Dr.Steve's BOTTOM LINE: If you are having problems with pain or discomfort in the right upper abdomen, it may or may not be related to your gallbladder. The first thing to do is find out from a physician if this is the problem. This might take an ultrasound or other diagnostic tests. Otherwise, you may be trying to find relief for the wrong problem, and/or there may be something serious going on: ulcers, other bowel problems, hiatal hernia to name a few.  Having said that, chronic cholecystitis or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder is fairly common, particularly in women. Surgery, endoscopic treatments, anti-inflammatory drugs are the mainstay treatments.  Is there an herbal solution?

This study suggests that the herbal decoction dan an tang provided relief in a reasonably good sized group of patients.  So, if you are searching for an herbal approach, this points to possible effectiveness.  Why do I say possible?  Unfortunately the science in this study is not clear.  How were the patients diagnosed...do they really have gallbladder problems? What was the exact criteria of response? These and other questions are unclear from the limited information provided. However, having said that, it is at least preliminary clinical evidence that there may be something to this decoction.  If you are searching for herbal solutions to try, in addition to your doctor's recommendations, this is a published study to review in more detail and share with your health care provider.

Eighty cases of chronic cholecystitis treated by oral administration of dan an tang.

J Tradit Chin Med. 2009 Dec;29(4):288-90

Authors: Qi YZ, Zhang LZ, Liu Y

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects of dan an tang (chronic-cholecystitis-relieving decoction) for chronic cholecystitis. METHODS: The 160 cases of chronic cholecystitis were randomly divided into the treatment group (80 cases) and the control group (80 cases). The former was treated by oral administration of dan an tang (chronic-cholecystitis-Relieving Decoction), and the latter by oral administration of xiao yan li dan Pian (bile-draining anti-inflammatory tablet). RESULTS: The total effective rate of the treatment group and the control group was 95% and 80% respectively, showing a significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dan an tang (chronic-cholecystitis-relieving decoction) was obviously effective for chronic cholecystitis.

Technorati Tags: alternative cures, chinese herbs, cholecystitis, gall bladder, natural cures

Tagged as: alternative cures, chinese herbs, cholecystitis, gall bladder, natural cures