Gallstones are hard, pebble-like pieces of bile, usually made from cholesterol or bilirubin that form in the gallbladder. The gallbladder holds digestive fluids called bile that are released into the small intestine to help digest fats. Gallstones can range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. The gallbladder can produce one large gallstone, hundreds of tiny stones, or a combination of small and large stones.
According to Ayurveda, vata, pitta and kapha dosha are responsible for the formation of gallstones. The excessive increase of pitta dosha causes gallstones to form. Kapha is also aggravated and mixes with pitta dosha, producing picchila, a sticky substance. Due to the ruksha guna (drying quality) of vata dosha, this sticky substance becomes hard and stone-like.
The vitiated three doshas are lodged in the gallbladder (pittashaya), thereby causes many different shapes and sizes of gallstones.
Case Study
A female, 38-year-old client came into my office with a complaint of sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right corner of the abdomen and just below the right breast. For the past month, the pain had radiated to the right shoulder blade. She was also experiencing nausea.
She worked as a financial advisor by profession and managed a high stress job. She had also gained weight and was considered medically obese.
Examination Results
- Pulse: 90 beats per min
- Cardiovascular system: Normal
- Central nervous system: Normal
- Respiratory rate: 22/min
- Respiratory system: Normal
- Jivha (tongue): sama (toxins)
- Mala Mutra Pravrutti (urine and stool): Normal
- Prakruti (body constitution): pitta pradhana kapha
- Bala (strength): madhyama (moderate)
- Jatharagni (digestive fire): avara (poor)
- Nidra (Sleep): disturbed
- Weight: 180 lbs.
- Height: 5’ 4”
Assessment of Daily Routine
Due to the high level of stress, she has developed an eating disorder. She was eating unwholesome foods that were too heavy, fatty and spicy, such as pizza, deep fried food and cheese.
She was indulging excessively in a vata-aggravating lifestyle like going to sleep very late at night, continuously working on the computer, lack of exercise, waking up very late in the morning, constant desire for sweets, and drinking 2 glasses of wine once a week.
Due to the above etiology factors, all three doshas became aggravated and these doshas combined to form gallstones.
Recommended Diet and Lifestyle Changes
- Go to bed early and wake up early.
- Avoid all vata dosha aggravating factors like staying up late and stressing.
- Reduce intake of spicy and oily foods.
- Practice yoga and pranayama to reduce stress and weight.
How An In-Depth Health Consultation Can Help Eliminate Gallstones
Gallstones are a sign your body has become unbalanced in all three doshas. Tri-doshic disorders are difficult and best managed by an experienced Ayurvedic professional. To identify the specific root cause and recommend the right combination of foods and herbal supplements, get knowledge and experience from an Ayurvedic vaidya (doctor).
Enlisting the expertise of an Ayurvedic vaidya will offer you a fresh look at your overall health and root causes of your illness. You will receive a personalized diet, lifestyle, and herbal protocol that will balance your aggravated doshas.
Recommended Herbal Supplements
- Triphaladi Churnam
- Avipathi Churnam
- Patolakaturohinyadi Kwatham
- Varanadi Kwatham
- Kshirabala 101
- Manasamitra Vatakam
- Chandraprabha Vati
Ayurvedic Treatment Protocol:
In this case, I recommended two treatments for her: shodhana chikitsa (detoxification therapy) and shamana chikitsa (palliative therapy). Initially she was prescribed mrudu shodhana (a mild laxative) with Triphaladi Churnam and Avipathi Churnam to remove excess pitta and kapha dosha.
Next, the shamana chikitsa (palliative treatment) was done with Patolakaturohinyadi Kwatham and Varanadi Kwatham for 30 days. Later the client was prescribed Nasyakarma (nasal drop therapy) with Kshirabala 101 and Manasamitra Vataka to reduce stress and calm the mind as well as vata dosha.
The entire program starting from detoxification to nourishment took 4 months. Client was feeling better and better every month and has recovered from the condition.
Chandraprabha Vati was advised as rasayana therapy (nourishing) for an additional 3 months.
Long term I recommended that she follow a strict Ayurvedic daily routine and diet.
How An In-Depth Health Consultation Can Help Eliminate Gallstones
Gallstones are a sign your body has become unbalanced in all three doshas. Tri-doshic disorders are difficult and best managed by an experienced Ayurvedic professional. To identify the specific root cause and recommend the right combination of foods and herbal supplements, get knowledge and experience from an Ayurvedic vaidya (doctor).
Enlisting the expertise of an Ayurvedic vaidya will offer you a fresh look at your overall health and root causes of your illness. You will receive a personalized diet, lifestyle, and herbal protocol that will balance your aggravated doshas.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Kottakkal Ayurveda products and this information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. If you have serious, acute, or chronic health problems, please consult a trained health professional. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained Ayurvedic practitioner or doctor, call (800) 215-9934 or email us at contact@kottakkal.shop and we will provide you with one of our affiliated Ayurvedic professionals. Check with your doctor before taking herbs when pregnant.