The order of nature is such that every phenomenon in this universe has a purpose and a place—nothing is wasted. Take the human body, for example. All organs, systems, and fluids have particular roles to play, all of which are needed, necessary, and vital to the functioning of the body. And yet, on occasion, medical professionals tell us that a certain body part is not necessary, that it’s actually some quirky oversight of nature, and when removed, said organ will not be missed.
Over the years, we’ve been misinformed that women shouldn’t breast-feed their babies, that we don’t need our tonsils, our spleen, our appendix, or our gallbladders. Ah, yes, the gallbladder: that small, hollow organ attached to the liver and the repository for a powerful digestive acid called bile. During the holidays, you don’t want to be without a hefty supply of bile acid, especially when the fat drippings from your brine marinated turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and four servings of dessert finally make it to the small intestine. You’ll need a whole lot of bile acid to help you digest the meal and see you peacefully through the night.
Even so, gallbladder removals amount to half a million each year in the United States. At a cost of $15,000 per surgery, that equals a $75,000,000 business for a condition that can often be resolved by a change in diet and a gentle flush of the organ. Typically, doctors remove gallbladders due to gallstones, which often cause cancerous conditions. The major foods that trigger a gallstone attack are basically the same foods that can, over time, create gallstones: sugar, eggs, milk, cheese, ice cream, caffeine, chocolate, and fried foods.
Gallstones are the result of a congested liver producing toxic bile. Sediment from the liver settles in the bile and accumulates in the gallbladder, where bile is stored, blocking the bile duct that leads to the duodenum. Eating a whole-foods diet and avoiding foods high in fat is a recommended treatment for first softening gallstones before flushing them from the system. These rubbery, green formations have the appearance of sand, hard pebbles, or sometimes have a clay consistency. They can stay in your gallbladder for years without you even noticing them; then one day a large stone becomes lodged in the bile duct, causing gallstone colic and excruciating pain. Flushing the gallbladder is a simple procedure that leaves the organ intact while washing out the sediment.
Without the gallbladder, there is no longer a holding space to store bile. It continuously runs out of the liver, through the hepatic ducts, into the common bile duct, and directly into the small intestine. Without a gallbladder, there isn’t enough bile to properly digest a high-fat meal. For some people this can result in chronic diarrhea after eating a fatty meal. Dr. Joseph Mercola, M.D. likens the effect to washing greasy dishes without soap and recommends taking a fat digestive enzyme (lipase) to compensate. An important fact is that your small intestine’s ability to absorb essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals is also compromised without the help of the gallbladder.
Interesting to note that Chinese medicine also views the gallbladder as emotionally responsible for the ability to make decisions and exercise wise judgment, as it also helps to moderate reckless behavior. All in all, you may want to take care of your gallbladder and, when considering its removal, first consult a medical practitioner experienced in alternative treatments—one who is not so eager to remove such a necessary and important organ.
By Delia Quigley for Care2.com
Updated on February 17, 2011
