You’re probably familiar with the telltale signs of gallbladder and liver problems: dark urine; fever; nausea and possibly vomiting; pain or tenderness in the abdomen, especially after eating; yellowing of the eyes or skin. (1, 2)

It’s a diagnosis you’ve likely made countless times, considering that 24% of Americans have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, 10% to 20% of Americans will develop gallstones, and up to 40% of people have biliary sludge. (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

The gallbladder and liver are busy and important organs. The average adult’s liver produces between 800 and 1,000 milliliters of bile daily, which is then stored by the gallbladder. Bile, which is an alkaline fluid with a greenish or yellowish color, is made up of 97%–98% water, 0.78% bile salts, 0.2% bilirubin, and 0.51% fats (including cholesterol, fatty acids, and lecithin). (1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)

Bile is crucial for a number of bodily functions, and it’s important to keep it flowing for it to do its job. For example, when we eat, the gallbladder contracts, the vagus nerve signals the sphincter of Oddi to relax, and bile enters the small intestine. This helps us digest our food. (1, 7, 9, 12, 13)

On the other hand, when bile becomes blocked or gets sticky, it can cause congestion in the liver and gallbladder. This is how gallstones form. They can interfere with the detoxification of the blood, the digestion of fats and fat-soluble vitamins, and the elimination of waste. (1, 7, 11, 12, 13)

Common Gallstones Myths 

Myth #1: Gallstones are only found in the gallbladder

Despite the name, gallstones are not only found in the gallbladder. Gall simply means “bile,” and a gallstone, therefore, is just a coagulation of bile. However, gallstones often have multiple layers and contain other types of material besides bile, such as parasites. When gallstones appear in the liver, they are known as intrahepatic stones. (7, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16)

The liver has some 50,000 bile ducts, each of which is merely 2 mm to 5 mm long and very delicate. It doesn’t take much for these ducts to become clogged.

If even a single drop of bile is affected by toxins, such as one or more of the many chemicals we come in contact with every day, it can change form. When influenced by toxins, bile, with its precarious chemistry, can easily drop out of liquid form and become viscous. Stones may develop, and the bile ducts can get plugged up. (10, 11)

Additionally, other factors outside bile salts, bilirubin, and cholesterol in the gallbladder can determine if gallstones form, including drainage and hormones.

Hormones and gallstones

The prevalence of gallstones increases with age and tends to be higher in females than in males. Women are at a higher risk of developing gallstones because their hormones play a huge role in the equation. Due to changes in hormone levels, women over 40 and pregnant women are especially susceptible. Unbalanced estrogen and progesterone levels can cause a number of complications, including: (2, 3, 11, 17, 18, 19)

  • Decreases in the emptying of the gallbladder, which means that bile is left sitting stagnant in the gallbladder sac
  • Increased tendency for the bile to become thicker or clump together
  • Super-saturation of bile, which occurs when there is an overabundance of cholesterol and insufficient bile salts

In addition to the hormonal changes that pregnant and peri-menopausal women experience, estrogen levels — and, therefore, the chance of getting gallstones — can also be affected by: (2, 3, 11, 13)

  • Being overweight
  • Endocrine-disrupting chemicals
  • Improper thyroid function
  • Insufficient drainage (see below)
  • Mold and mycotoxins
  • Parasites

Drainage and gallstones

A major risk factor for developing gallstones is improper drainage. A blocked drainage funnel not only puts extra stress on the liver and gallbladder, but blocks the flow of bile. Both of these factors increase the risk of developing gallstones. (7, 11, 12, 13)

In addition, when the liver can’t detox through its usual drainage pathways, it ends up dumping toxins into the bloodstream. The toxins circulate through the blood until other drainage organs — primarily, the lungs, kidneys, and skin — get hold of them and attempt to eliminate them where the liver couldn’t.

If too many of these toxins build up in other organs, it can cause tissue damage and a variety of symptoms, including: (10, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23)

  • Kidneys — Too many toxins in the kidneys can affect their ability to filter sufficiently, which may lead to kidney damage or failure. Kidneys that are incapable of properly filtering out electrolytes, fluids, and hormones can lead to blood-pressure problems, decreased circulation, or edema.
  • Lungs — Toxicity in the lungs may suppress immune function and allow more infections. It will also often cause allergies, asthma, congestion, and mucus buildup.
  • Skin — Toxins in the skin can lead to many different skin issues, such as acne, discoloration, eczema, poor wound healing, and psoriasis.

