally and get you on the natural path to greater health now. If you’re concerned about gall bladder dysfunction or digestive problems call or contact us.