We hear a lot about herbs that can treat gallstones. But can we really treat gallstones safely with Chinese herbs? What precautions should we take?
Answer:
It is true that we U.S. herbalists are not given much guidance in treating gallstones. The most we are told is that “if the gallstone is 1 cm in diameter or less, we can expel it using Chinese herbs.” There are several problems we need to be aware of. People who have formed gallstones within the gallbladder that have not spilled into the bile duct may not experience any symptoms at all. The severe colicky pain, nausea and vomiting that occur in a gallbladder attack usually mean that a stone is in the duct. By then, it may be too late to try to “expel” the stone, due to the risk of creating a blockage that may lead to pancreatitis, a potentially very serious complication. If we know, however, that a particular patient is prone to forming stones, and that the stones are under 1 cm in diameter, we can attempt to shrink, dissolve or expel them.
In China in the 1950s, a treatment was developed involving Chinese herbs to expel stones by increasing bile flow; these were usually herbs that clear damp heat from the liver/gallbladder. Some such herbs are:
Jin Qian Cao (Lysimachiae herba)
Yin Chen Hao (Artemisiae scopariae herba)
Wu Mei (Mume Fructus)
Sometimes, purgative herbs such as Da Huang (Rhei Radix and Rhizome) and Mang Xiao (Mirabilite) were used. This treatment did not always result in all stones being expelled, and patients tended to form more stones.
In the 1970s, a “rapid expulsion” method was used wherein high dosages of strong herbs were given to cause fast and harsh expulsion of stones into the bile duct. Patients had to be hospitalized, continuously anaesthetized and given morphine for pain. This method is clearly not likely to be adopted in the U.S.
A third method, using “stone dissolving” has also been used. The “three golds” are the core herbs in this method: Jin Qian Cao, Hai Jin Sha (Lygodium spores), and Ji Nei Jin (Gigeriae Galli Endothelium Corneum). The first two herbs are diuretics that are also used for kidney stones and stone or cloudy lin. The third is a digestive herb that is effective to dissolve kidney or biliary stones. This stone-dissolving method takes at least 2-3 months, and may require additional herbs such as Chai Hu (Bupleurum radix), Huang Qin (Scutellariae baicalensis radix), and Da Huang.
So, what should we do if presented with a gallstone patient who does not want surgery? I recommend the following three steps:
- Work with the patient’s medical doctor to develop a treatment plan that includes the use of Chinese herbs
- Analyze imaging studies that show the size of the gallstones
- Consult with an experienced Chinese medicine practitioner, such as Yo San’s Dr. Nai-qiang Gu
Please see Dr. Ed Shaheen’s article on this topic also in this issue!
For this article, I relied upon information from the following sources:
Flaws, Bob, The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with Chinese Medicine, Blue Poppy Press, 2001, Boulder, CO
Chen, John and Tina, Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, Art of Medicine Press, 2004, City of Industry, CA
Subhuti Dharmananda, itmonline.org
Please direct any questions you may have to Julie Chambers, L.Ac. at info@juliechamberslac.com