Myth #2: If you don’t see gallstones on radiographic imaging, your patient doesn’t have them

Unfortunately, not seeing gallstones on a scan doesn’t mean that they’re not there. Basic radiography is fairly limited in its ability to detect and show gallstones, and often, the only ones that show up are those that are very dense in mineral content. But gallstones that are mostly formed from cholesterol, which are the most common variety, tend to be less visible and therefore harder to spot in imaging. (14, 16, 17)

A helpful tool for seeing if your patient has gallstones is to look for the dilated bile ducts that gallstones frequently cause. This will be a giveaway of the problem, even when the gallstones themselves may or may not be visible. (14, 16, 17)

Also keep in mind that if a few gallstones manage to appear on a scan, there are probably also many additional ones in there that aren’t showing up. In most cases, where there’s one gallstone, there are likely others. (14)

Myth #3: Surgery is the only way to get rid of gallstones

Luckily, there are ways to clean out the liver and gallbladder, get the bile flowing again, improve drainage, and remove gallstones without surgery. In fact, many of the 750,000 gallbladder removals that take place in the U.S. every year probably could have been avoided. (8, 16, 17)

Some methods to improve bile flow and eliminate gallstones without surgery include: (8, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26)

  • Supplements
  • Dissolving stones with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) or other organic solvents
  • Drainage support
  • Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
  • Liver flushes
  • Oral dissolution therapy

With supplements, some patients have been able to pass hundreds or even thousands of stones, as well as improve bile flow and overall drainage that can prevent future stones from forming.  Here are some products that can boost your patients’ liver and gallbladder health: (18, 19)

Benefits of Eliminating Gallstones and Sluggish Bile

Keeping the bile flowing can help prevent the formation of gallstones. It also comes with a range of health benefits that affect the body far beyond the gallbladder.

Better emotional health

In holistic medicine, it’s common to believe in the connection of mind and body and the influence that the emotions have on our health. As in traditional Chinese medicine, many people believe that anger is stored in the liver, and bitterness and resentment are kept in the gallbladder. That means that gallstones can essentially be pent-up negative emotions or hidden stressors that the body is retaining. (27)

This is why it’s crucial to clear out the liver and stagnant bile. It can help your patients let go of and deal with emotions that have been stored in their bodies, ultimately leading to emotional well-being and tranquility. However, it’s important for patients to be prepared to face these emotions and feel them all over again in the process of releasing them. (28, 29, 30)

Better hormonal balance

There is a bi-directional interplay between bile and our hormones, such as cortisol, estrogen, melatonin, progesterone, thyroxine, and TSH. (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)

Hormones help the gallbladder function, and bile has an influence on certain hormones. Among other things, bile helps control thyroid hormones, promote the metabolism of various other hormones, and stimulate the secretion of hormones in the gut. (36, 37, 38, 21)

That means that when the gallbladder and liver are dysfunctional or the bile gets sticky, hormones such as estrogen can build up, causing imbalances. The reverse effect is also true: too much estrogen in the body can affect the bile, slowing its flow or causing it to become sludgy or toxic. As a result, many adverse health conditions can occur. (22, 23, 24)

On the other hand, when bile is healthy and flowing normally, it helps regulate hormone production and function.

Greater mental clarity

Research has shown that bile acids can be found in the brain and affect signaling there. They influence neurological function and neurotransmission and can have an impact on brain disorders as well. One study found that older adults with dementia have high levels of biliary sludge. (39, 40)

For that reason, keeping the bile healthy and free-flowing may be associated with increased cognitive capacity and better mental clarity.

Improved digestion

Because bile influences the digestive process, keeping it flowing means better digestive health. When bile easily flows into the small intestine, it can help break down food there. This will also help alleviate digestive symptoms that are caused by gallbladder problems, such as bloating and stomach pain. (4, 5, 6)

In addition to its role in the small intestine, bile acid has been shown to affect metabolism, including that of both lipids and glucose. For that reason, bile acids may help fight obesity and control metabolic disorders such as diabetes. (4, 5, 6, 20)

Improved immune function

Research has found that bile acids support the activity and differentiation of inflammation-regulating T-cells and, as a result, are linked to immune function. Studies have found that bile acids interact with immune cells in the gut, where the microbiota help transform bile acids into molecules associated with immune signaling. (41, 42)

Increased detoxing and drainage

As you know, both the liver and gallbladder play a big part in the elimination of toxins and waste. Therefore, when these organs are working at their prime, the body will be able to rid itself more easily of toxins and other unwanted substances. It also means that any side effects of poor drainage — such as allergies, headaches, joint pain, kidney problems, and skin issues — can be avoided. (43, 44, 7, 15)

More energy

Research shows that bile acids can stimulate energy expenditure, thus burning more fat and calories and resulting in higher overall energy levels. Bile acids may also have an influence on the mitochondria, which could lead to increased energy production. (45, 46, 47, 48, 20)

Go With the Flow

The gallbladder and liver have far-reaching effects on your patients’ health. When these important organs become plugged up, bile can stop passing through them as it should and begin to form gallstones. This can lead to pain and discomfort and other potential health concerns, some of which can be serious.

Sluggish bile and a build-up of toxins in the liver and gallbladder are often the culprits. So focus on detoxing and proper drainage to get your patients’ bile flowing again and ensure their optimal health.