If you know someone who has suffered from gallstones, you know they are a painful condition to be avoided if at all possible. But what are gallstones? Surprisingly, until they suffer from them themselves, many people don't know. More importantly, many of us don't know how to prevent them from developing. Here's what you need to know about gallstones.

What are Gallstones?

Gallstones are literally like small stones or pebbles. Made up of a composite of cholesterol and/or two types of calcium, they are hard lumps of matter that form in the bile duct or gall bladder. Although not considered life threatening, when the body attempts to flush them out, it has been compared to attempting to "squeeze a golf ball through a straw." Needless to say, this is excruciatingly painful. Even when gallstones remain in the gall bladder, they can cause inflammation known as cholecsystitis and other inflammatory diseases that can lead to painful and dangerous side effects, including:

• Pain on the right side of the body under the ribcage.
  
  
• Back pain.
  
  
• Right shoulder pain.
  
  
• Nausea and/or vomitting.
  
  
• Sweating.
  
  
• Chronic restlessness.

In extreme cases, gallstones can block the bile duct or duodenum, leading to acute pancreatitis, a life threatening condition that usually calls for the surgical removal of the gall bladder.

Conventional Gallstone Treatments

Aside from surgical removal of the gall bladder, a number of conventional gallstone treatments are available. Some of these are:

• Gallstones composed primarily of cholesterol often respond to ursodeoxycholic acid, a chemical that can slowly dissolve the gallstones.
  
  
• In some cases when other treatments cannot be used, ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatolography) is attempted. In this procedure, an endoscope (a type of camera) is funneled through the mouth and into the gall bladder. Then a heated wire is inserted into the opening of the bile duct, widening it and allowing the gallstones to pass. This is done under general anaesthetic.
  
  
• Lithotripsy involves the bombarding of gallstones with ultrasound, which breaks them up into smaller particles that can pass through the system naturally. This method is rarely used.

Natural Gallstone Treatments

Naturopaths say that gallstones are a result of a diet consisting of too many simple carbohydrates and poor quality fats, lack of exercise and other lifestyle choices.  Since prevention is better than cure, they recommend preventing the occurrence of gallstones by adopting a healthier diet and lifestyle. A diet rich in vegetables, fruit and soluble fibres is generally regarded to be a healthy diet and can help prevent gallstones.

Many health care providers believe that lack of exercise is the primary cause of gallstones and may account for up to 50 percent of its occurrences. Along with a healthy diet, a healthy lifestyle that includes daily light to moderate exercise may be the best preventive medicine of all.

When gallstones do develop, there are a number of natural remedies that are said to be able to dissolve gallstones and make them pass harmlessly through the system. Some of these include:

• Turmeric
  
  
• Raw beetroot juice
  
  
• Radishes
  
  
• Lime, apple, pear and grapefruit are all fruits that are believed to help dissolve and remove gallstones.

Some remedies recommended by herbalists that are said to be effective treatments for gallstones include:

• Chamomile tea.
  
  
• Dandelion.
  
  
• Milk Thistle.
  
  
• Rosemary.

These are recommendations only. Dosages and diets should be provided by your health care provider

If you suspect you have gallstones, contact a qualified medical practitioner first. That way, you can get a proper diagnosis of the type of gallstones you have and expert advice on available treatments. Whatever you do, don't ignore the symptoms. With early diagnosis and care, they can be overcome and drastic measures can usually be avoided.